Study resolution on the landlord tenant act and mobile home lot rental act
Summary
House Joint Resolution 41 requests an interim study of two Montana housing laws: the Montana Residential Landlord and Tenant Act and the Montana Residential Mobile Home Lot Rental Act. The resolution notes that both laws are approaching their 50th anniversary and says they may need review to reflect current rental conditions, housing practices, and legal issues. It directs the Legislative Council to assign the study to an interim or statutory committee, or to staff, and to examine whether the statutes are outdated, how Montana compares with other states, and what reforms or clarifications may be appropriate.
The study would also look specifically at the growth of private equity ownership in Montana housing and its possible effects on affordability, housing stability, tenant protections, and community well-being. The resolution requires the committee or staff to solicit input from renters, landlords, mobile home park residents and owners, tenant unions, attorneys, and housing policy experts, and to report findings and recommendations to the 70th Legislature by September 15, 2026.
Impact
HJ 41 would not directly change Montana law, but it would authorize a legislative interim study that could lead to future amendments to the landlord-tenant and mobile home lot rental statutes. If adopted, it would place these housing laws under formal review, potentially influencing later legislation affecting renters, landlords, manufactured housing residents, mobile home park operators, and private equity housing owners. It also signals legislative attention to housing affordability and tenant protections within existing statutory frameworks.
Sentiment
The resolution appears to have been motivated by concern that Montana’s landlord-tenant and mobile home rental laws may be outdated and by a desire to examine modern housing pressures. The bill text frames the issue as important because a large share of Montanans rent and manufactured housing is a significant source of affordable housing. However, the bill died in standing committee after a 12-8 vote on a motion to table in House Judiciary, indicating that while there was some support for studying the issue, enough members opposed advancing it to stop the resolution.
Contention
The main points of contention are likely the scope and direction of the proposed study, especially the inclusion of private equity ownership in housing and the potential for future regulatory changes affecting landlords and mobile home park owners. Supporters seem focused on updating aging statutes, improving tenant protections, and examining affordability and stability concerns, while opponents may have viewed the resolution as unnecessary, too broad, or as a precursor to more restrictive housing regulation. The committee vote to table suggests disagreement over whether the Legislature should devote interim resources to this review.