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Montana Land Board approves timber sales, Moraine parcel lease and easements, updates lease template
Summary
At its Jan. 20 meeting in Helena the Board of Land Commissioners unanimously approved four timber sales, a commercial lease for the Moraine parcel, and multiple easements. During a legal update the board also voted to revise its commercial lease template; minutes and audio remain draft pending next-meeting approval.
The Board of Land Commissioners met Jan. 20, 2026, at the State Capitol in Helena and unanimously approved several land-management actions, including timber sales, a commercial lease for the Moraine parcel and multiple easements.
Amanda Kaster, director of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, presented the timber sales package identified as item 0126-1 (A–D) and the board voted to approve those sales after a motion by Attorney General Austin Knudsen and a second by Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen. The board then approved item 0126-2, a commercial lease for the Moraine parcel, on a motion by Jacobsen and a second by Knudsen; Commissioner James Brown made remarks during discussion. The board approved item 0126-3 (easements) after a presentation by Kaster and a motion by Knudsen, seconded by Jacobsen.
During an informational legal update, Governor Greg Gianforte opened remarks and Brian Bramblett, DNRC chief legal counsel, participated. Commissioner James Brown moved to update the board’s current commercial lease template; the motion was seconded by Austin Knudsen and carried unanimously after brief board discussion. No public comment was recorded on the listed agenda items.
The meeting record notes that these are summary minutes and the audio recording is a draft record; both will become official upon Land Board approval at the next meeting in accordance with the board’s adopted practice.
Votes at a glance: approve = carried unanimously - Item 0126-1 (Timber Sales A–D): Moved by Austin Knudsen; seconded by Christi Jacobsen; outcome: approved. - Item 0126-2 (Commercial lease: Moraine parcel): Moved by Christi Jacobsen; seconded by Austin Knudsen; outcome: approved. - Item 0126-3 (Easements): Moved by Austin Knudsen; seconded by Christi Jacobsen; outcome: approved. - Item 0126-4 (Update commercial lease template — motion): Moved by James Brown; seconded by Austin Knudsen; outcome: approved.
Next steps: The summary minutes and the audio recording will become the official record only after formal approval by the Land Board at its next meeting.
