This bill revises the laws concerning the documentation required for emotional support animals (ESAs) in Montana. It amends Sections 70-24-114 and 70-33-110 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to clarify the process by which tenants with disabilities can request approval from landlords to keep an ESA as a reasonable accommodation. Key changes include a requirement for landlords to obtain supporting information that "must" substantiate the tenant's need for the ESA, rather than "may" as previously stated. This supporting information must come from a licensed health care practitioner who has established a client-provider relationship with the tenant and includes specific details about the assistance provided by the animal.

Additionally, the bill emphasizes that emotional support animal registrations alone do not suffice to establish a tenant's need for an ESA. It also clarifies that landlords cannot request information that reveals the diagnosis or severity of a tenant's disability, although tenants may choose to disclose such information voluntarily. New definitions are provided for "emotional support animal" and "health care practitioner," ensuring that the latter is licensed in Montana and has conducted a clinical evaluation of the tenant. Furthermore, the bill states that the required documentation does not compel landlords to allow the presence of an ESA if they comply with applicable laws.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(1): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(2): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(3): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(4): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(5): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(6): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(7): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(8): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(9): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1: 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(1): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(10): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(11): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(12): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(2): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(3): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(4): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(5): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(6): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(7): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(8): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(9): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2: 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(1): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(10): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(11): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(12): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(2): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(3): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(4): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(5): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(6): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(7): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(8): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(9): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3: 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_X(1): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_X(2): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_X(3): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_X(4): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_X(5): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_X: 70-24-114, 70-33-110