18-7-201. Requirements for choice of newspaper -- price. (1) In all cases and instances where any publication is required by law or is duly authorized to be made, executed, or accomplished by, for, or on behalf of the state of Montana or any of the institutions of said state or any of the departments, boards, bureaus, or commissions thereof or any of the officers, agents, or employees of the state when acting within the scope of their lawful authority and for the benefit of the state of Montana, the same shall be published in a newspaper printed and published in the state of Montana and of general bona fide and paid circulation with second-class mailing privilege and having been printed and published continuously in the state of Montana for at least 12 months immediately preceding such publication.

(2) The price for such publication and by whomsoever accomplished shall not exceed the minimum going rate charged any other advertiser for the same publication set in the same sized type and published for the same number of insertions.