Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB421: Require the refund of certain residential lease application fees
Status: Failed, May 23, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act revising laws related to residential rental application fees; waiving charges for or requiring the refund of portions of residential rental application fees; allowing certain costs to be deducted; providing for a civil action if an application fee is wrongfully withheld; providing definitions; and providing an immediate effective date and an applicability date.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED TO RESIDENTIAL RENTAL APPLICATION FEES; WAIVING CHARGES FOR OR REQUIRING THE REFUND OF PORTIONS OF RESIDENTIAL RENTAL APPLICATION FEES; ALLOWING CERTAIN COSTS TO BE DEDUCTED; PROVIDING FOR A CIVIL ACTION IF AN APPLICATION FEE IS WRONGFULLY WITHHELD; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: NEW SECTION. Section 1. Application fees -- credit checks -- reimbursement -- deduction of costs. (1) A landlord or manager of a residential premises that requires an application fee prior to the rental of the residential premises shall reimburse the application fee to the applicant within 20 days if the applicant does not become a party to a signed rental agreement for the residential premises or on the date that the applicant does not become a party to a rental agreement that has the same effect as if it had been signed pursuant to 7024-204. The landlord or manager of the residential premises may deduct out-of-pocket costs from the refund as provided in subsection (3). Alternatively, the landlord or manager may accept a credit check, criminal background check, or any application information as provided by the applicant within the prior 6 months, as provided in subsection (2), and waive …
Sponsors
- Boldman, Ellie (D, 47) · 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: Housing, Landlord and Tenant
Common questions
- What is SB421?
- SB421 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Require the refund of certain residential lease application fees.
- What does SB421 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act revising laws related to residential rental application fees; waiving charges for or requiring the refund of portions of residential rental application fees; allowing certain costs to be deducted; providing for a civil action if an application fee is wrongfully withheld; providing definitions; and providing an immediate effective date and an applicability date.".
- What is the status of SB421?
- Failed as of May 23, 2025. Latest action: (S) Died in Process (May 23, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB421?
- Boldman, Ellie (D, 47).
- Where is the official record for SB421?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1921
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.