SB 243 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Amend zoning regulations to allow taller buildings

SB 243 amends state zoning laws to allow for increased housing density and building height in certain municipalities. In urban areas with populations over 5,000, it requires cities to permit multiple-unit dwellings and mixed-use developments in commercial zones, provided they have municipal water and sewer. For these developments, the bill limits parking requirements to no more than one space per unit and prohibits height restrictions below 60 feet in specific commercial and industrial zones. Furthermore, it mandates that cities with at least 5,000 residents allow duplex housing in areas zoned for single-family residences, with similar zoning regulations.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 30, 2025 Signed May 16, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 6 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB0243_X(2).pdf SB0243_X(3).pdf · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill text was updated to change the title from 'DELAYED EFFECTIVE DATE' to 'A DELAYED EFFECTIVE DATE', clarifying the nature of the timing provision. Additionally, a minor formatting adjustment was made to the indentation of a list item regarding height restrictions in commercial zones, without altering the underlying legal requirement.
TECHNICAL

The title of the act was modified to include the article 'A' before 'DELAYED EFFECTIVE DATE', likely to improve grammatical flow or consistency with legislative drafting standards.

The indentation of a list item describing height restrictions for downtown commercial, heavy commercial, or industrial zones was adjusted, but the substantive rule remains unchanged.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 17, 2025 · House Apr 11, 2025

How they voted

419
Passed
Total votes 50
Apr 17, 2025
D Democratic18
13 Yea 5 Nay
72% Yea
R Republican32
28 Yea 4 Nay
87% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
48
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 13, 2025
Signed into law
(S) Signed by Governor
upper
May 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 17, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (41-9)
senate
Apr 12, 2025
Introduced
(H) Returned to Senate with Amendments
lower
Apr 11, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (76-23-1)
house
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Local Government
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Local Government
lower
Mar 3, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Local Government
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Local Government
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Local Government
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Local Government
upper
Jan 30, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Ellie Boldman
Ellie Boldman
DDemocratic
MT
47