Provide for Montana’s future homesteading act

SB 381 would have allowed Montana to sell state-owned lands under 100 acres for homesteading, targeting parcels with legal access, no development barriers, and not designated as parks. Qualified homesteaders - Montana residents for 10+ years - could purchase up to 5 acres at full market value, but must build a primary residence within 5 years or forfeit the property. The bill required the Department of Natural Resources to identify suitable lands and set rules for sales, exempting homestead deeds from standard subdivision laws. This bill died in process on May 23, 2025, and did not become law.