KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Montana

HB135 • 2025

Create statutes of repose for claims against real estate appraisers

Create statutes of repose for claims against real estate appraisers

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Steve Fitzpatrick
Last action
2025-04-18
Official status
Chapter Number Assigned
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on what happens if a claim is filed just before the time limit expires, nor does it explicitly define all key terms used in the legislation.

Setting Time Limits for Real Estate Appraiser Claims

This law sets time limits within which people can file claims against real estate appraisers, appraisal firms, and appraisal management companies.

What This Bill Does

  • Establishes a statute of repose that allows individuals up to 5 years after an appraisal is completed to sue for damages or other relief if they believe the appraisal was incorrect or harmful.
  • For certain types of claims, it extends this period to 8 years from when the appraisal was finished before someone can no longer file a lawsuit.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Real estate appraisers
  • Appraisal firms
  • Appraisal management companies

Terms To Know

Statute of repose
A law that sets a time limit after which people can no longer file certain types of lawsuits.
Real estate appraiser
Someone who estimates the value of real estate properties for various purposes like buying, selling, or lending money on property.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact effective date is not provided in the official source material.
  • It does not specify what happens if a claim is filed just before the time limit expires.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

COMMITTEE

Plain English: Amendment 1 adds a new section to HB135 that sets time limits for filing lawsuits against real estate appraisers and related firms.

  • Adds a 5-year limit for most claims arising from an appraisal or review.
  • Establishes an 8-year limit specifically for breach of contract claims.
  • The amendment does not specify how it interacts with existing laws beyond stating that it should not extend the period prescribed by current state law.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-18 HOUSE

    Chapter Number Assigned

  2. 2025-04-17 HOUSE

    (H) Signed by Governor

  3. 2025-04-09 SENATE

    (S) Signed by President

  4. 2025-04-09 HOUSE

    (H) Transmitted to Governor

  5. 2025-04-07 HOUSE

    (H) Signed by Speaker

  6. 2025-03-28 HOUSE

    (H) Returned from Enrolling

  7. 2025-03-27 SENATE

    (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading

  8. 2025-03-27 SENATE

    (S) 3rd Reading Concurred

  9. 2025-03-27 HOUSE

    (H) Sent to Enrolling

  10. 2025-03-26 SENATE

    (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading

  11. 2025-03-26 SENATE

    (S) 2nd Reading Concurred

  12. 2025-03-21 SENATE

    (S) Committee Report--Bill Concurred

  13. 2025-03-20 SENATE

    (S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

  14. 2025-03-18 SENATE

    (S) Hearing

  15. 2025-02-17 SENATE

    (S) Referred to Committee

  16. 2025-01-28 SENATE

    (S) First Reading

  17. 2025-01-27 HOUSE

    (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading

  18. 2025-01-27 HOUSE

    (H) 3rd Reading Passed

  19. 2025-01-27 HOUSE

    (H) Transmitted to Senate

  20. 2025-01-24 HOUSE

    (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading

  21. 2025-01-24 HOUSE

    (H) 2nd Reading Passed

  22. 2025-01-21 HOUSE

    (H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended

  23. 2025-01-21 HOUSE

    (H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended

  24. 2025-01-21 HOUSE

    (H) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended

  25. 2025-01-15 HOUSE

    (H) Hearing

  26. 2025-01-08 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester

  27. 2025-01-08 HOUSE

    (H) Introduced

  28. 2025-01-08 HOUSE

    (H) Referred to Committee

  29. 2025-01-08 HOUSE

    (H) First Reading

  30. 2024-12-20 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery

  31. 2024-12-16 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Assembly

  32. 2024-12-12 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review

  33. 2024-12-11 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing

  34. 2024-12-04 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Edit

  35. 2024-12-02 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Legal Review

  36. 2024-11-13 HOUSE

    (LC) Drafter Assigned

  37. 2024-11-12 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Legal Review

  38. 2024-09-09 HOUSE

    (LC) Drafter Assigned

Official Summary Text

Create statutes of repose for claims against real estate appraisers

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 HB 135
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 135
ENROLLED BILL
AN ACT CREATING STATUTES OF REPOSE FOR CLAIMS AGAINST REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS, REAL
ESTATE APPRAISAL FIRMS, AND APPRAISAL MANAGEMENT COMPANIES; AND PROVIDING
DEFINITIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Actions against real estate appraisers, real estate appraisal firms, and appraisal
management companies. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), an action for damages or other relief
arising from an appraisal or appraisal review conducted by a real estate appraiser, real estate appraisal firm, or
appraisal management company may not be commenced more than 5 years after the day the appraisal or
appraisal review was completed.
(2) An action subject to the period of limitation found in 27-2-202(1) arising from an appraisal or
appraisal review conducted by a real estate appraiser, real estate appraisal firm, or appraisal management
company may not be commenced more than 8 years after the day the appraisal or appraisal review was
completed.
(3) This section may not be construed as extending the period prescribed by the laws of this state
for the bringing of any action.
(4) As used in this section, unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Appraisal" has the same meaning as provided in 37-54-102.
(b) "Appraisal management company" means an entity registered under Title 37, chapter 54, part
5.
(c) "Appraisal review" has the same meaning as provided in 37-54-102.
(d) "Real estate appraisal firm" means an entity engaging a real estate appraiser as an owner,
member, shareholder, partner, employee, or independent contractor to perform an appraisal or appraisal
- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 HB 135
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 135
ENROLLED BILL
review.
(e) "Real estate appraiser" means an individual licensed or certified under Title 37, chapter 54.
Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title
27, chapter 2, part 2, and the provisions of Title 27, chapter 2, part 2, apply to [section 1].
- END -
I hereby certify that the within bill,
HB 135, 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. 135
INTRODUCED BY S. FITZPATRICK
AN ACT CREATING STATUTES OF REPOSE FOR CLAIMS AGAINST REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS, REAL
ESTATE APPRAISAL FIRMS, AND APPRAISAL MANAGEMENT COMPANIES; AND PROVIDING
DEFINITIONS.