Senate bill would clarify hotels and tourist homes aren’t treated as long‑term property managers under Title 37
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Summary
Sen. Sue Vinton said SB 442 would confirm that managers of short‑term hotel and tourist home rentals licensed under MCA Title 50 Chapter 51 are not subject to the property management statutes in Title 37; the Department of Labor and Industry provided informational testimony and no public opponents appeared.
Senate Bill 442, sponsored in the committee by Sen. Sue Vinton, would explicitly exempt short‑term hotel and tourist home operators licensed under Montana Code Annotated Title 50 from being treated as property managers under Title 37. In her presentation, Vinton said the change would align statutes with historic practice and avoid applying long‑term landlord rules to transient guests.
Why it matters: The bill aims to confirm that property management statutes and rules intended for long‑term housing don’t govern hotels and tourist homes whose guests are transient and who are licensed under Title 50. Supporters said Title 50 already imposes hygiene, bedding, cleanliness and licensing rules for hotels and tourist homes.
Sen. Sue Vinton (Senate District 20) told committee members the bill “confirms the historic practice of the department of labor to not treat hotel and tourist home operators as property managers.” She said Title 37’s property management rules are meant for long‑term housing and agencies should rely on Title 50 for hotel and tourist home regulation.
Quentin O’Connor, chief legal counsel for DLI, appeared as an informational witness and said he was available to answer questions. No proponents or opponents from the public were recorded for the hearing, and no committee vote was taken during the session.
Next steps: The hearing was opened and closed with the sponsor available for questions; the committee did not take a formal vote on SB 442 during the recorded proceedings.