Housing

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 416: Require homeowners' associations to seek permission for entry on real property

HB 416 requires homeowners' associations (HOAs) to obtain permission from property owners before an HOA agent may enter their private real property. When seeking permission, the HOA must propose a convenient date and time for the owner and specify which part of the property the agent needs to access. Property owners have the option to require their presence or their agent's presence during the HOA's entry. This bill clarifies rules for HOA access to private property, but it does not affect access to areas generally open to the public like sidewalks.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill clarifies HOA access rules to protect property owner rights, directly addressing housing topic's property rights component without ambiguity.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 213: Revise the state building code to allow single stairwells in certain buildings

SB 213 revises the state building code to permit certain residential buildings to be constructed with a single stairwell. This change applies to buildings classified as Group R-2 occupancy, which typically includes apartments or condominiums. To qualify for a single stairwell, these buildings must meet specific safety conditions. These conditions include having no more than six stories, a maximum of four dwelling units per floor, an automatic sprinkler system, and at least one window or emergency exit provision for each unit.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill facilitates housing development by allowing single stairwells in certain residential buildings, reducing construction costs and enabling more efficient housing supply under safety conditions.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Housing

signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 458: Revise commercial property assessed capital enhancement program laws

SB 458 expands the types of projects eligible for financing through Commercial Property-Assessed Capital Enhancements (CPACE) programs. It allows commercial, industrial, multifamily housing, and agricultural property owners to finance "public safety and resiliency improvement projects." These projects include enhancements for seismic structural integrity, indoor air quality, resistance to wind, fire, and flooding, power outage resilience, and stormwater control measures. Local governments can establish these programs, enabling property owners to secure third-party financing repaid through a property assessment.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly includes multifamily housing as eligible for CPACE financing to fund safety/resiliency improvements, directly supporting housing maintenance and enhancement of existing housing stock.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 162: Revise definition of infrastructure for resort tax

House Bill 162 revises the definition of "infrastructure" for communities that levy a resort tax. This bill expands the types of projects that can be funded by a resort tax to include "workforce and community housing projects." Previously, resort tax funds for infrastructure were primarily allocated to traditional public services like water, sewer, roads, and public safety. This change allows resort communities and areas to utilize resort tax revenue for housing initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands resort tax revenue use to fund housing projects, redirecting existing tax funds toward community housing initiatives under local finance.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands resort tax funding to include workforce/community housing projects, directly advancing housing development through municipal revenue allocation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 149: Revise emotional support animal laws

SB 149 revises laws regarding emotional support animals (ESAs) in housing, affecting tenants with disabilities and landlords. The bill allows landlords to request specific documentation from a licensed health care practitioner if a tenant's need for an ESA is not readily apparent. This documentation must come from a practitioner with an established client-provider relationship who has conducted a clinical evaluation and identified the specific therapeutic support the animal provides. The bill also clarifies that ESA registration cards alone are not sufficient proof and holds tenants liable for damages caused by their emotional support animals.

Topics ✗ HousingOpposes HousingAdds documentation requirements for ESAs, potentially restricting tenant access to housing accommodations under disability laws.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 223: Allow interest earned on workforce housing appropriations to be retained

SB 223 amends an existing law to ensure that any interest or income earned from a $12 million fund for workforce housing is retained within that fund. This fund is specifically allocated to assist employees working at state facilities that house state inmates or behavioral health patients, particularly in eligible rural counties. By retaining the earned interest, the bill aims to increase the total resources available for initiatives such as buying down construction costs, providing loans, or acquiring housing for these employees. The bill takes effect immediately and applies retroactively to interest earned on or after June 14, 2023.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRetains interest in workforce housing fund to increase resources for housing initiatives, promoting fiscal responsibility and funding essential programs within state appropriations.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRetains interest in workforce housing fund, increasing resources for housing initiatives in rural counties, directly funding affordable housing development.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRetains interest in workforce housing fund to increase resources for employee housing at state facilities, directly supporting employment conditions for workers in eligible rural counties.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 252: Revise land use laws related to manufactured and factory built homes

SB 252 revises land use laws concerning manufactured and factory-built housing. The bill requires municipal and county zoning regulations to treat these housing types the same as other residential units, preventing differential treatment. It also establishes a rebuttable presumption that placing manufactured or factory-built homes in residential zones will not adversely affect conventional property values. Additionally, the bill includes manufactured housing as an allowable commercial purpose in state trust land leases and provides relevant definitions.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires equal zoning for manufactured homes, removes barriers to affordable housing development, prevents discriminatory treatment in residential zones95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

passed both · Montana · House May 6, 2025

HJ 30: Study resolution on incentivizing housing density and affordability

HJ 30 is a joint resolution requesting an interim study on methods to increase housing density and affordability across Montana. The study will be conducted by an appropriate interim committee or staff designated by the Legislative Council. It will investigate incentives for local governments to increase housing density, review state programs supporting housing, and analyze the economic implications of increased density, including property taxes. The study will also identify programs to fund water and wastewater systems for local governments, with final results reported to the 70th Legislature by September 15, 2026.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly requests study of incentives to increase housing density and affordability, directly advancing policy solutions for affordable housing.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

Track

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 311: Require the refund of rental application fees

HB 311 requires landlords and property managers to refund residential rental application fees to applicants who do not ultimately sign a rental agreement. Landlords may deduct costs for specific services actually performed, such as a credit check, if the applicant was given written notice of these allocated costs when the fee was collected. However, they cannot retain fees for services not performed or for their own time. If an application fee is wrongfully withheld, an applicant can take civil action to recover the amount, with potential for attorney fees.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates refund of unperformed rental application fees, directly protecting tenants from financial burden and strengthening tenant rights per housing topic indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 172: Revise resort tax eligibility and allow use for workforce housing

SB 172 allows Montana resort communities and areas (designated under state law with populations under 3,500 that rely heavily on tourism) to use an additional 1% resort tax - previously restricted to infrastructure - specifically for workforce housing. The bill amends tax code sections to explicitly permit this new allocation, alongside existing infrastructure uses, for communities that qualify under the defined criteria. It does not create new taxes but changes how existing resort tax revenue may be spent, directly affecting designated resort districts and communities. The policy shift aims to address housing needs for local workers in tourism-dependent areas.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects existing resort tax revenue to fund workforce housing, expanding public service funding under current tax structure without new taxes.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly redirects existing resort tax revenue to fund workforce housing, advancing affordable housing access for workers in tourism-dependent communities.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly allocates resort tax revenue for workforce housing, addressing housing affordability for tourism workers in qualifying communities, directly supporting labor employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing