This bill creates a new Montana tax credit for renters under 62 with household income below $45,000 who pay rent-equivalent property taxes, allowing them to claim up to $1,200 or $1,750 depending on their rent-to-income ratio. It also permits qualifying teachers to exclude certain earned income when calculating their eligibility for this credit. The legislation increases the residential property tax credit for elderly taxpayers and adjusts the income thresholds where these credits begin to phase out. Additionally, the bill schedules periodic reviews of various state tax credits starting in 2025 to assess their effectiveness and impact on taxpayers.
This bill increases the maximum income tax credit available to elderly homeowners and renters in Montana by adjusting the credit calculation thresholds and amounts. It directly affects seniors who own or rent their primary residences by providing a tax credit that offsets a portion of their property taxes or rent-equivalent costs. The key mechanism involves raising the income threshold at which the credit begins to phase out and increasing the maximum credit amount, while also updating the definition of household income to $14,100 for calculation purposes. The bill includes an inflationary adjustment provision to ensure the credit maximum and phase-out income levels keep pace with economic changes.
This bill, known as the Keep Montanans Housed Act, gives tenants the first opportunity to buy their rental homes before landlords sell them to third parties. It requires landlords to offer tenants a bona fide purchase price based on comparable market value or appraised value before selling or demolishing a property. Tenants have 45 days to accept the offer or challenge it with an independent appraisal at their own expense, while landlords cannot retain partial ownership in the sale. The law applies to rental dwelling units and takes effect on July 1, 2025.
This bill requires landlords and property managers in Montana to refund application fees within 20 days if a prospective tenant does not sign a lease agreement. Landlords may only retain fees to cover actual out-of-pocket costs like credit checks, which must be capped at $25 per service and provided to applicants within seven days. The law also mandates that landlords accept valid credit or background checks from the past six months and provides tenants with written itemization of how application fees are allocated. Applicants who believe fees were wrongfully withheld can sue for damages and potentially recover attorney fees, while the burden of proving services were rendered falls on the landlord.
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.
This bill creates a Montana Emergency Solutions Grant to provide state funding for rapid rehousing programs aimed at individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The legislation appropriates $1 million for fiscal year 2025 and $1 million for fiscal year 2026 to the Department of Public Health and Human Services, which must distribute these funds according to existing federal emergency solutions grant guidelines. Eligible recipients can receive rental assistance at up to 150% of fair market rent, but only for program participants with annual incomes below 80% of the area median income. The funds must be fully distributed by the end of each fiscal year, and the bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.
This bill establishes a new workforce renter's tax credit for Montana residents under 62 with household incomes below $45,000 who pay rent-equivalent property taxes, allowing eligible renters to claim up to $1,200 or $1,750 depending on their rent-to-income ratio. It also permits qualifying teachers to exclude certain earned income when calculating this credit and ensures any excess credit is refunded even if the taxpayer has no state income tax liability. Additionally, the bill increases the residential property tax credit for elderly residents and includes an inflationary adjustment to the income thresholds where these credits begin to phase out. The legislation also schedules periodic reviews of various tax credits, including the new workforce renter's credit, to evaluate their effectiveness and impact on taxpayers every eight years.
This bill requires self-storage facility operators in Montana to take steps to reduce financial losses when a renter leaves their leased space before the lease ends. The key provision establishes a legal duty for operators to actively mitigate damages rather than simply charging the full remaining rent owed. This change directly affects storage business owners and their tenants by altering how early lease terminations are handled financially. The bill adds this requirement to existing Montana laws governing self-storage facilities without changing other operational rules.
This bill requires mobile home park lot rentals in Montana to have a minimum lease term of three years, with exceptions only if the tenant signs a documented waiver. It also mandates that landlords provide at least 180 days written notice before terminating a lease without cause. Additionally, the bill establishes monetary damages of up to one month's rent for either party who ends the lease early without cause. These changes aim to provide greater housing stability for mobile home residents and align state lease terms with federal housing program requirements.
This bill updates Montana's residential landlord-tenant laws to modernize how security deposits are handled and to allow for electronic communication and payments. It directly affects landlords and tenants by changing rules for cleaning charges, damage deductions, and the return of security deposits. Key provisions include allowing landlords to deduct reasonable cleaning labor costs, requiring written notice before charging for cleaning, and permitting landlords to send notices and refund deposits via email or electronic transfer. The bill also clarifies that landlords remain liable for returning deposits even if tenants fail to provide a new address, and it allows for immediate implementation upon passage.
