SB 177 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Allow community choice school commission to seek public funding

SB 177 authorizes the Community Choice School Commission to seek and receive public funding. The bill also clarifies the commission's existing ability to accept and spend gifts and donations from private individuals and entities. These changes directly impact the financial operations of the Community Choice School Commission, which is responsible for approving authorizers for choice schools across the state. This allows the commission to broaden its sources of financial support.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Signed May 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB0177_1(9).pdf SB0177_X.pdf · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill was transitioned from a draft version to an enrolled, final version, indicating it has passed both legislative chambers and received the governor's signature. The substantive policy content remains identical, authorizing the Community Choice School Commission to accept public funding and private gifts, while clarifying that these funds must be used for commission operations or distributed to choice schools.
Scope change
The bill's scope and applicability are unchanged; the only difference is the document status reflecting its enactment.
TECHNICAL

The document header was updated from a draft version (SB 177.1) to the final 'ENROLLED BILL' status, and the footer was replaced with official certification signatures from the Secretary of the Senate, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 6, 2025 · House Apr 11, 2025

How they voted

3811
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 50
Feb 6, 2025
D Democratic18
7 Yea 11 Nay
61% Nay
R Republican32
31 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
41
Key actions
9
Committee
6
May 5, 2025
Signed into law
(S) Signed by Governor
upper
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 11, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (57-42-1)
house
Mar 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Education
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Education
lower
Feb 7, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Education
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (38-11-1)
senate
Jan 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Education and Cultural Resources
upper
Jan 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Education and Cultural Resources
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Education and Cultural Resources
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Sue Vinton
Sue Vinton
RRepublican
MT
20