Board advances revised land‑exchange policy after extensive public comment
Commissioner (Auditor) Brown presented a broad update to the Land Board's land‑exchange policy intended to restore board oversight, expand early public participation, and clarify consultant roles; the board approved the underlying proposal after wide public comment, rejecting a governor-proposed 30‑day scoping amendment and recording one abstention.
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The Land Board advanced a substantive update to its land‑exchange policy aimed at restoring board oversight of exchanges and increasing public participation at the application stage. Jack Connors, chief legal counsel to the Auditor's Office, told members the revised policy would notify the public when an application is filed (rather than after DNRC initial review), clarify the role and "independence" requirement for third‑party consultants, and preserve constitutional and statutory valuation criteria. Connors cited Article 10, Section 4 of the Montana Constitution and Montana Code Annotated (77‑2‑207) to frame the board's authority.
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