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SB 213MONTANASession 2025State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Montana allows six-story residential buildings with single stairwells under new building code law

Original title: Revise the state building code to allow single stairwells in certain buildings

Last action · May 8, 2025: Chapter Number AssignedSponsor: Daniel Zolnikov

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Does

Montana requires the state building code to permit group R-2 residential buildings of up to six stories to use a single stairway as an exit, provided they have automatic sprinklers and emergency exit provisions. The law also establishes rules for temporary overnight sheltering at places of religious worship and outlines standards for medical gas piping and refrigerant use.

Why it matters

Changes architectural and safety design requirements for multifamily residential developers by permitting single-stairwell construction up to six stories instead of requiring dual stairwells.

Background
  • State building codes govern the minimum standards for the construction, plumbing, and electrical systems of buildings within Montana. context
  • Group R-2 occupancy classifications under standard building codes typically refer to residential buildings containing multiple sleeping units where occupants reside permanently. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

residential builders

Builders and developers are subject to updated architectural and safety requirements regarding single-stairwell designs and prohibited code mandates.

Directly affected

places of religious worship

Religious organizations are granted specific permissions to host temporary overnight visitors under defined safety and duration conditions without triggering occupancy reclassifications.

Directly affected

board of plumbers

The board receives violation reports from building compliance officers regarding medical gas piping installation endorsements.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the exact requirements for a residential building to use a single stairwell under the new law?
A building may have a single stairway if it has no more than six stories above grade plane, has no more than four dwelling units on one floor, is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system, and provides each unit with at least one window or emergency exit provision.
Can places of religious worship charge fees when hosting temporary overnight visitors?
No, a place of religious worship acting in accordance with the temporary sheltering provisions may not charge for the temporary accommodation of overnight visitors.
Does the state building code mandate fire sprinklers in single-family homes?
No, the law explicitly prohibits the department from including a requirement for the installation of a fire sprinkler system in a single-family dwelling or a residential building containing no more than two dwelling units.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

35 actions
  1. May 8, 2025Senate
    Chapter Number Assigned
  2. May 5, 2025SenateEnrolled
    (S) Signed by Governor
  3. Apr 25, 2025Senate
    (S) Transmitted to Governor
  4. Apr 25, 2025House
    (H) Signed by Speaker
  5. Apr 21, 2025Senate
    (S) Signed by President
  6. Apr 12, 2025Senate
    (S) Returned from Enrolling
Show 29 earlier actions
  1. Apr 11, 2025Senate
    (S) Sent to Enrolling
  2. Apr 11, 2025House
    (H) 3rd Reading
  3. Apr 11, 2025House
    (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
  4. Apr 10, 2025House
    (H) 2nd Reading
  5. Apr 10, 2025House
    (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  6. Mar 21, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Committee Report
  7. Mar 20, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Committee Executive Action
  8. Mar 7, 2025House
    (H) Hearing
  9. Feb 22, 2025House
    (H) 1st Reading
  10. Feb 22, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Referred to Committee
  11. Feb 21, 2025Senate
    (S) Transmitted to House
  12. Feb 21, 2025Senate
    (S) 3rd Reading
  13. Feb 21, 2025Senate
    (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
  14. Feb 20, 2025Senate
    (S) 2nd Reading
  15. Feb 20, 2025Senate
    (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  16. Feb 18, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Committee Report
  17. Feb 17, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Committee Executive Action
  18. Feb 4, 2025Senate
    (S) Hearing
  19. Jan 27, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Referred to Committee
  20. Jan 27, 2025Senate
    (S) 1st Reading
  21. Jan 24, 2025SenateIntroduced
    (S) Introduced
  22. Jan 24, 2025House
    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
  23. Jan 24, 2025House
    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
  24. Jan 22, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Assembly
  25. Jan 22, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
  26. Jan 22, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
  27. Jan 21, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Edit
  28. Jan 21, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Legal Review
  29. Sep 27, 2024House
    (LC) Drafter Assigned

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Daniel ZolnikovSenate · District 22RepublicanPrimary sponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Relaxation of Stairwell and Energy Mandates in Building Codes

The bill shifts state building standards by explicitly authorizing single stairwells for mid-rise residential structures and barring the state from mandating solar equipment or restricting specific energy sources.

Connected Entities

United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Fire Protection Association
OrganizationUnited States Environmental Protection Agency“Federal agency referenced for acceptable refrigerants list”Map →
OrganizationNational Fire Protection Association“Publisher of publication NFPA 99C for medical gas piping systems”Map →

Sources

Open source document

bills.legmt.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

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