Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB126: Revise tenant moveout laws
Status: Failed, May 23, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act providing for what constitutes normal wear; providing that the charge for the landlord's labor may not exceed prevailing costs for a professional cleaner; providing that deductions may not be imposed for carpeting or repainting after a tenancy of 2 or more years; requiring that tenants be provided a copy of a professional cleaner's bill if professional cleaners are used; revising timelines for wrongful withholding to days; and amending sections 70-25-201, 70-25-202, and 70-25-204, mca.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT PROVIDING FOR WHAT CONSTITUTES NORMAL WEAR; PROVIDING THAT THE CHARGE FOR THE LANDLORD'S LABOR MAY NOT EXCEED PREVAILING COSTS FOR A PROFESSIONAL CLEANER; PROVIDING THAT DEDUCTIONS MAY NOT BE IMPOSED FOR CARPETING OR REPAINTING AFTER A TENANCY OF 2 OR MORE YEARS; REQUIRING THAT TENANTS BE PROVIDED A COPY OF A PROFESSIONAL CLEANER'S BILL IF PROFESSIONAL CLEANERS ARE USED; REVISING TIMELINES FOR WRONGFUL WITHHOLDING TO DAYS; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 70-25-201, 70-25-202, AND 70-25-204, MCA." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: NEW SECTION. Section 1. Normal wear. Normal wear includes but is not limited (2) a reasonable number of scuffs and chips on painted walls; and (3) visible wear on carpets and other flooring in high-traffic areas of a residence. Section 2. 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 …
Sponsors
- Dunwell, Mary Ann (D, 42) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (S) Died in Process
- : (S) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
- : (S) Tabled in Committee
- : (S) Hearing
- : (S) Referred to Committee
- : (S) 1st Reading
- : (S) Introduced
- : (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- : (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- : (LC) Draft in Assembly
Subjects: Landlord and Tenant
Common questions
- What is SB126?
- SB126 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise tenant moveout laws.
- What does SB126 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act providing for what constitutes normal wear; providing that the charge for the landlord's labor may not exceed prevailing costs for a professional cleaner; providing that deductions may not be imposed for carpeting or repainting after a tenancy of 2 or more years; requiring that tenants be provided a copy of a professional cleaner's bill if professional cleaners are used; revising timelines for wrongful withholding to days; and amending sections 70-25-201, 70-25-202, and 70-25-204, mca.".
- What is the status of SB126?
- Failed as of May 23, 2025. Latest action: (S) Died in Process (May 23, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB126?
- Dunwell, Mary Ann (D, 42).
- Where is the official record for SB126?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0692
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.