HJ 36 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Resolution in support of instruction in reading and writing in cursive

HJ 36 is a non-binding resolution encouraging Montana's public school districts to provide cursive writing instruction to students, primarily affecting K-12 students and school administrators. It urges schools to introduce cursive as early as developmentally appropriate and maintain exposure throughout a student's education, citing cognitive benefits and the importance of reading historical documents like the Declaration of Independence. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to share it with education officials but does not mandate or fund cursive instruction. It died in committee in May 2025 and remains a symbolic gesture, not a law.
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 28, 2025 Last action May 22, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

LC3379.pdf HJ0036_1.pdf · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was converted from a Senate-only bill (LC 3379) to a Joint Resolution (HJ 36), requiring introduction by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The substantive policy language regarding the encouragement of cursive writing instruction in Montana schools remains unchanged, but the procedural change allows the bill to proceed through the full legislative process.
Scope change
The bill's scope of applicability to Montana school districts remains the same, but its legislative scope expanded to require approval from both chambers of the state legislature.
PROCEDURAL

The bill type changed from a Senate-only measure to a Joint Resolution, requiring sponsorship by members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

A list of specific sponsors was added to the resolution, identifying the legislators who introduced the bill.

The original Senate-only designation and blank sponsor lines were removed.

Floor votes · House Apr 5, 2025

How they voted

7721
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 100
Apr 5, 2025
D Democratic42
22 Yea 20 Nay
52% Yea
R Republican58
55 Yea 1 Nay 2
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
29
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Amendments
1
Apr 16, 2025
Amended
(S) Tabled in Committee - (S) Education and Cultural Resources
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Education and Cultural Resources
upper
Apr 5, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (77-21-2)
house
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Education
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Education
lower
Mar 29, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Education
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Zack Wirth
Zack Wirth
RRepublican
MT
17