SB 418 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Generally revise laws relating to home based businesses

SB 418 prohibits Montana local governments from banning home-based businesses entirely. It amends Section 7-1-111 of the Montana Code to explicitly state that municipalities cannot prohibit such businesses, though they may impose "reasonable" regulations (like zoning or noise limits). The bill directly affects homeowners operating small businesses from their residences, such as crafts, consulting, or childcare services. It does not override state licensing requirements or allow businesses to bypass local building codes, focusing solely on removing outright prohibitions. The bill is currently tabled in the House Local Government Committee.
Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 21, 2025 Last action Apr 9, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

LC1955.pdf SB0418_1.pdf · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill was renumbered from LC 1955 to SB 418.1 and updated with a new sponsor, E. Boldman. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a new provision granting local governments the authority to require employers (excluding the local government itself) to provide home-based work options.
Scope change
The bill now explicitly includes a mandate for employers to offer home-based work arrangements, expanding the scope of local government regulatory power regarding workplace flexibility.
REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement allowing local governments to mandate that employers provide home-based work options to their employees.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill number from LC 1955 to SB 418.1 and changed the sponsor information to E. Boldman.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 7, 2025

How they voted

472
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 50
Mar 7, 2025
D Democratic18
16 Yea 1 Nay 1
88% Yea
R Republican32
31 Yea 1 Nay
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
28
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Amendments
1
Apr 9, 2025
Amended
(H) Tabled in Committee - (H) Local Government
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Local Government
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (47-2-1)
senate
Mar 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Local Government
upper
Mar 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Local Government
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Local Government
upper
Feb 21, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Ellie Boldman
Ellie Boldman
DDemocratic
MT
47