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Bill would let annexation trigger revocation of agricultural covenants
Summary
Sen. Forrest Mandeville told the committee SB275 would add annexation as a pathway to revoke agricultural covenants so municipalities can revoke covenants as part of annexation review, while preserving existing annexation procedures and notification rules.
Sen. Forrest Mandeville presented Senate Bill 275 to the House Judiciary committee, explaining the bill would allow an agricultural covenant on subdivided property to be revoked in the course of annexation into a municipality rather than requiring a separate subdivision review process.
Mandeville said the change is intended to reduce administrative duplication: when a city already evaluates zoning, service provision and other annexation criteria, subjecting the parcel to an additional subdivision review to revoke an agricultural covenant can be redundant.
He emphasized SB275 does not change annexation law, municipal notice requirements or zoning authority; municipalities would still follow existing procedures and notifications tied to annexation. The sponsor said the idea came to him through the Montana Association of Planners as a practical resolution to recurring situations.
Committee members asked whether the bill affects notice to nearby property owners or the legal process; Mandeville said those requirements remain unchanged. The committee heard no recorded opponents at the hearing and closed the item.
