LC 962 Legislature · 2025 Regular Session

Revise laws related to squatting

This bill creates two new criminal offenses in Montana: unlawful squatting and fraudulent sale or lease of property. The unlawful squatting offense applies to anyone who knowingly enters and stays on another person's property without permission, while the fraudulent sale offense targets those who advertise property they do not legally own or have authority to rent. Key provisions include mandatory restitution for squatting victims equal to fair market rent, a minimum six-month jail sentence for fraudulent property listings, and a process allowing property owners to request immediate law enforcement removal of unauthorized occupants. The bill also establishes a fee structure for law enforcement services during removals and creates a civil remedy for wrongful removals, while requiring property owners to indemnify law enforcement if they knowingly provide false information in removal requests.
Bill status introduced 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2024
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Nov 10, 2024 Last action Dec 20, 2024
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