Bill > HB240

This bill addresses digital mapping and hunting regulations for navigable rivers and islands in Montana, introducing several key provisions. It requires all digital map providers to update their maps by August 1, 2025, and subsequently within 30 days of the state library's annual map update, with a specific requirement to label previous river locations as "Private land surface owned by adjacent landowner. Permission required." The bill modifies existing recreational use laws by adding new restrictions on hunting and accessing waterways, specifically prohibiting the use of shotguns or rifles from watercraft or riverbanks for big game hunting, and limiting island access for hunting to bow or crossbow methods only. Additionally, the bill mandates that the state library, in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, update its global information system map to reflect current navigable river locations and mark historical river locations, with the department required to provide updated river mapping annually. The legislation aims to clarify public recreational rights on waterways, provide more precise mapping information, and establish clearer guidelines for hunting and accessing rivers and islands, with an immediate effective date upon passage and approval.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2873