Education (School Safety)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 26, 2025

LC 4339: Authorize use of school chaplains in school districts and public charter schools

This bill allows Montana school districts and public charter schools to hire paid or volunteer chaplains to provide support services to students. Schools that choose to use chaplains must create a policy outlining the services offered, notify parents about availability, and obtain written consent before students participate. The bill requires chaplains to pass background checks, be at least 18 years old, and have good moral character, with their religious affiliations listed publicly on school websites. Additionally, schools may use chaplains to perform duties typically assigned to school counselors, and all chaplains must be certified by the state superintendent of public instruction. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands student support services by allowing chaplains, enhancing educational access and student welfare programs in schools75% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 26, 2025

LC 2809: Directing DPHHS and OPI to develop a plan to expand mental health education to all schools in the state

This bill directs Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Office of Public Instruction to create a plan for expanding mental health education to all public schools in the state. The plan must include curriculum details, financial and technical support mechanisms, data collection methods, and focus on specific areas like bullying, suicide prevention, and substance use. The agencies are required to submit interim progress reports by September 2025 and January 2026, with a final plan due by May 2026. The legislation also requires the secretary of state to notify federally recognized tribal governments about the act.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands mental health education across all public schools, enhancing student programs and educational access through required curriculum development and support mechanisms.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates expansion of mental health education in schools, directly supporting mental health services and preventive care initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Safety Student Health Mental Health Public Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 13, 2025

LC 630: Revise education laws related to a teacher's authority to maintain a positive classroom environment

This bill grants teachers the authority to temporarily remove students from the classroom when behavior disrupts the learning environment for others. It requires school districts to create policies or update employee agreements that outline how teachers can use this authority, while ensuring these rules do not conflict with individualized education plans for students with disabilities. When a student is excluded, the teacher must direct them to school administration, and the student cannot return until a principal or designee communicates a return plan that may include behavioral agreements or meetings with parents and staff. Students who fail to meet the return plan requirements or repeatedly disrupt the classroom face further disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill empowers teachers to maintain classroom order, protecting educational environment and supporting educators' ability to teach effectively.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Teachers

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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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signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 869: Provide for the sudden cardiac arrest prevention in youth sports

HB 869, titled "Provide for the sudden cardiac arrest prevention in youth sports," establishes measures to prevent sudden cardiac arrest in youth athletes. It requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop informational resources on cardiac arrest symptoms and risks. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, schools with athletic programs must implement cardiac emergency response plans, including accessible automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and staff training in CPR and AED use. Coaches will be required to be certified in CPR, first aid, and AED use, and hold informational meetings for parents and athletes. The bill also allows coaches or officials to remove athletes exhibiting cardiac arrest symptoms, who then require written medical clearance to return to play, and clarifies that AED purchases are an allowable expenditure for school safety.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school athletic safety protocols including AEDs and CPR training, enhancing student protection within educational settings per Schools and Education subject.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires schools to implement cardiac emergency response plans with AEDs and CPR training, directly advancing public health safety measures for youth athletes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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 20, 2025

LC 1521: Establish Alyssa's law to require mobile panic alert systems in schools

Montana's LC 1521, "Alyssa's Law," requires all public school districts to implement mobile panic alert systems by July 1, 2027. These systems must connect to emergency call centers, provide real-time location and floor plans to responders during emergencies, and integrate with school personnel for updates. School staff must receive annual training on the system, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction will approve a list of compliant systems meeting specific technical standards. The bill also amends existing law to allow school districts to use safety funds for these systems, including costs for installation and training.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mobile panic alert systems for school safety, protecting students/staff and enhancing educational environment security per bill's requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

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died · Montana · Legislature May 24, 2025

LC 1267: Generally revise student data privacy laws

This bill (LC 1267) was a proposed revision to student data privacy laws, but it died in committee on May 24, 2025, and never became law. Since it did not advance beyond the drafting stage, there are no concrete policy changes or specific provisions to summarize. The title indicates it aimed to update protections for student data, but no details about its mechanisms or affected parties were finalized. Without an enacted bill, a factual summary of its actual impact or provisions cannot be provided.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill aims to revise student data privacy laws, strengthening protections for educational data security, aligning with 'protect' indicator under support stance.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill title explicitly aims to revise student data privacy laws, directly aligning with data privacy protection (support indicator) despite not becoming law.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Data Privacy

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 521: Directing DPHHS and OPI to develop a plan to expand mental health education to all schools in the state

SB 521 directs Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services and Office of Public Instruction to create a plan expanding mental health education to all public schools. The plan must include specific elements like curriculum design, funding support strategies, data collection methods, and cost estimates for addressing issues like bullying, suicide, and substance use. All public schools in Montana would be directly affected if the plan is implemented. The bill requires progress reports by September 2025 and a final plan by May 2026. It mandates the development of a roadmap but does not provide immediate funding or require schools to adopt the program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands mental health education curriculum in all schools, requiring funding strategies and student support programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates expansion of mental health education in schools, directly supporting mental health services through curriculum development and funding strategies as required by the legislation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Safety Student Health Mental Health Public Health

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 262: Establish state policy on evidence-based reading instruction

HB 262 sought to establish a state policy requiring early literacy instruction in public schools to be evidence-based and scientifically researched. The bill would have prohibited certain teaching methods, such as those relying on meaning drawn from context, visual cues, or memory, specifically disallowing the three-cueing system. Instead, it mandated that instruction include specific components like phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This policy was intended to apply to public schools across the state, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates evidence-based reading curriculum, banning non-scientific methods like three-cueing system. Strengthens literacy instruction standards in K-12 schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Libraries School Safety

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