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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This bill establishes the Community Health Aide Provider Education Grant Program to support tribal colleges in Montana in training community health aide and dental health aide providers to address healthcare access gaps in Native communities. The program allows eligible tribal colleges to receive up to $1 million in startup funding and up to $2 million in annual operating grants for a maximum of four years, totaling $3 million per recipient. Grantees must report on program outcomes including graduation numbers, certification rates, practice locations, and cost-effectiveness to the state commissioner of higher education. The initiative aims to increase the number of culturally responsive healthcare providers who can serve American Indian and Alaska Native populations in rural and urban areas.
This bill establishes "Celebrate Freedom Week" in Montana public schools, requiring the last full week of September to be dedicated to teaching students about the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Montana Constitution. It mandates at least three hours of social studies instruction during this week covering the historical context and significance of these founding documents, including their connections to American immigration, the Revolutionary War, and subsequent movements for civil rights. Additionally, the bill requires students in grades 3 through 12 to recite the opening paragraph of the Declaration of Independence at the start of each school day, with provisions allowing parents to request exemptions for their children or accommodating students with conscientious objections. The legislation applies to all public school districts in Montana and takes effect on July 1, 2025.
This bill updates Montana state law to clarify tuition waiver eligibility for American Indian students and their descendants. It requires that descendants of federally recognized tribes must obtain formal certification of their tribal affiliation from the tribe before receiving tuition waivers, while maintaining existing eligibility criteria for individuals with at least one-fourth Indian blood or enrolled status. The legislation also mandates that the Montana Secretary of State send a copy of the updated law to all federally recognized tribal governments in the state. These changes take effect on July 1, 2025, and apply to students enrolled in the Montana university system.
This bill requires Montana's Superintendent of Public Instruction to identify up to five sets of high-quality instructional materials that align with state content standards and estimate the costs for districts to adopt them. It defines high-quality materials as resources that support proficiency-based learning, include built-in professional development, and are vetted by an independent nonprofit partner. If approved by the legislature, the state would provide reduced-cost access to these materials and related teacher training for school districts that choose to adopt them. The law also mandates that economic impact statements for new academic standards include analysis of whether districts can afford and implement the required materials within existing resources.
