Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB304: Revise security deposit laws to provide tenants more information and time
Status: Chaptered, May 20, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act revising residential tenant security deposit laws to give tenants more information about cleaning not accomplished and more time to complete additional cleaning; prohibiting charging a fee for inspecting the cleaning accomplished by tenants; and amending section 70-25-201, mca.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING RESIDENTIAL TENANT SECURITY DEPOSIT LAWS TO GIVE TENANTS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CLEANING NOT ACCOMPLISHED AND MORE TIME TO COMPLETE ADDITIONAL CLEANING; PROHIBITING CHARGING A FEE FOR INSPECTING THE CLEANING ACCOMPLISHED BY TENANTS; AND AMENDING SECTION 70-25-201, MCA." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: Section 1. Section 70-25-201, MCA, is amended to read: "70-25-201. Security deposit -- authorized deductions authorized therefrom. (1) A landlord renting property covered by this chapter may deduct from the security deposit a sum equal to the damage alleged to have been caused by the tenant, together with a sum equal to the unpaid rent, late charges, utilities, penalties due under lease provisions, and other money owing to the landlord at the time of deduction, including rent owed under 70-24-441(3), and a sum for actual cleaning expenses, including a reasonable charge for the landlord's labor. (2) At the request of either party, the premises may be inspected within 1 week prior to termination of the tenancy. (3) (a) Cleaning charges may not be imposed for normal maintenance performed on a cyclical basis by the landlord as noted by the landlord at the time that the tenant occupies the space unless the landlord is forced to perform this maintenance because of negligence of the …
Sponsors
- Karlen, Jonathan (D, 98) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (H) Died in Process
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (H) Signed by Governor
- : (H) Transmitted to Governor
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (H) Returned from Enrolling
- : (H) Sent to Enrolling
- : (H) 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
Votes
- Take HB 304 from JUH - Karlen (March 5, 2025): 50 yea, 48 nay, passed
Subjects: Landlord and Tenant
Common questions
- What is HB304?
- HB304 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise security deposit laws to provide tenants more information and time.
- What does HB304 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act revising residential tenant security deposit laws to give tenants more information about cleaning not accomplished and more time to complete additional cleaning; prohibiting charging a fee for inspecting the cleaning accomplished by tenants; and amending section 70-25-201, mca.".
- What is the status of HB304?
- Chaptered as of May 20, 2025. Latest action: (H) Died in Process (May 20, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB304?
- Karlen, Jonathan (D, 98).
- Where is the official record for HB304?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1958
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.