The proposed bill seeks to amend the Montana Residential Mobile Home Lot Rental Act by establishing a Montana Mobile Home Park Dispute Resolution Program, which will be managed by the Department of Commerce. This program aims to facilitate a structured process for resolving disputes between mobile home landlords and tenants concerning violations of the rental act. Key responsibilities of the Department include producing educational materials on rights, handling complaints, conducting investigations, and enforcing penalties for violations. The bill also requires the registration of mobile home parks, the collection of fees, and the establishment of a dispute resolution account to support the program's operations.

Significant amendments to the definitions in Section 70-33-103 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) are included in the bill. Notable insertions define "complainant" to include landlords, tenants, or their representatives filing complaints, and expand "eligible organization" to encompass community land trusts, local governments, and nonprofit housing organizations. The introduction of the term "resident association" formalizes tenant organizations in mobile home parks, while "respondent" refers to landlords or tenants accused of violations. These changes aim to improve clarity and inclusivity in the legal framework governing landlord-tenant relationships, ultimately enhancing protections for both parties in the mobile home rental market in Montana.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 17-7-502, 70-33-103
HB0305_1(1): 17-7-502, 70-33-103
HB0305_1(2): 17-7-502, 70-33-103
HB0305_1(3): 17-7-502, 70-33-103
HB0305_1: 17-7-502, 70-33-103