Revise laws related to preliminary determinations for water right permits or changes in appropriations

This bill updates Montana's water rights permitting process by requiring the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to publish applications online and establish specific timelines for reviewing water right requests. The law mandates that the department issue a draft preliminary determination within 60 to 120 days of receiving a complete application, depending on whether technical analyses are already prepared, and allows applicants to request extensions to submit additional information. It also formalizes public comment procedures by requiring the department to notify affected parties and publish notices in local newspapers, giving interested individuals 30 days to submit feedback before a final decision is made. These changes directly impact water users, applicants, and the public by creating clearer, more transparent steps for evaluating water appropriation requests.