Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB444: Generally revise tenant landlord laws
Status: Signed into law, May 16, 2025
What the bill says
An act generally revising laws related to residential tenants' security deposits; providing landlords the ability to provide notices by e-mail; specifying how the landlord may return a security deposit; amending sections 70-25-201 and 70-25-202, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING LAWS RELATED TO RESIDENTIAL TENANTS' SECURITY DEPOSITS; PROVIDING LANDLORDS THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE NOTICES BY E-MAIL; SPECIFYING HOW THE LANDLORD MAY RETURN A SECURITY DEPOSIT; AMENDING SECTIONS 70-25-201 AND 70-25-202, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. Section 1. Section 70-25-201, MCA, is amended to read: "70-25-201. Security deposit -- 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 7024-441(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 tenant. Additionally, cleaning charges may not be deducted until written notice has been given to the tenant. …
Sponsors
- Tuss, Paul (D, 27) · primary sponsor
- Cuffe, Mike (R, 1)
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (H) Signed by Governor
- : (H) Signed by Governor
- : (H) Transmitted to Governor
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (H) Transmitted to Governor
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
Votes
- Do Concur (April 17, 2025): 93 yea, 6 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 16, 2025): 97 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 12, 2025): 50 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass As Amended (April 9, 2025): 44 yea, 5 nay, passed
- AMD-HB0444.002.001 Usher D/PASS (April 9, 2025): 27 yea, 22 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 1, 2025): 97 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Landlord and Tenant
Common questions
- What is HB444?
- HB444 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Generally revise tenant landlord laws.
- What does HB444 do?
- In its own words: An act generally revising laws related to residential tenants' security deposits; providing landlords the ability to provide notices by e-mail; specifying how the landlord may return a security deposit; amending sections 70-25-201 and 70-25-202, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.
- What is the status of HB444?
- Signed into law as of May 16, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 19, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB444?
- Tuss, Paul (D, 27), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB444?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0880
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.