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MontanaHB 31169th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Require the refund of rental application fees

Sponsored By: Kelly Kortum (Democrat)

Signed by Governor

Landlord and TenantCourtsHousing

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Get back wrongfully kept fees

If a manager wrongfully keeps any part of your application fee, you can sue to recover that amount. A court may also award attorney fees to the winner. The manager must prove the services they charged for were actually done.

Renters get application fee refunds

Property managers who run 4 or more units must refund your rental application fee if you do not sign the lease. The refund must come within a reasonable time. If the fee covers specific services, they must give you a written breakdown when they collect it. If you do not sign, they may keep only the listed costs for services actually done and must refund the rest. A “cost” means their real out‑of‑pocket expense, not their time or effort. These rules cover fees paid 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: 486 • No: 255

House vote • 4/15/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 68 • No: 29

House vote • 4/14/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 78 • No: 22

Senate vote • 4/8/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 34 • No: 14

Senate vote • 4/5/2025

Do Pass As Amended

Yes: 36 • No: 14

Senate vote • 4/5/2025

AMD-HB0311.002.001 Trebas D/PASS

Yes: 28 • No: 21

Senate vote • 3/20/2025

Rerefer to Business and Labor-Flowers

Yes: 29 • No: 21

Senate vote • 3/20/2025

Rerefer to Senate Local Government-Trebas

Yes: 21 • No: 29

House vote • 3/7/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 67 • No: 32

House vote • 3/5/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 68 • 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 Senate Amendments

    4/15/2025House

  9. 2nd Reading Senate Amendments

    4/14/2025House

  10. Returned to House with Amendments

    4/8/2025Senate

  11. 3rd Reading

    4/8/2025Senate

  12. 2nd Reading House Amendments

    4/5/2025Senate

  13. 2nd Reading Motion to Amend

    4/5/2025Senate

  14. Committee Report

    4/3/2025Senate

  15. Hearing

    4/3/2025Senate

  16. Committee Executive Action

    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. 1st Reading

    3/14/2025Senate

  23. Transmitted to Senate

    3/7/2025House

  24. 3rd Reading

    3/7/2025House

  25. 2nd Reading

    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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