Committee roundup: hearings on several bills; House Business and Labor advances two measures

The Montana House Business and Labor Committee heard several bills on Feb. 1, 2025, covering topics from appraisal liability to insurance incentives and alcohol licensing. Committee members held hearings, took technical amendments, and in executive action advanced some bills to the House floor.

What the committee heard (high‑level): - House Bill 135 (appraiser statutes of repose): Representative Steve Fitzpatrick, sponsor, said the bill would add a statute of repose for real estate appraisers and related entities — limiting when claims may be brought. Multiple appraisers testified that uniform standards require a five‑year record retention and that uncertainty about later lawsuits after records are destroyed leaves appraisers vulnerable. Proponents urged the committee to provide a hard cap; no final committee vote on HB 135 was recorded in the transcript.

- House Bill 136 (insurance premium discounts for mitigation): Fitzpatrick said the bill clarifies that insurers may offer premium reductions or benefits for property‑level mitigation steps (wildfire hardening, defensible space, noncombustible materials, wind/hail protections) without those discounts qualifying as illegal “rebating.” The bill drew…