Education

SB 181 generally revises Montana's Indian Education for All laws to strengthen the state's commitment to preserving American Indian cultural integrity. The bill requires all certified school personnel and students to receive instruction in American Indian studies, emphasizing tribal consultation and the use of Indian language and cultural specialists. It places additional accountability and reporting requirements on the Board of Public Education, the Office of Public Instruction, and school districts, particularly regarding the financial oversight of state funds for these programs. This legislation aims to improve the delivery and accountability of American Indian education across Montana's public education system.

SB 258 clarifies the state legislature's authority regarding how public school funding is adjusted for inflation. It amends existing law that outlines how the Superintendent of Public Instruction calculates an annual inflation factor for various school entitlements, which is capped at 3%. This bill explicitly states that the legislature can, through its appropriation and lawmaking authority, provide inflationary adjustments that differ from these standard calculations and may exceed the 3% cap. This affects the financial resources allocated to public schools across the state.

HB 449 is a bill that eliminates the statutory reference to the Adult Basic Education Fund and its distribution within the Montana Code Annotated. It achieves this by repealing section 20-7-712, which outlines this fund and its distribution. This change primarily affects the legal framework governing adult basic education funding in Montana by removing this specific statutory provision, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.

HB 471 revises education laws concerning human sexuality and identity instruction in public schools, impacting students, parents, and school districts. The bill requires written parental or guardian permission for a child to attend "identity instruction" and allows parents to withdraw their child from "human sexuality instruction" as an excused absence. It mandates that schools provide advance notice to parents about these instructions and make all related curriculum materials publicly available for inspection. Additionally, the bill prohibits entities that provide abortion services from offering or furnishing materials for human sexuality or sexually transmitted disease instruction to students or personnel.

HB 300 amends Montana law to prohibit educational institutions from allowing male students to participate in athletic programs designated for females or failing to provide access to gender-specific facilities like restrooms and locker rooms. It directly affects Montana schools and colleges by requiring compliance with these specific anti-discrimination rules. Key provisions include banning male participation in female sports teams and mandating access to facilities separated by sex, while allowing exceptions for emergencies, medical needs, ADA accommodations, and single-occupancy spaces. The law also clarifies that students may use another student's legal name or refer to their sex without violating the policy. This bill became effective after Governor's signature on March 27, 2025.