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MontanaSB 20169th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)Senate

Revise contaminated property cleanup laws for dangerous drugs

Sponsored By: Vince Ricci (Republican)

Signed by Governor

AlcoholEnvironmental ProtectionPropertyRule Making

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Clear cleanup standards and more sampling

The law adds fentanyl to the contaminated‑property program and requires the department to set cleanup rules for it. The department can also set rules for drug precursors. Inspectors must take at least six surface samples per property and at least three HVAC samples if a system is present, unless a department rule sets other numbers and locations. The law defines who is a certified contractor, what “surface material” means, and what a “volunteer property” is. These rules give owners and occupants clearer safety targets, but the extra sampling can raise inspection costs.

Disclosure, public list, and owner protections

If you know your home was a meth or fentanyl lab or is contaminated and it is not remediated by a certified contractor, you must give written notice to any buyer or tenant before they sign. You can instead give written proof that a certified contractor sent cleanup documents to the department or that the home meets standards without cleanup. The department keeps a public website list of reported contaminated homes and must remove a home after it confirms proper cleanup or that it meets standards without cleanup. After removal, owners, landlords, and agents do not have to disclose the past contamination. For “volunteer properties,” the department verifies cleanup but does not list them on public sites. Once the department confirms the cleanup standard is met and you gave the required notices, you and your agent are not liable for claims based on meth contamination.

Certified cleanup contractors and penalties

Only people certified by the department can claim to assess or clean meth or fentanyl contamination. The department sets training, testing, and certification rules and can charge fees, and it keeps a public list of certified contractors. Out-of-state certified contractors may need refresher training to work in Montana. If you claim certification without being certified, the department can revoke your license or certification, fine up to $1,000 and require at least 16 hours of training for a first offense, and up to $2,000 and at least 24 hours for a second offense.

Police must report drug lab homes

When state or local police learn a home was used as a meth or fentanyl lab and is contaminated, they must report it to the department and the local health officer. This improves coordination and helps protect public health.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Vince Ricci

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Lee Deming

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 298 • No: 1

House vote • 4/11/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 100 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/21/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 49 • No: 1

Senate vote • 2/20/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 50 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/8/2025Senate

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/5/2025Senate

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    4/28/2025Senate

  4. Signed by Speaker

    4/25/2025House

  5. Signed by President

    4/21/2025Senate

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/12/2025Senate

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/11/2025Senate

  8. 3rd Reading

    4/11/2025House

  9. 2nd Reading

    4/10/2025House

  10. Committee Report

    4/9/2025House

  11. Committee Executive Action

    4/9/2025House

  12. Hearing

    4/7/2025House

  13. Fiscal Note Printed

    2/27/2025Senate

  14. Fiscal Note Signed

    2/27/2025Senate

  15. Fiscal Note Received

    2/27/2025Senate

  16. 1st Reading

    2/22/2025House

  17. Referred to Committee

    2/22/2025House

  18. Transmitted to House

    2/21/2025Senate

  19. 3rd Reading

    2/21/2025Senate

  20. 2nd Reading

    2/20/2025Senate

  21. Fiscal Note Requested

    2/20/2025Senate

  22. Committee Report

    2/18/2025Senate

  23. Committee Executive Action

    2/17/2025Senate

  24. Hearing

    1/28/2025Senate

  25. Referred to Committee

    1/23/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/15/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    2/18/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/22/2025

    PDF

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