Education

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 168: Provide state funding for preschool children with disabilities

HB 168 revises state school funding laws to include 3- and 4-year-old children with disabilities in a school district's annual number belonging (ANB) calculations. This change enables school districts to receive state financial support for providing special education services to these preschool-aged children. Previously, these children were not included in ANB counts, meaning there was no state funding mechanism for their education, despite districts being obligated to provide these services. The bill amends Section 20-9-311, MCA, to allow their inclusion based on aggregate hours of pupil instruction.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds state funding for preschool special education by including disabled children in ANB calculations, directly addressing school finance needs for K-12 education access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 515: Generally revise laws relating to school facilities consolidating two existing state special revenue accounts

HB 515 revises state laws concerning funding for school facilities and technology, directly affecting school districts across the state. The bill consolidates two existing state special revenue accounts and increases the amount and multiplier in the state's major maintenance aid formula. These changes are intended to provide more funding to school districts for significant upkeep projects without impacting property taxpayers. Additionally, it revises statutes related to state school technology payments and allows natural resource development payments to support state major maintenance aid and debt service assistance.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases school maintenance funding via revised aid formula without raising property taxes, aligns with fiscal responsibility and public service funding.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill increases school facility funding via revised maintenance aid formula, directly supporting K-12 infrastructure improvements without taxpayer impact.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 602: Require school district personnel to inform board of trustees of reductions in force

HB 602 requires school districts in Montana to provide written notice to their board of trustees when staff cuts occur due to insufficient funding. The district superintendent (or principal in districts without one) must submit this notice, prompting the board to add it to the next meeting agenda and allow public comment. This applies specifically to reductions in force affecting teachers, excluding routine nonrenewals under existing law. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, ensuring transparency around funding-driven staffing decisions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires transparency for teacher layoffs due to funding shortages, mandating board notification and public comment to protect educators' positions amid budget constraints.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 669: Revise laws related to educating children receiving in-state inpatient treatment of serious emotional disturbances

HB 669 revises laws concerning educational programs for children receiving in-state inpatient treatment for serious emotional disturbances, directly affecting these children, their school districts, and qualifying treatment facilities. The bill authorizes the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to contract with facilities to deliver these educational programs, establishing a daily rate for services based on actual costs. Funding responsibility is shared, with the SPI paying the facility the daily rate minus a contribution from the child's school district of residence. It also clarifies the SPI's rulemaking authority for tuition calculations and outlines alternative methods for providing education if a facility fails to offer appropriate programs or contract with the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes SPI to contract for educational programs for inpatient treatment children, establishing funding mechanisms to ensure access to education for this vulnerable group.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes funding for educational programs tied to mental health treatment for children with serious emotional disturbances, ensuring access to care during inpatient treatment.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 350: Revise participation in extracurricular activities

SB 350 revises Montana's education laws concerning extracurricular participation for home school students. The bill allows school districts or athletic organizations to restrict a home school student's ability to participate in extracurricular activities if that student is not a United States citizen or not a resident of Montana. Previously, such restrictions were generally prohibited solely based on the student's home school enrollment. All other existing rules, such as home school students meeting the same participation standards as full-time students, remain in effect.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts homeschool students' extracurricular access based on citizenship/residency, limiting educational participation for a specific group.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Montana · House May 15, 2025

HB 343: Require schools to provide religious instruction released time program

HB 343 requires school districts to establish a program allowing students to be released from regular school attendance for religious instruction, upon written request from a parent or guardian. This program must provide at least one hour of released time per week for religious instruction. The bill also mandates that school districts adopt a policy to award academic credit for completed religious instruction courses. Credit evaluation must be based on secular criteria, such as class hours and course materials, without regard to the religious content. Public school property or funds cannot be used for the religious instruction itself.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationMandates religious instruction program, restricting secular curriculum options in public schools.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 182: Generally revise MT Indian language preservation program

SB 182 revises the Montana Indian language preservation program to strengthen the state's commitment to preserving American Indian cultural integrity and languages. The bill provides greater flexibility for Montana tribes to partner with various educational entities, including public, nonpublic, and tribal schools, and postsecondary institutions. It encourages integrating program efforts with school district immersion programs and emphasizes collaborative professional development and the use of existing tribal language materials. The Office of Public Instruction administers the program, distributing funds equally to participating tribal governments who submit applications detailing their language preservation strategies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill integrates language preservation with school curricula and partnerships, enhancing educational access and cultural curriculum in K-12 and higher ed through tribal-school collaborations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

vetoed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 462: Encourage academic excellence through high-quality instructional materials

HB 462 aimed to enhance academic excellence by revising education laws related to curriculum and instruction. It would have established a process for the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in collaboration with a committee and an external nonprofit partner, to identify and recommend high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) during content standard revisions. Contingent on legislative funding, the bill would have provided reduced-cost access to these recommended HQIM and aligned professional development for school districts choosing to adopt them. This initiative sought to support teachers and improve curriculum for students across the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes process to identify/recommend high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) and provides reduced-cost access, directly enhancing curriculum quality and educational access per topic description.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

Track

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 252: Create the student and teacher advancement for results and success act (STARS)

HB 252, known as the STARS Act, revises state school funding laws to support students and school staff. It enhances the school funding formula by offering incentives to increase teacher base salaries and encourage resource sharing among school districts. The bill also provides increased budget authority for districts with high housing costs and restores full funding to the Advanced Opportunities program. Additionally, it establishes a new "Future Ready" funding component for K-12 schools focused on postgraduation preparation and includes certain district clerks and staff with emergency authorizations in educator funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enhances school funding formula, increases budget authority for districts, restores Advanced Opportunities funding, and creates new education-focused funding components.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnhances school funding formula with teacher salary incentives, restores Advanced Opportunities funding, and adds Future Ready component for K-12.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 181: Generally revise Indian education for all laws

SB 181 generally revises Montana's Indian Education for All laws to strengthen the state's commitment to preserving American Indian cultural integrity. The bill requires all certified school personnel and students to receive instruction in American Indian studies, emphasizing tribal consultation and the use of Indian language and cultural specialists. It places additional accountability and reporting requirements on the Board of Public Education, the Office of Public Instruction, and school districts, particularly regarding the financial oversight of state funds for these programs. This legislation aims to improve the delivery and accountability of American Indian education across Montana's public education system.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires all school staff/students to receive American Indian studies instruction, strengthening cultural curriculum integration and accountability per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education