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HB120 • 2025

Revise commercial property assessed clean energy laws

Revise commercial property assessed clean energy laws

Energy Housing
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Julie Darling
Last action
2025-04-07
Official status
Chapter Number Assigned
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide detailed information about the impact on local government budgets or how special assessments will be collected/enforced.

Update Rules for Clean Energy in Commercial Buildings

This law changes the definition of 'multifamily housing facility' and adds new definitions related to clean energy projects.

What This Bill Does

  • Expands the definition of 'multifamily housing facility' to include properties with at least five units that are primarily intended for residential use, each having a full bathroom and complete kitchen.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Owners and managers of multifamily housing facilities with at least five units

Terms To Know

multifamily housing facility
A property with at least five residential units, each having a full bathroom and complete kitchen.
energy conservation measure
An improvement to real property that saves energy or water, such as insulation or automated control systems.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the special assessments will be collected or enforced.
  • It does not detail which renewable energy technologies are eligible for funding.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-07 HOUSE

    (H) Signed by Governor

  2. 2025-04-07 HOUSE

    Chapter Number Assigned

  3. 2025-03-31 SENATE

    (S) Signed by President

  4. 2025-03-31 HOUSE

    (H) Transmitted to Governor

  5. 2025-03-28 HOUSE

    (H) Signed by Speaker

  6. 2025-03-27 HOUSE

    (H) Returned from Enrolling

  7. 2025-03-25 SENATE

    (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading

  8. 2025-03-25 SENATE

    (S) 3rd Reading Concurred

  9. 2025-03-25 HOUSE

    (H) Sent to Enrolling

  10. 2025-03-24 SENATE

    (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading

  11. 2025-03-24 SENATE

    (S) 2nd Reading Concurred

  12. 2025-03-20 SENATE

    (S) Committee Report--Bill Concurred

  13. 2025-03-19 SENATE

    (S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

  14. 2025-02-21 SENATE

    (S) Hearing

  15. 2025-02-18 SENATE

    (S) Referred to Committee

  16. 2025-01-23 SENATE

    (S) First Reading

  17. 2025-01-22 HOUSE

    (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading

  18. 2025-01-22 HOUSE

    (H) 3rd Reading Passed

  19. 2025-01-22 HOUSE

    (H) Transmitted to Senate

  20. 2025-01-21 HOUSE

    (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading

  21. 2025-01-21 HOUSE

    (H) 2nd Reading Passed

  22. 2025-01-17 HOUSE

    (H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed

  23. 2025-01-17 HOUSE

    (H) Committee Report--Bill Passed

  24. 2025-01-13 HOUSE

    (H) Fiscal Note Received

  25. 2025-01-13 HOUSE

    (H) Fiscal Note Signed

  26. 2025-01-13 HOUSE

    (H) Fiscal Note Printed

  27. 2025-01-11 HOUSE

    (H) Hearing

  28. 2025-01-07 HOUSE

    (H) Referred to Committee

  29. 2025-01-07 HOUSE

    (H) First Reading

  30. 2025-01-06 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester

  31. 2025-01-06 HOUSE

    (H) Introduced

  32. 2025-01-06 HOUSE

    (H) Fiscal Note Requested

  33. 2024-12-09 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Assembly

  34. 2024-12-09 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery

  35. 2024-11-14 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review

  36. 2024-10-30 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing

  37. 2024-10-29 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Edit

  38. 2024-10-28 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Legal Review

  39. 2024-09-09 HOUSE

    (LC) Drafter Assigned

Official Summary Text

Revise commercial property assessed clean energy laws

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
****
69th Legislature 2025 HB 120
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 120
ENROLLED BILL
AN ACT EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MULTIFAMILY FINANCING UNDER THE COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY-ASSESSED CAPITAL ENHANCEMENTS ACT; AMENDING SECTION 90-4-1302, MCA; AND
PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 90-4-1302, MCA, is amended to read:
"90-4-1302. Definitions. As used in this part, unless the context requires otherwise, the following
definitions apply:
(1) "Authority" means the Montana facility finance authority created in 2-15-1815.
(2) "Commercial property-assessed capital enhancements program" or "program" means a
program established in accordance with this part.
(3) "District" means a district that is established under this part by a local government and that lies
within the local government's jurisdictional boundaries. A local government may create more than one district
under a program.
(4) "Energy conservation measure" means a permanent cost-effective energy improvement fixed
to real property, including new construction, and intended to decrease energy or water consumption and
demand, including a product, device, or interacting group of products or devices on the customer's side of the
meter that uses energy technology to generate electricity, provide thermal energy, or regulate temperature. The
term includes but is not limited to:
(a) insulation in walls, roofs, floors, foundations, or heating and cooling distribution systems;
(b) storm windows and doors, including multiglazed windows and doors, heat-absorbing or heat-
reflective glazed windows, coated window and door systems, additional glazing, reductions in glass area, and
other window and door system modifications that reduce energy consumption;
****
69th Legislature 2025 HB 120
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 120
ENROLLED BILL
(c) automated energy control systems;
(d) heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning and distribution system modifications or replacements;
(e) caulking, weather-stripping, or air sealing;
(f) replacement or modification of lighting fixtures to reduce the energy use of the lighting system;
(g) energy recovery systems;
(h) daylighting systems;
(i) installation or upgrades of electrical wiring or outlets to charge a motor vehicle that is fully or
partially powered by electricity;
(j) fuel source changes that result in cost savings;
(k) measures to reduce the usage of water or to increase the efficiency of water usage; and
(l) any other installation or modification of equipment, devices, or materials approved as a utility
cost-saving measure by the governing body.
(5) "Energy conservation project" means the installation or modification of an energy conservation
measure or the acquisition, installation, or improvement of a renewable energy system.
(6) "Governing body" means the legislative authority of a local government.
(7) "Local government" means a county, city, town, or a consolidated city-county.
(8) "Multifamily housing facility" means a property with at least five units that are primarily intended
for residential use, each with a full bathroom and a complete kitchen. The units may be rental units or owner-
occupied units. The units may be attached, detached, semidetached, or row houses.
(9) (a) "Person" means an individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, unincorporated
joint venture, or trust that is organized, permitted, or existing under the laws of this state or any other state,
including a federal corporation, or a combination of individuals, firms, partnerships, associations, corporations,
unincorporated joint ventures, or trusts.
(b) The term does not include a local government.
(9)(10) "Real property" means a privately owned commercial or industrial facility, covered multifamily
housing accommodation as defined in 49-2-305(6) facility, or agricultural property.
(10)(11)"Record owner" means the person or persons possessing the most recent fee title as shown by
the records of the county clerk and recorder.
****
69th Legislature 2025 HB 120
- 3 - Authorized Print Version – HB 120
ENROLLED BILL
(11)(12)"Renewable energy" has the meaning provided in 15-24-3102.
(12)(13)"Renewable energy system" means a fixture, product, device, or interacting group of fixtures,
products, or devices on the customer's side of the meter that uses one or more forms of renewable energy to
generate electricity or to reduce the use of nonrenewable energy. The term includes a biomass stove but does
not include an incinerator or a digester."
Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
- END -
I hereby certify that the within bill,
HB 120, originated in the House.
___________________________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
___________________________________________
Speaker of the House
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
___________________________________________
President of the Senate
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
HOUSE BILL NO. 120
INTRODUCED BY J. DARLING
AN ACT EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MULTIFAMILY FINANCING UNDER THE COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY-ASSESSED CAPITAL ENHANCEMENTS ACT; AMENDING SECTION 90-4-1302, MCA; AND
PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.