Land Board unanimously approves timber sales, communitization agreements and easements

The Montana Board of Land Commissioners met May 19, 2025, in Helena and unanimously approved a set of routine land-management actions, including timber sales, communitization agreements and easements.

Amanda Kaster, director of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), presented overviews of the timber sales listed as item 0525-1 A–E, the communitization agreements listed as item 0525-2 A–C, and item 0525-3 concerning easements. The board took each item up on the consent-type schedule and approved them without recorded opposition.

Motions and outcomes at a glance

• Item 0525-1 (Timber sales A–E): Susie Hedalen, Superintendent of Public Instruction, moved to approve; Christi Jacobsen seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

• Item 0525-2 (Communitization agreements A–C): Austin Knudsen, Attorney General, moved to approve; Christi Jacobsen seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

• Item 0525-3 (Easements): Christi Jacobsen, Secretary of State, moved to approve; Austin Knudsen seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Board members recorded as present in the minutes were Governor Greg Gianforte; Susie Hedalen, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Austin Knudsen, Attorney General; James Brown, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance; and Christi Jacobsen, Secretary of State. The minutes state each listed motion was carried unanimously; the record does not include individual roll-call votes.

Why it matters

These routine approvals advance DNRC-managed land transactions and resource-management actions that can affect state trust revenue and land stewardship. The minutes provide only abbreviated summaries; the Land Board archive includes audio recordings and attachments for details on parcel boundaries, sale terms, or easement conditions.

The board adjourned after the listed business; no public comment was recorded for these agenda items.