Land Board authorizes rulemaking to simplify recreational-use rules; stakeholder voices support notice change

DNRC asked the Land Board to initiate rulemaking to consolidate roughly 19 recreational-use rules into 10, placing them in a standalone subchapter and simplifying language and structure for public usability. Staff said the main substantive change is a simplified lessee-notification rule that standardizes drop-box signage and notification procedures.

"So these rules, what we're doing is taking some existing rules that were nestled within the agriculture and grazing leasing rules... We wanna be able to pull those out, put them in their own section, while retaining all of those original intent of the rules, rewording them to make them easier to read," Jessica Hogue, DNRC recreational-use and public-access coordinator, told the board. Hogue added the significant substantive change is consolidating the lessee-notification requirements and simplifying signage and drop-box guidance.

The Montana Stockgrowers Association testified in support, saying the cleanup will reduce confusion for lessees and recreational users. The board moved to initiate rulemaking, asked staff to file proposal notes with the Secretary of State's office and authorized a 30-day comment period and public hearing. The board adopted the motion to initiate rulemaking by unanimous vote.