(1) Any person, association, partnership, corporation, domestic or foreign, or municipality qualified under the constitution and the laws of the state of Montana may lease state lands for oil and gas purposes; however, all corporations not incorporated in Montana must obtain a certificate of authority to transact business in this state from the secretary of state. Also, no officer or employee or any agency of the executive department of state government who is required to inspect or examine oil or gas wells or otherwise to gather field information in regard to prospecting for oil and gas or the production thereof, may take or hold such lease, nor shall any such person become interested in any manner in any oil or gas lease on state lands.