Revise emotional support animal laws
SB 149 revises laws regarding emotional support animals (ESAs) in housing, affecting tenants with disabilities and landlords. The bill allows landlords to request specific documentation from a licensed health care practitioner if a tenant's need for an ESA is not readily apparent. This documentation must come from a practitioner with an established client-provider relationship who has conducted a clinical evaluation and identified the specific therapeutic support the animal provides. The bill also clarifies that ESA registration cards alone are not sufficient proof and holds tenants liable for damages caused by their emotional support animals.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 14, 2025
Signed May 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
SB0149_3(12).pdf
→
SB0149_X.pdf
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends Montana laws governing emotional support animals in housing to clarify documentation requirements and restrict landlord powers. It explicitly prohibits landlords from demanding proof of licensure or vaccination for these animals and bans requests for medical records or disability diagnoses. The changes aim to prevent discrimination by ensuring landlords cannot use these specific barriers to deny housing accommodations.
Scope change
The bill applies to all landlords and tenants in Montana regarding reasonable accommodations for emotional support animals under state housing law.
REQUIREMENT
Removed the requirement for landlords to demand proof of state licensure and vaccination compliance for emotional support animals.
Removed the authority for landlords to request medical records or the specific severity of a tenant's disability.
Corrected grammatical errors in the text regarding what supporting information must include.
DEFINITION
Clarified that 'health care practitioners' must have an established client relationship and complete a clinical evaluation before issuing documentation.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 12, 2025 · House Apr 9, 2025
How they voted
40–10
Passed
Total votes 50
Apr 12, 2025
D
Democratic18
88% Yea
R
Republican32
75% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
41
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 5, 2025
Signed into law
(S) Signed by Governor
upper
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 12, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (40-10)
senate
Apr 9, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (62-35-3)
house
Apr 9, 2025
Introduced
(H) Returned to Senate with Amendments
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Judiciary
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Judiciary
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Judiciary
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Judiciary
upper
Jan 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Judiciary
upper
Jan 16, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Judiciary
upper
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Denley Loge
RRepublican
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