All Roll Calls
Yes: 506 • No: 34
MontanaHB 44469th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET
Generally revise tenant landlord laws
Sponsored By: Paul Tuss (Democrat)
Became Law
Landlord and Tenant
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Faster, clearer security deposit refunds
Within 30 days after you move out or surrender the unit, the landlord must send a written list of any rent due, damages, and cleaning charges and pay you the balance. Refunds can be sent by mail, electronic transfer, cash, or check to your new or last‑known address. If there are no damages, no cleaning, no unpaid rent, and you show no unpaid utilities, the landlord must return your full deposit within 10 days. It is not wrongful withholding if the landlord mails funds to your last‑known address when you did not give a new one, but the landlord still owes any amount due. You can still recover money owed even if you did not provide a new address in writing.
Renters: new deposit and cleaning rules
The law lists what a landlord can take from your deposit: tenant damage, unpaid rent, late fees, utilities, lease penalties, and actual cleaning, including reasonable labor. No one can deduct for other reasons. Landlords cannot charge for routine maintenance noted at move‑in unless your negligence caused it. Before taking cleaning costs, they must send written notice of what you missed and what is needed; after proper notice, you have 24 hours to finish the cleaning (certified mail counts three days after mailing). You or the landlord can ask for an inspection within one week before move‑out. If you leave without notice, the landlord may deduct cleaning without prior notice or can leave a copy in the unit and notify you by email, phone, or text.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Paul Tuss
Democrat • House
Cosponsors
Daniel Zolnikov
Republican • Senate
Mike Cuffe
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/17/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 93 • No: 6
House vote • 4/16/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 97 • No: 1
House vote • 4/12/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 50 • No: 0
House vote • 4/9/2025
Do Pass As Amended
Yes: 44 • No: 5
House vote • 4/9/2025
AMD-HB0444.002.001 Usher D/PASS
Yes: 27 • No: 22
House vote • 3/1/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 97 • No: 0
House vote • 2/28/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 98 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chapter Number Assigned
5/16/2025HouseSigned by Governor
5/12/2025HouseTransmitted to Governor
5/5/2025HouseSigned by President
5/2/2025SenateSigned by Speaker
5/1/2025HouseReturned from Enrolling
4/23/2025HouseSent to Enrolling
4/18/2025House3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate
4/17/2025House2nd Reading Senate Amendments Concurred
4/16/2025HouseReturned to House with Amendments
4/12/2025Senate3rd Reading Concurred
4/12/2025Senate2nd Reading Concurred as Amended
4/9/2025Senate2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried
4/9/2025SenateCommittee Report--Bill Concurred
3/25/2025SenateCommittee Executive Action--Bill Concurred
3/24/2025SenateReferred to Committee
3/4/2025SenateFirst Reading
3/3/2025Senate3rd Reading Passed
3/1/2025House2nd Reading Passed
2/28/2025HouseCommittee Report--Bill Passed as Amended
2/24/2025HouseCommittee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended
2/24/2025HouseHearing
2/12/2025HouseFirst Reading
2/11/2025HouseReferred to Committee
2/11/2025HouseIntroduced
2/10/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
4/22/2025
As Amended (Version 3)
4/9/2025
As Amended (Version 2)
2/24/2025
Introduced
2/10/2025