Jedediah Hinkle's Work For Public Lands
Access to Montana’s “Land locked” Public Lands.
In Jedediah's first session, he carried, sponsored, and passed with almost unanimous support the “Unlocking Public Lands Program.” A program that had been designed to bring landowners and the public together to increase public access through private property by incentivizing landowners to establish access points through their land. This program protected the landowners choice and private property rights, and established good relationships between these landowners and the public. Jedediah's bill expanded the program to include federal public lands in which the majority of land locked public land consists of. (SB309)
Increase Recreational Opportunities
Jedediah also sponsored, carried, and passed a bill designed to increase recreational opportunities on State managed public lands. Montana Constitution mandates that State School Trust Lands be managed first and foremost to raise revenue for the state. Because of this, management for recreational opportunities on these lands often falls in second place. Jedediah's legislation, served to identify areas where recreational allowances and opportunities on these lands could be improved upon. This legislation moved through the legislature and signed into law with strong bipartisan support.
Public Lands Access Network
In addition to these two bills Jedediah also supported the PLAN (Public Lands Access Network), a bill carried by a Republican lawmaker from eastern Montana. This program serves to collect contributions from individuals/organizations who believe in increasing access to public lands. The money collected in this program will be use to purchase easements, land, or land consolidation, and with an emphasis on access to lands that are completely surrounded by private. Shortly after this program passed, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation contributed $25,000 kick starting the program into high gear!