Montana would offer trail passes for people unable to walk safely

Eligible people would qualify for a $5 motorized recreation pass that lasts indefinitely and cannot be transferred. People must be permanently physically or mentally unable to walk or travel a normal path safely without another person's help or a wheelchair. Access would cover designated state recreation routes managed by Montana's Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. A licensed physician would have to certify eligibility. Equipment must be registered in Montana, authorized by the responsible land agency, and clearly display the pass. Summer motorized recreation trails would be excluded, and agency restrictions or prohibitions would apply. Applicants' identifying information could not be made public. Other state agencies and the Montana university system could use it only for user studies.

Montana's Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks would open, reopen, and maintain recreation trails and roads for pass holders. The duties would cover designated recreation routes on state land. The definition excludes county, city, and state roads, including highways, and federal roads primarily used for travel. The agency could restrict or prohibit motorized use to protect people or environmental health and safety, with notices at trailheads and online. Pass fees and one-third of each violation fine would fund the program through a dedicated account. The remaining two-thirds of fines would go to the state's general fund.

Montana's Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks would rate public trails for motorized wheelchair access and post ratings at trailheads and online. The requirement would cover all trails on state land that a state land agency designates, maintains, maps, and marks on its current official map. Ratings would show whether a wheelchair user could access and complete a trail, access and partly complete it, or could not access or complete it.

People who violate pass rules would face misdemeanor charges, a category of criminal offense. False statements could also lead to loss of state hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses and privileges, or permission to recreate on state lands. Failure to display a required pass would carry a $60 fine. Using equipment without obtaining a required pass would carry a $250 fine. False application statements would carry a $50–$1,000 fine, up to six months in county jail, or both. Loss of licenses or privileges could follow a conviction or forfeiture of bond or bail for false statements, for a period set by the court.