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 No ✗ Opposes Education

Track

signed · Montana · House May 6, 2025

HB 266: Establish education inflation reconciliation process

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationUpdates inflation adjustment for school funding to maintain real value via CPI-based calculation with 3% cap, preventing budget erosion for K-12 districts.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 449: Eliminate statutory reference to the adult basic education fund and its distribution

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.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill eliminates statutory reference to Adult Basic Education Fund, removing legal basis for its distribution and effectively defunding adult education programs under education topic.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 509: Revise the quality educator loan forgiveness program to expand eligibility

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands loan forgiveness for teachers, providing up to $5,000/year in aid to attract educators, especially in shortage areas, directly funding teacher retention.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 471: Revise education laws related to human sexuality and identity instruction

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.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRequires parental consent for identity/sexuality instruction, restricting curriculum content and academic freedom in schools per bill's explicit mandates.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Montana · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 357: Provide funding for middle school career and technical education

HB 357 provides state funding specifically for career and technical education (CTE) programs in middle schools, junior high schools, and 7th and 8th-grade programs. It directs the Superintendent of Public Instruction to annually distribute these funds to eligible elementary and K-12 school districts. The bill appropriates $100,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2027 to support these programs. The Superintendent will adopt rules to ensure equitable distribution and proper use of the funds, enhancing existing federal support without school size restrictions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $100,000 from general fund for middle school CTE programs, directly increasing state budget allocation for education as per Appropriations subject.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $100k for middle school CTE funding, directly advancing vocational education programs through state financial support.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Montana · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 28: Clarify timelines and opening procedures for public charter schools

HB 28 clarifies operational rules for Montana's public charter schools, directly affecting new and existing charter schools and the Board of Public Education. It specifies that timeline requirements (like proposal deadlines) count as business days, exempts approved charters from standard school opening rules, and changes first-year funding: charter schools won't receive per-pupil "per-anb" funding, and basic funding will be based on planned enrollment with potential clawbacks if actual enrollment falls short. The bill also requires the Board to report charter school status to the Office of Public Instruction and county superintendents, and mandates annual performance reports comparing charter school outcomes to traditional public schools. These changes aim to streamline the charter school approval and funding process while ensuring accountability.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationEliminates guaranteed per-pupil funding for charter schools and introduces enrollment-based clawbacks, restricting financial support for charter schools.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Montana · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 18: Deposit non-levy revenue in school equalization and property tax relief account

HB 18 redirects all revenue from bentonite mining taxes (collected after December 31, 2014) to a dedicated "school equalization and property tax relief account" instead of previous distribution rules. Specifically, 20.75% of this tax revenue must now fund school districts and reduce local property taxes, as amended in sections 15-39-110 and 20-9-331 of Montana law. The bill directly affects mineral producers who pay the tax and school districts that receive funding through the new account. This change applies to all bentonite mining revenue collected after 2014, shifting funds from prior county and state allocations to the equalization account.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects mining tax revenue to fund schools and reduce property taxes, directly providing tax relief and increasing school funding per bill's title and summary.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRedirects 20.75% of bentonite mining tax revenue to school districts for funding and property tax relief, directly increasing school district resources per Montana law amendments.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Montana · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 15: Implement K-12 Inflation

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases K-12 school funding via annual inflation adjustments, directly advancing state budget allocation for public education through higher base entitlements.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases K-12 funding annually to adjust for inflation, preventing real-term cuts and maintaining base funding rates for all public school districts including targeted programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Montana · House Mar 27, 2025

HB 300: Generally revise laws related to discrimination in education

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.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBans male participation in female sports teams and mandates gender-specific facilities, restricting athletic access for transgender and non-binary students in educational settings.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education