Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB485: Revise residential home construction contract laws
Status: Failed, May 20, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act providing that a bid in a residential home construction contract constitutes the total amount to be paid under the contract unless the parties agree otherwise; providing that bids based on time and materials must be agreed on by the parties in writing; and providing exceptions.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROVIDING THAT A BID IN A RESIDENTIAL HOME CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT CONSTITUTES THE TOTAL AMOUNT TO BE PAID UNDER THE CONTRACT UNLESS THE PARTIES AGREE OTHERWISE; PROVIDING THAT BIDS BASED ON TIME AND MATERIALS MUST BE AGREED ON BY THE PARTIES IN WRITING; AND PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: NEW SECTION. Section 1. Construction contract bids -- requirements. (1) In a residential home construction contract, a party may not increase the bid amount if the bid is already accepted. The accepted construction bid constitutes the full financial obligations of the parties relating to agreed-on construction services. (2) (A) A RESIDENTIAL HOME CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT MAY NOT BE A TIME AND MATERIALS CONTRACT UNLESS AGREED ON BY THE PARTIES IN WRITING. (B) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION (2), "TIME AND MATERIALS CONTRACT" MEANS A RESIDENTIAL HOME CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT IN WHICH A CLIENT PAYS A CONTRACTOR BASED ON THE ACTUAL COST OF MATERIALS USED AND THE HOURLY RATE FOR ACTUAL LABOR SPENT ON THE RESIDENTIAL HOME UNTIL THE CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETED. (3) This section does not apply: (A) if the parties agree in writing, prior to the acceptance of the bid, that the bid does not constitute the final amount of money owed for the construction services …
Sponsors
- Fitzpatrick, John (R, 76) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (H) Died in Process
- : (H) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
- : (H) 3rd Reading
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (H) 2nd Reading
- : (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- : (H) Committee Report
- : (H) Committee Executive Action
- : (H) Hearing
- : (H) 1st Reading
Votes
- Do Pass (February 28, 2025): 44 yea, 54 nay, failed
- Do Pass (February 27, 2025): 64 yea, 35 nay, passed
Subjects: Consumer Protection, Housing, Buildings and Building Regulations, Contracts
Common questions
- What is HB485?
- HB485 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise residential home construction contract laws.
- What does HB485 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act providing that a bid in a residential home construction contract constitutes the total amount to be paid under the contract unless the parties agree otherwise; providing that bids based on time and materials must be agreed on by the parties in writing; and providing exceptions.".
- What is the status of HB485?
- Failed as of May 20, 2025. Latest action: (H) Died in Process (May 20, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB485?
- Fitzpatrick, John (R, 76).
- Where is the official record for HB485?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2352
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.