House Bill 239 seeks to revise the regulatory framework for construction contractors by transferring their registration to a department licensing program. The bill establishes a clear purpose focused on protecting public health, safety, and welfare through the regulation of construction contractors. It includes definitions, grants rulemaking authority, and sets forth licensing requirements, unprofessional conduct standards, and associated fees, fines, and penalties for violations. Key amendments to the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) include the requirement for individuals or business entities to obtain a current license from the Department of Labor and Industry to operate as construction contractors, as well as the introduction of penalties for unprofessional conduct, which may include fines up to $5,000 and potential suspension from public works contracts.

In addition to the changes for construction contractors, the bill also amends laws related to home inspections, clarifying the definition of home inspections and the responsibilities of home inspectors. It removes references to construction contractors in several sections, focusing solely on home inspectors, and establishes that registration and renewal fees will be determined by administrative rule. The bill modifies liability provisions for individuals engaging home inspectors, ensuring they are not liable for workers' compensation or unemployment insurance for registered inspectors and their employees. The effective date for the new provisions is set for January 1, 2026, allowing for a transition period to implement the changes.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_1(1): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_1(2): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_1(3): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_1(4): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_1(5): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_1(6): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_1(7): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_1: 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_2(1): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_2(10): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_2(11): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_2(12): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_2(13): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_2(14): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_2(15): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_2(2): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_2(3): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_2(4): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_2(5): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_2(6): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_2(7): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_2(8): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_2(9): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_2: 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_X(1): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_X(2): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_X(3): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_X(4): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_X(5): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_X(6): 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401
HB0239_X: 18-2-413, 18-2-414, 37-1-401, 39-9-101, 39-9-102, 39-9-206, 39-9-207, 39-9-301, 39-9-303, 39-71-401