Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB168: Revise laws related to lakeshore protection
Status: Signed into law, May 8, 2025
What the bill says
An act revising laws regarding lakeshore protection; providing a statute of limitations for actions against property owners or contractors for violating lakeshore regulations; providing exemptions from future permitting for ongoing maintenance, remodeling, or minor modifications; and providing an immediate effective date.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT REVISING LAWS REGARDING LAKESHORE PROTECTION; PROVIDING A STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR ACTIONS AGAINST PROPERTY OWNERS OR CONTRACTORS FOR VIOLATING LAKESHORE REGULATIONS; PROVIDING EXEMPTIONS FROM FUTURE PERMITTING FOR ONGOING MAINTENANCE, REMODELING, OR MINOR MODIFICATIONS; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, Article II, section 3, of the Montana Constitution creates a fundamental right to acquire, possess, and protect private property; and WHEREAS, a local governing body or the state has had ample opportunity to initiate an enforcement action if the governing body or the state believes the lakeshore or aquatic life is being threatened by historical structures located within the lakeshore protection zone area. Section 1. Lakeshore protection zone statute of limitations -- exemptions from future permitting. (1) (a) As applied to any clearly visible boat ramp, boat house, boat shore station, boat rail system, dock system, pier, wharf, retaining wall, road, or other structure located within the lakeshore protection zone, the period prescribed for the commencement of an action against a property owner or the property owner's contractor for a violation of lakeshore regulations adopted pursuant to 75-7-207 is within 3 years of completion of construction or issuance of the permit, whichever occurs later. (b) The limitation set forth in subsection (1)(a) does not apply to an item that was constructed illegally and (ii) materially interferes with navigation …
Sponsors
- Hertz, Greg (R, 7) · primary sponsor
- Sprunger, Courtenay (R, 7)
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (S) Signed by Governor
- : (S) Transmitted to Governor
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (S) Returned from Enrolling
- : (S) Sent to Enrolling
- : (H) 3rd Reading Concurred
- : (H) 3rd Reading
- : (H) 2nd Reading Concurred
Votes
- Do Concur (April 11, 2025): 64 yea, 35 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 10, 2025): 63 yea, 36 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 18, 2025): 44 yea, 6 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 15, 2025): 40 yea, 8 nay, passed
Subjects: Property, Fish, Environmental Protection, Local Government
Common questions
- What is SB168?
- SB168 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise laws related to lakeshore protection.
- What does SB168 do?
- In its own words: An act revising laws regarding lakeshore protection; providing a statute of limitations for actions against property owners or contractors for violating lakeshore regulations; providing exemptions from future permitting for ongoing maintenance, remodeling, or minor modifications; and providing an immediate effective date.
- What is the status of SB168?
- Signed into law as of May 8, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 8, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB168?
- Hertz, Greg (R, 7), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB168?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1009
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.