The Landlord Certification and Tenant Protection Act
Cody’s Law is built on a simple belief: no one should ever lose their life because they were denied the basic necessities of water, heat, or electricity.
Sometimes life gets shitty before it gets better, faith is key and it always works out in the end. Eventually, positivity becomes an end result. Be thankful for what you have.
Cody Sorenson
Cody's Law
Cody’s Law – The Landlord Certification and Tenant Protection Act is a Montana-based reform effort inspired by the life and memory of Cody Hunter Sorenson, a hardworking young man whose tragic death revealed serious gaps in tenant safety and accountability.
This proposed legislation seeks to bring compassion, education, and oversight together — ensuring that every Montanan, no matter where they live or what they rent, has access to the essential services and safe living conditions they deserve.
The Vision
Cody’s Law isn’t about blame — it’s about responsibility, prevention, and education. It gives both landlords and tenants the tools to understand their rights and responsibilities under the law, and it ensures that enforcement doesn’t happen only after tragedy — but before it can occur.
Cody’s Law honors Cody’s legacy by protecting others through the truth he left behind. It represents a promise that no Montanan will ever again be forgotten or left unprotected in unsafe housing.
This law transforms one family’s loss into a movement for justice, accountability, and compassion — built from the belief that when we know better, we must do better.
What Cody's Law Would Do
- Require all landlords to complete state certification and training, renewed every two years.
- Ensure tenants have guaranteed access to water, heat, electricity, and sanitation.
- Create a public database where tenants can verify landlord certification and property approval.
- Provide clear lease standards, outlining each party’s rights and duties.
- Empower county and state agencies to investigate and act when safety or essential services are denied.
- Protect tenants from retaliation when they report unsafe or unlawful conditions.
