Education

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 13, 2025

LC 1849: Revise the quality educator loan forgiveness program to expand eligibility

This bill expands Montana's Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program to include all newly hired quality educators in public schools, with priority given to those working in schools facing educator shortages. Under the new rules, eligible teachers can receive up to three years of state-funded loan repayment assistance, with amounts increasing from $3,000 in the first year to $5,000 by the third year, plus an additional year potentially funded by their school or district. If available funds are insufficient to cover all applicants, the state superintendent will prorate payments, prioritizing educators in impacted schools before distributing remaining funds to others. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025, and apply to applications submitted on or after that date.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands loan forgiveness for educators, increases funding for teachers, and improves recruitment in shortage areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Teachers

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 1524: Revise transformational learning laws to create a phase II grant program

This bill modifies Montana's transformational learning grant program by ending the current grant after 2025 and creating a new Phase II grant program for school districts. Under the new system, eligible districts must submit detailed applications outlining their plans for personalized, student-centered learning that includes community-based and work-based opportunities. The bill requires districts to demonstrate how they will provide professional development for educators and ensure equal access for all students while maintaining proficiency-based learning standards. The Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction and Board of Public Education will administer the program, with funding distributed through an annual lottery system if applications exceed available funds.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates new grant program for personalized learning, requires professional development for educators, and ensures equal access to education opportunities.85% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 10, 2025

LC 1787: Provide best beginnings scholarships to child care workers

This bill expands Montana's Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship Program to include child-care workers employed at licensed day-care centers or registered family or group day-care homes. Under the new provisions, eligible child-care workers would receive scholarships without needing to meet the income eligibility requirements that currently apply to families seeking care for their children. The legislation appropriates $5.5 million annually from the general fund to support these scholarships starting July 1, 2025, and amends existing state code sections to establish the eligibility criteria for child-care workers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $5.5M annually from general fund to fund child care worker scholarships, directly increasing public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill funds child-care worker scholarships, supporting early childhood education access and workforce development.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides scholarships to child care workers, expanding benefits and supporting workforce development in early childhood education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 19, 2025

LC 2027: Require school district personnel to inform board of trustees of reductions in force

This bill requires school districts in Montana to provide written notice to their board of trustees when they reduce teaching staff due to insufficient funding. The superintendent or principal must submit this notice, which the board must then place on the agenda for their next meeting and allow time for public comment. The law does not apply to situations where a teacher's contract is not renewed for reasons other than funding shortages. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill requires disclosure of funding cuts but does not address the root cause of budget constraints, potentially limiting fiscal management transparency without solving underlying budget issues75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill requires transparency about funding cuts affecting teachers, protecting educators' interests and ensuring accountability in school district financial decisions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 2874: Revise university system laws to remove barriers to freshmen living off campus

This bill requires Montana university system schools to allow freshmen to live off campus with an immediate family member if that residence is within a one-hour drive of the campus. It defines immediate family members as parents, legal guardians, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or adult siblings, and mandates that schools approve or deny housing requests within two business days. Students must submit a form confirming their living situation, and schools cannot deny requests if the student meets the distance and family requirements. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by allowing freshmen to live off-campus with family, reducing housing barriers and increasing university system accessibility.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill facilitates off-campus housing for freshmen by removing barriers, allowing students to live with family members, which supports affordable housing options and reduces housing costs for students.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 2252: Require background checks for certain school employees and volunteers

This bill requires Montana school districts to create a student protection policy mandating background checks for any individual who may have unsupervised contact with students, including employees, volunteers, and contractors. The key provision mandates that before allowing such contact, individuals must either complete a fingerprint-based national criminal history background check or provide sufficient information for one to be conducted, with results reviewed by district officials. The law also requires districts that fail to comply with their own student protection policies to submit a correction plan to the Superintendent of Public Instruction. These changes directly affect school districts, their governing boards, and all individuals who work with or volunteer in Montana schools.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens public safety by requiring background checks for school personnel, protecting students from potential harm and enhancing accountability.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens student safety by requiring background checks for school employees and volunteers, protecting educational access and security.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms School Safety

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 15, 2025

LC 50: Establish subtrust within the coal trust to increase educational tax credits

This bill creates a new Educational Opportunity Fund within Montana's Coal Severance Tax Trust Fund and uses earnings from that fund to increase the maximum limits for educational tax credits. The legislation affects taxpayers and corporations by allowing them to claim tax credits for donations to public schools for innovative programs and to student scholarship organizations. Key provisions include raising the annual aggregate limit for tax credits from $5 million to a higher amount based on fund earnings, removing the sunset date for these credit programs, and establishing rules for how school districts must handle excess donations. The bill also requires school districts to seek department preapproval for donations before issuing tax credit receipts to donors.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases funding for education through coal tax trust, expands tax credit limits, and strengthens school finance programs.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates new educational fund and increases tax credit limits for school donations, directly expanding educational funding and access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 24, 2025

LC 2582: Establish the Montana's academic prosperity program for scholars act

This bill establishes Montana's Academic Prosperity Program for Scholars (MAPPS), a voluntary program allowing parents to use income tax credits to fund private education expenses for eligible students. The program creates a council to oversee operations and a program manager to administer tax credits for donations and qualified education expenses, which can include private school tuition or other instructional costs. Participating parents gain flexibility to direct their children's education while schools must transfer student records, and the program operates alongside the state's existing public school funding system.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax credit program for education expenses, providing tax relief to families and promoting educational choice through voluntary participation.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates tax credit program allowing parents to fund private education, expanding educational access and choice for families.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax School Choice School Funding

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 17, 2025

LC 3590: Constitutional amendment to use sales tax revenue for education

This bill proposes amending the Montana Constitution to require that sales tax and use tax revenue be used to reduce property taxes for public schools and the Montana University System. The amendment would only allow the legislature to redirect these funds to other purposes if it receives a three-fourths vote from each house. If approved by voters, the change would take effect on July 1, 2027, and would limit the statewide sales tax rate to 4%. The measure requires a two-thirds legislative vote to pass and would be placed on the November 2026 ballot for public approval.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates sales tax revenue for education funding and limits property taxes, directly supporting education budget and tax relief for schools.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates using sales tax revenue to fund public schools and universities, explicitly strengthening education financing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Revenue Sales Tax

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 19, 2025

LC 2092: Strengthen suicide prevention efforts in schools

This bill requires Montana school districts to provide annual suicide awareness and prevention training to all employees who work directly with students, with the Office of Public Instruction responsible for approving training materials and ensuring low-cost or no-cost options are available. The law mandates that employees complete at least two hours of training every five years through various methods including in-person sessions, online modules, or self-study, and requires school districts to include these training requirements in their suicide prevention policies. Additionally, the bill includes a legal protection clause stating that no lawsuits can be filed against school districts or employees for losses resulting from implementing or failing to implement the training requirements. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens suicide prevention in schools by mandating training for all student-facing employees, enhancing student safety and educational environment.95% confidence

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