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HB208 • 2025

Providing authority for municipalities to control unauthorized occupancy of municipal property

Providing authority for municipalities to control unauthorized occupancy of municipal property

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Greg Overstreet
Last action
2025-05-05
Official status
Chapter Number Assigned
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details about penalties or enforcement methods.

Municipalities Can Control Unauthorized Camping

This law allows cities to make rules about unauthorized camping and storing personal items on public land.

What This Bill Does

  • Gives municipalities the power to create rules against unauthorized camping or storing personal items on municipal property.
  • Allows municipalities to classify violations of city ordinances as civil infractions with penalties.
  • Enables municipalities to prohibit or regulate sleeping or inhabiting municipal real property.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Municipalities in the state
  • People who camp or store items on public land without permission

Terms To Know

Civil Infraction
A violation of a city ordinance that is treated as a civil matter rather than a criminal one.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify penalties or enforcement details.
  • It does not address how municipalities will handle existing unauthorized occupants when new rules are implemented.
  • The law's effectiveness depends on each municipality creating and enforcing specific ordinances.

Amendments

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

COMMITTEE

Plain English: Amendment 1 adds a new power to municipalities allowing them to prohibit or regulate unauthorized occupancy of public property, including camping and storing personal items.

  • Adds a new subsection (25) to Section 7-1-4124 of Montana Code Annotated, giving municipalities the authority to prohibit or regulate unauthorized occupancy of public property.
  • The amendment does not specify how municipalities will enforce these regulations or what penalties may be imposed for violations.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-05 HOUSE

    Chapter Number Assigned

  2. 2025-05-01 HOUSE

    (H) Signed by Governor

  3. 2025-04-22 SENATE

    (S) Signed by President

  4. 2025-04-22 HOUSE

    (H) Transmitted to Governor

  5. 2025-04-18 HOUSE

    (H) Signed by Speaker

  6. 2025-04-11 HOUSE

    (H) Returned from Enrolling

  7. 2025-04-09 SENATE

    (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading

  8. 2025-04-09 SENATE

    (S) 3rd Reading Concurred

  9. 2025-04-09 HOUSE

    (H) Sent to Enrolling

  10. 2025-04-08 SENATE

    (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading

  11. 2025-04-08 SENATE

    (S) 2nd Reading Concurred

  12. 2025-04-01 SENATE

    (S) Committee Report--Bill Concurred

  13. 2025-03-31 SENATE

    (S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

  14. 2025-03-16 SENATE

    (S) Hearing

  15. 2025-02-21 SENATE

    (S) Referred to Committee

  16. 2025-02-15 SENATE

    (S) First Reading

  17. 2025-02-14 HOUSE

    (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading

  18. 2025-02-14 HOUSE

    (H) 3rd Reading Passed

  19. 2025-02-14 HOUSE

    (H) Transmitted to Senate

  20. 2025-02-13 HOUSE

    (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading

  21. 2025-02-13 HOUSE

    (H) 2nd Reading Passed

  22. 2025-02-07 HOUSE

    (H) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended

  23. 2025-02-06 HOUSE

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

  24. 2025-02-06 HOUSE

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

  25. 2025-01-17 HOUSE

    (H) Hearing

  26. 2025-01-15 HOUSE

    (H) Introduced

  27. 2025-01-15 HOUSE

    (H) Referred to Committee

  28. 2025-01-15 HOUSE

    (H) First Reading

  29. 2025-01-14 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery

  30. 2025-01-14 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester

  31. 2025-01-11 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Assembly

  32. 2025-01-10 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing

  33. 2025-01-10 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review

  34. 2025-01-09 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Edit

  35. 2025-01-03 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Legal Review

  36. 2024-11-27 HOUSE

    (LC) Drafter Assigned

Official Summary Text

Providing authority for municipalities to control unauthorized occupancy of municipal property

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 HB 208
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 208
ENROLLED BILL
AN ACT ALLOWING A MUNICIPALITY TO REGULATE UNAUTHORIZED CAMPING ON PUBLIC
PROPERTY OR FACILITIES; AND AMENDING SECTION 7-1-4124, MCA.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 7-1-4124, MCA, is amended to read:
"7-1-4124. Powers. A municipality with general powers has the power, subject to the provisions of
state law, to:
(1) enact ordinances and resolutions;
(2) except as provided in 7-5-103(2)(d)(iv) and 7-5-121(2)(c)(iv), sue and be sued;
(3) buy, sell, mortgage, rent, lease, hold, manage, or dispose of any interest in real or personal
property;
(4) contract with persons, corporations, or any other governmental entity;
(5) pay debts and expenses;
(6) borrow money;
(7) solicit and accept bequests, donations, or grants of money, property, services, or other
advantages and comply with any condition that is not contrary to the public interest;
(8) execute documents necessary to receive money, property, services, or other advantages from
the state government, the federal government, or any other source;
(9) make grants and loans of money, property, and services for public purposes;
(10) require the attendance of witnesses and production of documents relevant to matters being
considered by the governing body;
(11) hire, direct, and discharge employees and appoint and remove members of boards;
(12) ratify any action of the municipality or its officers or employees that could have been approved
- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 HB 208
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 208
ENROLLED BILL
in advance;
(13) have a corporate seal and flag;
(14) acquire by eminent domain, as provided in Title 70, chapter 30, any interest in property for a
public use authorized by law;
(15) initiate a civil action to restrain or enjoin violation of an ordinance;
(16) enter private property, obtaining warrants when necessary, for the purpose of enforcing
ordinances that affect the general welfare and public safety;
(17) conduct a census;
(18) conduct inventories of public property and preparatory studies;
(19) condemn and demolish hazardous structures;
(20) purchase insurance and establish self-insurance plans;
(21) impound animals and other private property creating a nuisance or obstructing a street or
highway;
(22) establish quarantines;
(23) classify all violations of city ordinances as civil infractions, with civil penalties, as provided in 7-
1-4150; and
(24) exercise powers not inconsistent with law necessary for effective administration of authorized
services and functions; and
(25) prohibit or otherwise regulate:
(a) temporarily or permanently storing personal property on municipal real property; and
(b) sleeping or camping on or otherwise inhabiting municipal real property."
- END -
I hereby certify that the within bill,
HB 208, 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. 208
INTRODUCED BY G. OVERSTREET, T. SHARP, C. COCHRAN, M. BERTOGLIO, C. SPRUNGER, K.
SEEKINS-CROWE
AN ACT ALLOWING A MUNICIPALITY TO REGULATE UNAUTHORIZED CAMPING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY
OR FACILITIES; AND AMENDING SECTION 7-1-4124, MCA.