Bill > HB523

This bill provides a detailed process for determining and disposing of abandoned lots in public cemeteries. A cemetery lot can be considered abandoned if it has not been used for interment for 75 years or more and the cemetery administrator has had no contact with the owner or heirs for 75 years. Individuals can petition the cemetery administrator to declare a lot abandoned by providing specific information, including their contact details, a description of the lot, evidence of efforts to find the owner, and a request to purchase the lot. The cemetery administrator must then publish a public notice with details about the lot and its potential abandonment, giving potential owners a chance to claim the lot. If no owner, heir, or assignee contacts the administrator after the publication period, the lot is legally considered abandoned, and the petitioner can purchase it at a price set by the administrator. The bill includes important exceptions: it does not apply to veterans' burial lots, lots with known human remains, or privately owned cemeteries. The legislation defines key terms like "cemetery administrator" and "plot" and is intended to be integrated into Montana's existing local government statutes, providing a clear, standardized process for managing unused cemetery lots.

Government Affairs

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3432