(1) The legislature finds that it is in the best interests of Montana's economy, the economic stability of school trust lands, and sage grouse conservation and management to enact the Montana Greater Sage-Grouse Stewardship Act.
(2) The purpose of this act is to provide competitive grant funding and establish ongoing free-market mechanisms for voluntary, incentive-based conservation measures that emphasize maintaining, enhancing, restoring, expanding, and benefiting sage grouse habitat and populations on private lands, and public lands as needed, that lie within core areas, general habitat, or connectivity areas.