Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Committee rejects two water bills, tables them, and advances a Flathead Lake recreation resolution
Summary
The House Natural Resources Committee rejected SB 263 and SB 436 after debate over water‑rights notice and senior‑rights protections, then tabled both bills; it approved Senate Joint Resolution 18 (Flathead Lake recreation considerations) 10–4.
The House Natural Resources Committee spent the latter portion of the meeting on three water‑ and land‑management measures, rejecting two bills and advancing a joint resolution on Flathead Lake recreation.
SB 263 (water‑rights/land‑board notice): Staff summarized SB 263 as revising conditions when a private water‑rights holder develops a right on private land and later seeks to use that right on state trust land, requiring the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to notify lessees and the Land Board to approve efforts to gain legal interest. A motion to pass failed on a roll‑call vote (6 ayes, 8 noes). Committee members who opposed argued the change…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
