(1) Any person, qualified under the constitution and laws of the state of Montana, except corporations, the
majority of the stock of which is controlled by foreign interests, may lease
state lands for coal purposes provided that:
(a) all corporations not incorporated in
Montana must obtain a certificate of authority to transact business in this
state from the secretary of state;
(b) no officer or employee of any agency of
the executive department of state government who is required to inspect or
examine field information in regard to prospecting for coal or the mining
thereof, may take or hold such lease;
(c) the applicant, if a natural person, has
reached the age of 18 years.
(2) Any person qualified to hold a coal
lease on state lands may acquire, receive and hold more than one lease.