Education

passed both · Montana · House May 6, 2025

HJ 53: Request an interim study on school safety

House Joint Resolution 53 requests an interim study to improve school safety across Montana K-12 schools. The Legislative Council is asked to designate a committee to conduct this study, collaborating with various state agencies and educational organizations. The study will examine Montana's current school safety practices, review existing laws and funding mechanisms, and assess the state's implementation of the "Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety" recommended by the U.S. Attorney General. The committee's final report, including findings and recommendations, is due to the 70th Legislature by September 15, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill requests study to improve K-12 school safety practices, funding mechanisms, and implementation of safety recommendations, directly advancing educational safety environment.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

signed · Montana · House May 6, 2025

HB 251: Generally revise laws related to public charter schools

HB 251 revises laws concerning public charter schools, establishing a definition for "public charter school district" to clarify its governing authority as a non-taxing entity. The bill requires the Office of Public Instruction to provide a fiscal analysis for charter school applications and mandates the Board of Public Education to limit costs for new schools, prioritizing those emphasizing personalized and proficiency-based learning. It removes the Board of Public Education's authority to waive statutory requirements in charter contracts. Additionally, the bill allows public charter school districts to receive other forms of public funding and donations, and defines financial obligations for a child's resident school district when serving students with disabilities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes regulatory framework for charter schools, mandates fiscal analysis, and prioritizes proficiency-based learning - supporting charter school development within education policy.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 591: Institute the celebrate freedom week in Montana's public schools

HB 591 establishes "Celebrate Freedom Week" in Montana public schools during the last full week of September each year, effective July 1, 2025. This bill requires social studies classes to provide at least three hours of instruction on the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Montana Constitution, including their historical context and impact on American history. Additionally, students in grades 3 through 12 are mandated to recite a specific passage from the Declaration of Independence daily during this week. Exceptions for student recitation are provided for parental requests, conscientious objections, or children of foreign diplomatic representatives.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates specific civic education curriculum (Declaration of Independence, Constitution) in social studies, enhancing student understanding of foundational documents per education topic definition.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 400: Enact the "Free to Speak Act"

HB 400, titled the "Free to Speak Act," prohibits public schools and the state from taking disciplinary or adverse actions against students and employees. This protection applies if they decline to state their own pronouns or to address another person using a name, pronoun, or title that is inconsistent with that person's sex or not their legal name. The bill allows individuals harmed by such violations to bring a civil lawsuit seeking injunctive relief, monetary damages, and attorney fees. This act aims to protect specific speech choices for students and employees within public education and interactions with the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects students/staff from discipline over pronoun use, enhancing educational access and safety in schools per bill's prohibitions on adverse actions.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 631: Revise student online protection laws related to postsecondary opportunities

HB 631 revises student data privacy laws by amending the definition of "K-12 school purposes" in Section 20-7-1324, MCA. This change means that the existing data privacy protections for K-12 online applications will no longer apply to courses taken for postsecondary (college) credit. It also excludes work-based learning courses from these specific K-12 data privacy regulations. This bill aims to remove barriers to postsecondary opportunities by clarifying which educational activities fall under K-12 online application privacy rules.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves K-12 data privacy barriers for college credit courses, facilitating postsecondary access per bill's stated aim.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyExcludes postsecondary courses from K-12 data privacy rules, weakening protections for student data in college-credit courses.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 595: Revise qualifications for teachers of adult basic education or high school equivalency programs at state correctional institutions

HB 595 establishes a Montana correctional education program within the Department of Corrections, directly affecting inmates in state prisons by providing opportunities for high school equivalency and adult basic education. The bill outlines specific qualifications for instructors in these programs, requiring them to be at least 18 years old, of good moral character, and possess an associate degree, bachelor's degree, a teaching certificate from another state, or prior teaching experience. It explicitly states that the Department of Corrections cannot require these instructors to hold a Montana teacher certificate. The Department of Corrections is authorized to adopt policies determining which inmates are eligible to participate.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes prison education program to improve inmate rehabilitation and reduce recidivism through structured educational opportunities in correctional facilities.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates correctional education program with qualified instructors, expanding access to high school equivalency for inmates, directly advancing educational access within the topic.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · House Apr 18, 2025

HB 234: Extend the use of funding for lead-in-schools appropriated in 2023

HB 234 extends the period for using funds previously appropriated in 2023 for projects addressing lead in schools. The bill reappropriates specific funds, originally allocated under Section 5, Chapter 763, Laws of 2023, subsection (10). This ensures the appropriations remain available for their original purpose until they are fully spent or the related capital improvement projects are completed. This measure allows schools to continue utilizing these funds for lead remediation efforts without a set expiration date.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill reappropriates existing 2023 funds for school lead remediation, ensuring fiscal responsibility by extending use period without new taxes or cuts to essential programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends existing school funding for lead remediation, ensuring continued investment in school infrastructure safety and compliance with original 2023 appropriations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 37: Clarify calculations for significant enrollment increases

SB 37 revises school funding laws by clarifying how significant enrollment increases are calculated for state aid payments. The bill specifies that these calculations must be made separately for each budget unit within a school district. A district becomes eligible for additional funding if its current October enrollment count, converted to ANB, exceeds its budget limit ANB from three years prior by 110% or more. The Superintendent of Public Instruction determines the payment amount, which districts can accept fully or partially to address costs associated with the enrollment growth.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill clarifies state aid calculations for school funding, ensuring additional state budget allocations for districts meeting enrollment criteria, directly supporting education program funding within fiscal management.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies enrollment calculation to trigger additional state aid when enrollment exceeds 110% of prior budget limit, directly advancing school funding mechanisms.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 35: Clarify enrollment counts for early literacy jumpstart program

This bill clarifies how school districts count enrollment for funding purposes when children participate in early literacy jumpstart programs. It specifies that children in these programs are counted as quarter-time enrollment for a district's Average Number Belonging (ANB) calculation, which determines state funding. The bill also states that if a child attends a jumpstart program in a district other than their resident district, no out-of-district attendance agreement or tuition is required. Additionally, it outlines reporting requirements for districts on program efficacy and mandates the superintendent of public instruction to monitor and report on these interventions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesClarifies enrollment counts for state funding allocation in education programs, ensuring proper budget distribution for early literacy initiatives without altering tax policies.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies funding calculation for early literacy programs, ensuring proper state funding allocation without requiring out-of-district tuition, advancing educational access and program participation.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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 | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education