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.
SB 302 revises property tax appeal procedures for residential property owners in Montana. It establishes an option for individuals appealing a residential property tax valuation to choose an informal review process at the Montana Tax Appeal Board (MTAB). If a taxpayer elects this informal review, the MTAB's decision is final and cannot be appealed further by either the taxpayer or the Department of Revenue. The bill also specifies that for residential property appeals, a taxpayer's independent appraisal is presumed correct unless the department provides sufficient evidence to rebut it.
SB 38 revises laws concerning attorney fees that can be awarded against government entities. The bill specifies that if a party sues to compel a legislative veto override poll and the poll does not result in an override, the party who brought the suit is not considered to have "prevailed." This change prevents government entities from being liable for the opposing party's attorney fees in such circumstances, even if the government's defense was found to be frivolous or in bad faith. This bill affects government entities and individuals or groups involved in legal actions related to legislative veto override polls.
SB 369 strengthens youth suicide prevention efforts in Montana schools by revising existing laws. It requires the Office of Public Instruction to ensure low-cost and no-cost options for youth suicide awareness and prevention training for schools. Employees of school districts and certain Office of Public Instruction staff who work directly with students must complete at least one hour of this training every three years. School districts are also required to include these training requirements in their suicide prevention and response policies.
SB 375 revises laws concerning the sale of hemp products to consumers in Montana. This bill prohibits the sale of edible products containing hemp that also contain total delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to individual consumers in the state. An exception is made if such products are authorized as a food or drug by the United States Food and Drug Administration. This legislation directly affects consumers and businesses involved in the sale of these specific edible hemp products.
SB 404 requires local governments (cities, towns, counties) and the Department of Labor and Industry to send copies of building permits for new construction to the Montana Department of Revenue within 30 days of issuance. This includes location details like address or geocode to help the tax agency identify new properties for property appraisal purposes. The bill directly affects local governments and the labor department by adding a reporting obligation. It does not change tax rates or create new taxes, but streamlines data sharing between agencies for existing appraisal processes.
SB 168 revises laws regarding lakeshore protection, primarily affecting property owners and contractors with structures in lakeshore protection zones. The bill establishes a 3-year statute of limitations for legal actions against these parties for violating lakeshore regulations, starting from construction completion or permit issuance for clearly visible structures. This limitation does not apply if the structure causes documented harm to the lakeshore, interferes with navigation, or creates a public nuisance. Additionally, the bill exempts minor ongoing maintenance, remodeling, or modifications (changes under $10,000 over five years) from future permitting requirements, unless they involve significant environmental impact or interfere with navigation.
SB 493 establishes the offense of criminal trespass by unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone. This bill makes it illegal for a person to knowingly fly a drone 200 feet or lower over another person's private property or residence without authorization. A conviction for this offense carries a $500 fine. The bill includes exceptions for operations by government agencies for public safety, utility or broadband service providers for inspections, and FAA-licensed operators conducting legitimate business activities.
SB 262 exempts certain water and sewer system plans, along with specific subdivision applications, from environmental review requirements. The bill removes the obligation for the state department to conduct environmental reviews for water or sewer system plans. Additionally, it removes the requirement for local governments and independent reviewers to comply with the Montana Environmental Policy Act when reviewing small public water and sewer systems or subdivisions connecting to existing municipal systems. This change aims to streamline the approval process for these types of projects.
This bill, SB 271, revises laws concerning student-athlete rights and protections at 2-year or 4-year public or private colleges and universities in Montana. It maintains the existing prohibition preventing postsecondary institutions or athletic associations from directly compensating student-athletes for the use of their name, image, or likeness (NIL). The bill defines student-athlete rights to earn NIL compensation
Senate Bill 191 establishes a new licensing system for residential treatment centers in Montana. It grants the Department of Public Health and Human Services the authority to create administrative rules for these centers, covering areas such as staff qualifications, treatment services, insurance, and background checks. The bill requires these centers to obtain accreditation from an entity approved by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, with provisional licenses available during the accreditation process. Finally, it extends eligibility for appropriate educational opportunities to children placed in these newly defined residential treatment centers.
SB 433 revises right-of-way laws for drivers navigating roundabouts in Montana. It establishes that vehicles already in a roundabout have the right-of-way over those approaching it, which must yield. The bill creates specific provisions for towing vehicles, allowing them to deviate lanes for safe passage and requiring other drivers to yield and not pass them within or approaching a roundabout. If two towing vehicles enter a roundabout simultaneously, the vehicle to the left is granted the right-of-way.
