Montana § 7-22-2154 - Public Purchase Or Receipt Of Property -- Weed Management Plan

§ 7-22-2154. Public Purchase Or Receipt Of Property -- Weed Management Plan

Public purchase or receipt of property -- weed management plan. (1) Except as provided in subsection (4), prior to the purchase of real property with public funds or the receipt of real property by a nonfederal public entity, the purchaser or grantee shall have the property inspected by the county weed management district. The county weed management district's report regarding the property must be filed with the purchaser or grantee. The costs associated with the inspection must be borne by the seller or grantor. (2) If the report indicates that there are noxious weeds present on the property, the purchaser, seller, grantee, or grantor shall develop a noxious weed management agreement to ensure compliance with the district noxious weed management program. However, unless the parties agree otherwise, a seller or grantor is obligated by a noxious weed agreement only until the property sale or transfer is completed. Except as provided in subsection (4), the weed management agreement must be incorporated into the purchase agreement. (3) The provisions of this section do not apply to: (a) the state acquisition or disposition of a public right-of-way pursuant to Title 60, chapter 4; or (b) lands sold or purchased through land banking pursuant to 77-2-361 through 77-2-367 . (4) If a transfer of property will occur during the winter months when the ability to identify noxious weeds is significantly reduced by snow cover, the purchaser, seller, grantee, or grantor may request a 6-month extension for completion of the inspection and any noxious weed management agreement that may be required. If, upon inspection, it is determined that a noxious weed management agreement is necessary, unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the purchaser or grantee is responsible for implementing the provisions of that agreement.