Education

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 4, 2025

LC 1522: Enact the "Free to Speak Act"

This bill, known as the "Free to Speak Act," protects students and employees in Montana public schools and state institutions from disciplinary or employment consequences if they refuse to use certain names or pronouns for others. It specifically prohibits schools from penalizing individuals who decline to identify their own pronouns or address others using names or pronouns inconsistent with the other person's legal sex. The law also establishes a private right of action, allowing harmed individuals to sue public schools or the state for damages and attorney fees if these protections are violated.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts educational policies by limiting how schools can address gender identity issues, potentially impacting inclusive curriculum and student support programs.85% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Dec 31, 2024

LC 984: Revise calculation of state education levies

This bill limits how much property taxes can grow for Montana's state education levies, specifically capping the increase at 3% above the prior year's revenue for certain state-mandated school taxes. It directly affects school districts and other governmental entities that collect property taxes for education purposes by restricting how many mills (tax rates) they can impose. The bill removes the ability to carry forward unused tax authority for specific state education mills and clarifies how newly taxable property and inflation adjustments are calculated. Local governments can still vote to raise additional taxes beyond these limits, but the state-mandated education portion is now strictly capped to prevent revenue growth exceeding the 3% threshold.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill limits property tax growth for education levies by capping increases at 3% and removing carryforward authority, restricting state education funding mechanisms.85% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill caps property tax growth for education levies at 3%, limiting school districts' ability to raise funds and restricts unused tax authority carryover, potentially reducing available school resources.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax School Funding

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Dec 31, 2024

LC 2277: Limit the state's ability to bank statewide mills

This bill prevents certain state-mandated property tax levies from being carried forward to future years if local governments do not use their full authorized tax authority in the current year. It directly affects Montana counties, school districts, and other governmental entities that impose property taxes, specifically limiting how they can bank unused tax mill authority for later use. The key provision amends existing property tax law to exclude specific state-mandated levies - such as those for school districts, regional resource authorities, and certain special assessments - from the ability to carry forward unused tax authority. Local governments will still be able to carry forward unused tax authority for their own discretionary levies, but they cannot do so for taxes required by state law for specific purposes.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill restricts ability to bank unused property tax authority, limiting future tax revenue options for local governments and potentially reducing funding flexibility.85% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts ability to bank unused tax mill authority, limiting future school funding flexibility and potentially reducing available resources for education.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 11, 2025

LC 1273: Revise education laws related to human sexuality and identity instruction

This bill amends Montana education laws to require parental consent for students to participate in identity instruction and strengthens parental notification rights regarding human sexuality education. It mandates that schools provide parents with written permission options before identity instruction and ensures parents receive advance notice at least 48 hours before any human sexuality or identity instruction events or materials are introduced. The legislation also requires school districts to publicly disclose curriculum materials and summaries annually, prohibits schools from accepting instruction from abortion service providers, and establishes reporting procedures for violations to the state Board of Public Education.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts curriculum by requiring parental consent for identity instruction and mandates advance notice, limiting educational autonomy and access to certain educational content.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 8, 2025

LC 46: Provide for display of Ten Commandments in public schools

This bill requires Montana public school districts to display the Ten Commandments in every school building and classroom. It specifies that the display must be an 11x14 inch poster or framed document with the full text printed in a large, readable font. School districts may use their own funds or accept donations to purchase or receive these displays, and the bill explicitly exempts the Ten Commandments from restrictions on sectarian publications. Additionally, the law permits students to read from the Bible during free reading time and allows school days to begin with prayer, while maintaining that no one can be compelled to pray. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill mandates religious displays in schools, which restricts educational neutrality and curriculum freedom by introducing sectarian content into public education spaces.85% confidence

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died · Montana · House Feb 22, 2025

HB 282: Revise laws related to tuition waiver laws for American Indian students

HB 282 would have amended Montana's tuition waiver law to require tribal certification for descendants of federally recognized tribes seeking tuition waivers. Specifically, it would have added a requirement that descendants provide a certificate of descendancy issued by their tribe to qualify for waivers under Section 20-25-421(2)(c)(i). This change would directly affect American Indian students who are descendants of Montana tribes but not enrolled members, as they would need formal tribal verification to access the waiver. The bill was withdrawn before becoming law on February 22, 2025.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationAdds tribal certification requirement, restricting access to tuition waivers for non-enrolled American Indian students, limiting educational funding access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 351: Limit the state's ability to bank statewide mills

SB 351 limits Montana local governments' ability to save ("bank") property tax authority for certain state-mandated tax programs. It specifically amends property tax law to prevent local entities from carrying forward unused mill authority (tax rate allowances) for taxes imposed under statutes 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-360, and 20-25-439. This change directly affects counties, cities, and school districts that rely on these specific state tax programs, requiring them to use their full annual tax authority each year rather than saving it for future use. The bill’s key provision removes these programs from the existing rule that allows governments to carry forward unused tax authority to future years.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRestricts local governments' ability to bank unused property tax authority, limiting fiscal flexibility under state tax programs per bill's amendment to property tax law.92% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts school districts' ability to bank property tax authority, limiting their financial flexibility for education funding under state-mandated tax programs.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 451: Revise tax increment financing districts to exclude debt service and certain school levies

HB 451 revises how tax increment financing (TIF) is calculated for newly established targeted economic development districts and urban renewal areas. For districts created after the bill's effective date, it excludes several specific mill levies from the tax increment calculation. These exclusions include certain university system mills, a portion of elementary, high school, and state equalization mills, new voter-approved levies, and mills for general obligation bond debt service. This means that a larger share of the new property tax revenue generated in these areas would directly go to the affected taxing jurisdictions, rather than into the TIF fund.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExcludes school levies and debt service from TIF calculations, reducing available revenue for economic development districts.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationExcludes school levies from TIF calculations, reducing potential school funding streams by removing these revenues from tax increment calculations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Debt & Bonds Tax Incentives

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 382: Establish the specie legal tender act

The provided bill text, identified as Senate Bill 382, focuses on revising laws related to immunization exemptions, which differs from the title "Establish the specie legal tender act" for HB 382. Based on the provided text, this bill mandates that various entities, including state agencies, schools, child care facilities, and licensed health care providers, must accept religious or informed consent exemptions for required immunizations, injections, or medications for employment or attendance. It establishes that denying such an exemption is an unlawful discriminatory practice. Non-compliant entities could face a loss of state funding, and individuals denied an exemption may file complaints and seek compensatory damages. The bill also clarifies and strengthens the existing provisions for religious, medical, and informed consent exemptions for school attendance.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill mandates acceptance of immunization exemptions for school attendance, weakening health standards required for educational environments.85% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill mandates exemptions for immunizations in healthcare settings, weakening mandatory vaccination requirements and public health initiatives.85% confidence

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 94: Generally revise public sector unions law

SB 94 prohibits Montana public employers from using public funds or resources for labor organization activities, directly affecting public sector workers like teachers and school staff. It bans contributions of public money to unions or paid leave for union work, but allows unpaid time off for such activities and permits using accrued personal leave under specific conditions. The bill requires unions to cover costs for paid leave used in union activities through annual invoices to public employers and mandates reporting on time spent on union-related work. These changes aim to limit public funding for union operations while establishing clear administrative procedures.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts public funding for teacher unions, limiting their ability to advocate for educator benefits and resources, directly impacting K-12 education support.85% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentProhibits public funds for union activities, requiring unions to cover costs, weakening collective bargaining support for public sector workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Paid Leave

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