This bill prohibits non-citizens and foreign entities from owning real property in Montana, affecting anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or whose business is based outside the country. It requires violators to sell their property within six months, after which a county sheriff may auction it at public sale. The attorney general or local county attorney can enforce the law by filing a lawsuit, and the restrictions apply only to property purchased on or after January 1, 2026.
This bill allows local governments in Montana to cancel agricultural covenants on land that has been annexed into a municipality, enabling the land to be developed without undergoing subdivision review. The law applies specifically to properties that previously received exemptions from subdivision requirements under state agricultural zoning laws. Under the new provisions, a governing body can revoke the covenant if the land is annexed, provided that original lot lines are restored or the land is used for public purposes, though public hearings are required for certain revocations. Sanitary restrictions related to water and waste remain unaffected by this change.
This bill requires recreational vehicles and mobile homes to be classified as buildings for rent or lease when placed on land, meaning these spaces will be subject to subdivision review processes. The law directly affects landowners, developers, and local governments by mandating that areas with multiple RV or mobile home spaces undergo the same regulatory scrutiny as traditional subdivisions. Key provisions amend existing Montana statutes to explicitly include these types of living spaces within the legal definition of a subdivision, ensuring they meet the same standards for infrastructure and land division. Local governing bodies will need to apply existing subdivision regulations to these sites, potentially requiring surveys, plats, and compliance checks similar to those for conventional housing developments.
This bill revises Montana's landlord and tenant laws to clarify protections for invitees who have not established a formal rental relationship, allowing owners to request law enforcement remove unauthorized occupants. It establishes specific timelines for eviction hearings, requiring courts to hear possession cases within 10 business days for most violations or 5 days for certain noncompliance issues. The legislation also sets a 45-day limit for resolving damage claims and mandates that eviction writs be executed by the sheriff within 5 business days after a landlord wins a possession case. Additionally, it defines what counts as valid authorization to occupy property, including written rental agreements or verified verbal permission from landlords or tenants.
This bill establishes the Private Property Protection Act to strengthen private property rights by limiting government restrictions on property use. It requires that any law or regulation restricting private property must be necessary and narrowly tailored to serve a compelling interest in public health or safety. Property owners can sue in court to challenge restrictions that violate these requirements, and if they win, the court will stop enforcement and award attorney fees. The law applies to all state and local government actions but excludes nuisance abatement, permit enforcement, and court-ordered actions.
This bill revises Montana laws to limit how restrictive covenants and homeowners' association rules can be enforced against property owners. It prevents anyone from imposing new or stricter restrictions on a property than those that existed when the owner originally acquired it, unless the owner explicitly agrees in writing to the change. The law also requires property owners to record exceptions to these restrictions and notify other affected owners, while exempting successors like family members or lenders from this protection in certain cases. Existing covenants remain valid as long as they were enforceable when the owner purchased the property, and the bill does not invalidate current agreements or create new legal claims for past actions.
This bill creates two new criminal offenses in Montana: unlawful squatting and fraudulent sale or lease of property. The unlawful squatting offense applies to anyone who knowingly enters and stays on another person's property without permission, while the fraudulent sale offense targets those who advertise property they do not legally own or have authority to rent. Key provisions include mandatory restitution for squatting victims equal to fair market rent, a minimum six-month jail sentence for fraudulent property listings, and a process allowing property owners to request immediate law enforcement removal of unauthorized occupants. The bill also establishes a fee structure for law enforcement services during removals and creates a civil remedy for wrongful removals, while requiring property owners to indemnify law enforcement if they knowingly provide false information in removal requests.
This bill clarifies that Montana local governments cannot create additional licensing or permitting requirements beyond what state law already allows. It directly affects local municipalities, counties, and other local government units by explicitly listing prohibited powers across various areas such as landlord-tenant relations, environmental regulations, occupational licensing, and commercial activities. The key mechanism is amending Section 7-1-111 of the Montana Code Annotated to add specific prohibitions, including bans on local fees for oversized vehicles, restrictions on regulating amateur radio operations, and limits on imposing additional employment benefits on private employers. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage, providing clear boundaries for local legislative authority without changing existing state laws.
This bill amends Montana's public nuisance laws to explicitly classify camping in violation of city ordinances or state statutes as a public nuisance. The change directly affects individuals who camp in unauthorized locations and local governments enforcing camping regulations. Under the new provision, knowingly maintaining such camping areas could result in a fine of up to $500, with each day of violation counted as a separate offense. The bill also retains existing protections for agricultural operations and shooting ranges from nuisance claims while maintaining the general definition of public nuisance for conditions that endanger safety or obstruct property use.
SB 146, the "Private Property Protection Act," would have limited Montana government actions restricting private property use to only those demonstrably necessary for public health or safety. It would allow property owners to challenge restrictions (like zoning rules or fees) in court if they fail to meet strict standards, requiring governments to prove the restriction is the least restrictive option for a compelling public interest. The bill directly affects private property owners and local/state governments by creating a legal process for contesting regulations. However, it died in the legislative process in May 2025 and never became law.
