Education

signed · Montana · House May 16, 2025

HB 153: Revise laws related to the school funding interim commission.

HB 153 revises the laws governing Montana's School Funding Interim Commission, which is responsible for studying public school educational needs and funding. The bill alters the commission's membership to include various state education officials and sets an April 1 appointment deadline. For the 2025-2026 interim, it creates an "Innovation and Excellence in Education Working Group" to compare Montana's education policies with high-performing systems and develop improvement recommendations. The bill also designates a presiding officer and appropriates $10,000 for early commission activities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates Innovation and Excellence Working Group to compare policies with high-performing systems and develop improvement recommendations, strengthening education policy framework.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 253: Revise administrative and certification processes for student scholarship organizations

SB 253 revises the administrative and certification processes for student scholarship organizations (SSOs) in Montana. The bill requires SSOs to apply for certification from the Department of Revenue and outlines specific requirements they must meet to be certified and accept tax-credit eligible donations. It mandates that SSOs allocate at least 90% of their annual revenue from eligible donations for scholarships and ensures a parent's right to select an education provider. The legislation aims to increase transparency and accountability for these organizations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enables tax-credit donations for SSOs, directing private funds toward education scholarships via tax incentives, aligning with fiscal policy for program funding.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates scholarship funding mechanism via tax-credit donations, mandates 90% allocation to scholarships, and ensures parental education provider choice - expanding access and funding pathways for students.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 744: Authorize speech-language pathology aides and audiology aides

HB 744 authorizes the use of speech-language pathology aides and audiology aides in the state. These aides are not required to be licensed, but they must work under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist for a minimum of 20% of their time. The bill specifies that aides cannot perform work requiring independent professional judgment. It also grants the board the authority to establish the qualifications and scope of work for these aide roles through rules.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes non-licensed aides under supervision to expand access to speech-language services in schools, enhancing educational support without restricting services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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 Yes ✓ Supports 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 Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 553: Generally revise military higher education act

HB 553, titled "Generally revise military higher education act," updates laws related to higher education for military members. It requires faculty at educational institutions to provide eligible students with a make-up opportunity for coursework, assignments, exams, or finals missed due to inactive duty training or annual training. Faculty must give at least 15 business days for students to complete this make-up work, consistent with accreditation requirements. The bill also defines "inactive duty training" and "annual training" to support these provisions, affecting members of the U.S. armed forces reserve components or the Montana national guard enrolled in higher education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnsures military students can complete missed coursework via make-up opportunities, enhancing educational access for this group within higher education.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 486: Revise equal opportunity education savings account funding

SB 486 revises the funding mechanism for the Montana Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account program. Currently, resident school districts are required to remit a portion of their state education aid to the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) for students participating in the program. This bill allows a school district to elect to have the OPI pay this remittance amount in the first year a student participates in the program within that district. If this option is chosen, the OPI will later reduce the school district's state aid payment by the initial amount, adjusted for inflation, once the student is no longer participating in the program in that district.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill revises funding mechanism to facilitate participation in special needs education savings accounts, expanding access for students with disabilities within school finance framework.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 245: Provide for human trafficking awareness training for school bus drivers

Senate Bill 245 requires school bus drivers to complete a specialized training course focused on recognizing and identifying signs of human trafficking. The Office of Public Instruction (OPI) is directed to make these transportation industry-specific training materials available to drivers at no cost. The OPI must source these materials from organizations that have developed free, publicly available resources specifically for school bus drivers. This bill aims to equip school bus drivers with the knowledge to report concerns to appropriate authorities, thereby contributing to child sex trafficking prevention efforts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates trafficking training for school bus drivers (part of school operations) to protect students, enhancing school safety within education context.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 412: Provide for fee waivers of government documents to former foster children

Senate Bill 412 provides fee waivers for certain government documents for individuals who were formerly in foster care and are under 21 years of age. This includes fees for certified birth certificates, driver's licenses, state identification cards, and replacement licenses. Fees for university academic transcripts are also waived, with the Department of Public Health and Human Services authorized to seek federal funds to reimburse the institutions. Individuals can provide an oral attestation to prove eligibility for these waivers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationWaives university transcript fees for former foster youth, enhancing higher education access as part of educational support for vulnerable students.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 156: Revise education funding laws by replacing school district BASE levies with countywide BASE levies

HB 156 revises public education funding by replacing individual school district property tax levies for base budgets with a single countywide property tax levy. This new countywide levy, supported by state aid, will fund the basic operating expenses for all school districts within a county. The bill also adjusts state guaranteed tax base aid from a district to a county level and reduces required tuition payments. These changes impact school districts, local taxpayers, and revise the duties of school and county officials regarding education funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill replaces district levies with countywide levies supported by state aid, ensuring stable education funding without increasing local tax burdens, aligning with fiscal responsibility and public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationReplaces school district levies with countywide system using state aid to fund basic operations, reduces tuition payments, and adjusts state aid to strengthen school financing structure.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education