House Bill 239 seeks to enhance the regulatory framework for construction contractors in Montana by transferring the registration process to a licensing program under the Department of Labor and Industry. The bill establishes clear definitions, licensing requirements, and provisions to address unprofessional conduct among contractors. It mandates that individuals or business entities must obtain a current license to operate as construction contractors, requiring specific information such as social security numbers and proof of compliance with workers' compensation laws. The legislation also outlines penalties for violations, including fines and potential suspension or debarment from public works contracts. Significant amendments include the deletion of references to the previous Title 39, chapter 9, and the repeal of certain sections of existing law, while introducing new provisions for fees, fines, and educational programs.

In addition to the changes for construction contractors, the bill amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated related to home inspections, clarifying the definition of a home inspection and the responsibilities of home inspectors. It removes references to construction contractors in several sections, focusing solely on home inspectors, and establishes that the Department will charge fees for the issuance, renewal, and reinstatement of home inspector registration certificates. The bill also modifies liability provisions for individuals engaging home inspectors, ensuring they are not liable as employers for workers' compensation or unemployment insurance coverage for registered home inspectors and their employees. The effective date for the implementation of these new regulations is set for January 1, 2026.

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