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MontanaHB 31169th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Require the refund of rental application fees

Sponsored By: Kelly Kortum (Democrat)

Became Law

Landlord and TenantCourtsHousing

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Renters get application fee refunds

For buildings with four or more units, landlords must refund your application fee when you don’t sign a lease or equivalent agreement. They must do this within a reasonable time. When they take the fee, they must give a written breakdown of each service’s cost, like a credit check. They can keep only out‑of‑pocket costs for services actually done and listed in that notice. They cannot keep money for services not done, or for their time or effort. If money is kept wrongly, you can sue to get it back, and a court may award attorney fees to the winner. The landlord must prove any amount kept was lawful, and these rules apply only to fees collected on or after the law’s effective date.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Kelly Kortum

    Democrat • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 477 • No: 251

House vote • 4/15/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 68 • No: 29

House vote • 4/14/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 74 • No: 22

House vote • 4/8/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 34 • No: 14

House vote • 4/5/2025

AMD-HB0311.002.001 Trebas D/PASS

Yes: 26 • No: 19

House vote • 4/5/2025

Do Pass As Amended

Yes: 34 • No: 12

House vote • 3/20/2025

Rerefer to Senate Local Government-Trebas

Yes: 21 • No: 29

House vote • 3/20/2025

Rerefer to Business and Labor-Flowers

Yes: 29 • No: 21

House vote • 3/7/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 67 • No: 32

House vote • 3/5/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 67 • No: 31

House vote • 3/4/2025

Take HB 311 from JUH - Kortum

Yes: 57 • No: 42

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/5/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/1/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    4/22/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    4/22/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    4/18/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/15/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/15/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate

    4/15/2025House

  9. 2nd Reading Senate Amendments Concurred

    4/14/2025House

  10. Returned to House with Amendments

    4/8/2025Senate

  11. 3rd Reading Concurred

    4/8/2025Senate

  12. 2nd Reading House Amendments Concurred

    4/5/2025Senate

  13. 2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried

    4/5/2025Senate

  14. Committee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended

    4/3/2025Senate

  15. Hearing

    4/3/2025Senate

  16. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended

    4/2/2025Senate

  17. Hearing Canceled

    3/24/2025Senate

  18. Hearing

    3/24/2025Senate

  19. Hearing

    3/22/2025Senate

  20. Rereferred to Committee

    3/20/2025Senate

  21. Referred to Committee

    3/14/2025Senate

  22. First Reading

    3/14/2025Senate

  23. Transmitted to Senate

    3/7/2025House

  24. 3rd Reading Passed

    3/7/2025House

  25. 2nd Reading Passed

    3/5/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/15/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 3)

    4/5/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    4/3/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/24/2025

    PDF

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