Committee approves interim study of property management licensing and practices

The House Judiciary Committee voted to pass House Joint Resolution 55, which requests an interim study of property management licensing, education and fees in Montana.

Representative Amy Regier introduced HJ 55 as a study resolution "evaluating property management licensing and practice," saying the interim review would help lawmakers understand landlord-tenant relationships and how licensing could be improved. John Synrude of the Montana Landlord Association testified in support, saying licensing currently "is really short, lacking in education and information" and that property managers often call him with basic questions about the tenant-landlord act. Synrude gave examples he described as inappropriate charges to tenants, asking whether a $100 filter-change fee should be charged to tenants when maintenance is the owner's responsibility.

Quintin O'Connor, chief legal counsel for the Department of Labor and Industry, which operates the property-management licensing program, answered committee questions and said his office had about "40 complaints a year" in Real Property Management after changes last session moved oversight into the department. Committee members discussed whether to combine HJ 55 with a related study (HJ 41) and whether the study's narrow scope would include tenant advocates; Representative Zephyr criticized HJ 55 as too narrowly focused and said it "feels like it's explicitly designed not to bring everyone to the table." Representative Klacken and others urged keeping the studies separate so each can provide tailored information.

After discussion, the committee took a roll-call vote and HJ 55 passed, 15-5. The resolution was reported out of committee for interim study.

Next steps: HJ 55 will be placed with the appropriate interim committee for study during the interim; stakeholder participation and the final scope will be developed in that process.