HB 156 revises public education funding by replacing individual school district property tax levies for base budgets with a single countywide property tax levy. This new countywide levy, supported by state aid, will fund the basic operating expenses for all school districts within a county. The bill also adjusts state guaranteed tax base aid from a district to a county level and reduces required tuition payments. These changes impact school districts, local taxpayers, and revise the duties of school and county officials regarding education funding.
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.
HB 266 revises the annual inflation adjustments for K-12 public school funding in Montana, directly affecting school districts and the Superintendent of Public Instruction. It updates the method for calculating the inflation factor for various school entitlements, using the Consumer Price Index over a three-year period, with an annual cap of 3%. The bill also establishes a new "inflation reconciliation factor" and requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to submit a biennial report comparing budgeted funding increases with actual inflation. This reconciliation factor will then be incorporated into future funding calculations to ensure base aid accurately reflects inflation.
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.
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 509 expands Montana's educator loan forgiveness program to cover all newly hired public school teachers in the state, with priority given to those hired in schools designated as "impacted" (where critical teacher shortages exist). It allows eligible teachers to receive up to $5,000 annually in loan repayment assistance over four years ($3,000-$5,000 per year for state-funded aid, plus an additional $5,000 from schools/districts). If funding falls short, the program prioritizes teachers in impacted schools and prorates payments proportionally among them. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to applications submitted on or after that date.
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 24 clarifies Montana's kindergarten instructional hour requirements, directly affecting public school districts and kindergarten programs. It specifies that half-time kindergarten must provide 360 hours and full-time kindergarten 720 hours annually, aligning with existing sections of Montana law (20-1-301, 20-7-117). The bill amends related statutes to ensure these hour requirements are explicitly defined for funding and compliance purposes. Signed into law by the Governor on April 7, 2025, it establishes clear standards for kindergarten programming without altering funding formulas or creating new penalties.
HB 15 updates Montana's K-12 school funding formula to adjust for inflation by increasing specific dollar amounts annually. It directly affects all public school districts in Montana by raising base funding rates for high schools, elementary schools, and K-12 programs, including per-pupil payments for American Indian students and other targeted programs. Key provisions include annual increases for basic entitlements (e.g., $343,483 to $375,333 for high school districts by 2026) and adjustments to payments like the American Indian achievement gap ($235 to $256 per student). The bill amends existing law to ensure funding keeps pace with rising costs, effective starting with the 2024 fiscal year. The legislation was signed into law by the Governor on April 1, 2025.
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.
