Education (Teachers)

signed · Montana · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 260: Revise teacher stipends for national board certification

HB 260 revises the professional stipends paid to Montana teachers who hold a current National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification. The bill changes the stipend amounts from fixed dollar values to percentages of the state's quality educator payment, effectively providing an annual adjustment. Eligible full-time teachers in public schools, education cooperatives, and certain state facilities will receive a stipend of 50% of the quality educator payment, with those in high-poverty or impacted schools receiving 85%. The bill also adjusts the state's contribution percentages towards these stipends.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases teacher stipends by linking to quality educator payment percentage, strengthening financial support for certified educators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 745: Require background checks for certain school employees and volunteers

HB 745 revises school laws to enhance student safety by requiring new policies and background checks. It mandates that school districts adopt a student protection policy, which includes conducting fingerprint-based national criminal history background checks. These checks are required for any individual, regardless of employment status, who may have unsupervised contact with students. The bill also requires background checks for educator licensure, and non-compliant districts must submit a correction plan to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates fingerprint-based criminal history background checks for school staff/volunteers, directly using law enforcement tools to enhance student safety and prevent access by individuals with criminal records. Explicitly categorized under La...90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates background checks for school staff/volunteers to enhance student safety, directly protecting educational environments per bill's safety focus.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety School Transportation Teachers

died · Montana · Legislature May 24, 2025

LC 1178: Revise TEACH Act incentives to increase starting teacher salary

This bill aimed to revise existing incentives under the TEACH Act to raise starting salaries for new teachers in public schools. It proposed modifying current funding mechanisms to provide increased financial support for school districts hiring entry-level educators. The bill did not advance beyond the drafting stage and was formally marked "Draft Died in Process" on May 24, 2025. As a result, no policy changes were implemented.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProposes revised funding mechanisms to increase starting teacher salaries, directly advancing education budget allocation through state appropriations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly aims to increase starting teacher salaries via revised TEACH Act incentives, directly supporting educator compensation and recruitment efforts.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly aimed to increase starting teacher salaries via revised TEACH Act incentives, directly advancing wage support for educators under Labor & Employment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Student Health Teachers

Track

died · Montana · Legislature May 26, 2025

LC 1410: Create a teachers bill of rights

This bill (LC 1410) was a proposed measure titled "Create a teachers bill of rights," intended to establish specific protections or guidelines for educators. However, it died in the legislative process on May 26, 2025, and never advanced to a vote or became law. As a draft that did not progress, it did not establish any concrete rights, mechanisms, or provisions for teachers or school districts. The bill's status remains inactive with no enacted policy changes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly aimed to establish teacher protections, aligning with 'supports teachers' indicator in education policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

died · Montana · Legislature May 26, 2025

LC 1378: Generally revise the teach act to enhance beginning teacher pay

LC 1378 aimed to revise the Teach Act to increase pay for beginning teachers. It would have directly affected new educators entering the profession by establishing higher salary standards. The bill never advanced beyond the drafting stage, as its draft was marked "Died in Process" on May 26, 2025. No specific mechanisms or implementation details were finalized, as the proposal did not progress to committee or floor consideration. This bill did not become law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill would increase state education funding by establishing higher salary standards for beginning teachers, directly supporting public service funding allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly aims to 'enhance beginning teacher pay' and establish 'higher salary standards' for new educators, directly supporting teachers through increased compensation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 3468: Generally provide mentor teacher support for new teachers

This bill (LC 3468) proposed establishing a formal mentorship program pairing new teachers with experienced educators. It would have directly affected new teachers in public schools by providing structured support during their initial teaching years. The bill died in the legislative process in May 2025 and never became law, so no policy changes were implemented. It did not advance beyond the drafting stage.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill proposes formal mentorship program for new teachers, directly supporting educator development and retention per 'support' indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 3467: Develop a framework for an AI powered learning environment

This bill (LC 3467) proposed creating a framework to guide the development and use of AI-powered learning tools in educational settings, primarily affecting schools and educational technology providers. It aimed to establish guidelines for ethical AI use, student data privacy, and teacher training but did not specify concrete implementation steps. The bill was drafted in December 2024 but died in committee on May 27, 2025, meaning it never advanced to a vote or became law. As a procedural proposal, it remains inactive with no enacted policies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes ethical AI guidelines, data privacy, and teacher training for educational tools, directly enhancing tech integration in schools without restrictions.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly establishes guidelines for student data privacy and ethical AI use in education, directly aligning with data privacy protection (support indicator).95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Artificial Intelligence Data Privacy

Track

died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 1963: Revise laws to address teacher recruitment and retention

This bill (LC 1963) aimed to revise state laws related to teacher recruitment and retention. It sought to address challenges in attracting and keeping educators within the public school system. However, the bill was assigned to a drafter in November 2024, placed on hold in December 2024, and ultimately died in the legislative process in May 2025 without advancing to a vote or becoming law. No specific provisions or policy changes were enacted.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly aims to improve teacher recruitment/retention, a core support indicator for education, despite not advancing to law.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 361: Provide funding to school districts for English language learners

House Bill 361 sought to establish state funding for school districts serving English language learners and provide professional stipends for their teachers. It proposed state matching funds for public school districts that receive federal subgrants for programs supporting students with limited English proficiency. The bill also aimed to provide annual stipends of up to $500 for qualified teachers holding specific certifications in English as a Second Language or culturally and linguistically diverse education. Teachers meeting these qualifications and working in high-poverty or impacted schools could receive an enhanced stipend of up to $1,000, with both the state and school districts contributing to these payments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funding for ELL programs and teacher stipends under school finance appropriations, directly advancing budgetary support for education services.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides state funding for ESL programs and $500 teacher stipends, directly advancing educational support for language learners and teachers in K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationFunds ELL programs, directly supporting immigrant students' educational access and integration, aligning with 'provides immigrant services' indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget School Funding Teachers

Track

signed · Montana · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 499: Extend the grow your own grant program

HB 499 extends Montana's Grow Your Own Grant Program through 2029 (previously ending in 2027) and expands eligibility to include postsecondary institutions like universities and tribal colleges. The bill allows these institutions to receive grants to develop teacher training pathways, removes a requirement to convert student grants into loans if recipients don't teach in shortage areas, and revises credit requirements for high school students. It directly affects rural and reservation school districts facing teacher shortages, postsecondary institutions developing education programs, and students pursuing teaching careers through the program. The legislation includes a $500,000 appropriation for the 2025-2027 biennium to support these expanded grant opportunities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends state grant program funding for teacher training, directly increasing appropriations for education under subject 'Appropriations'.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends grant program through 2029, expands eligibility to universities/tribal colleges for teacher training, removes loan conversion requirement, and revises credit requirements - directly advancing education funding and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers