Education

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 5, 2025

LC 181: Generally revise voter identification laws

This bill revises voter identification laws, directly affecting all registered voters in Montana by narrowing the types of identification accepted for voting. For in-person voting, it removes student photo identification cards issued by the Montana university system and eliminates the option to combine a document showing name and address with a general photo identification card. For mail-in voting, the bill similarly removes student photo identification cards from the Montana university system from the list of accepted photo ID copies.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill removes student photo IDs from Montana university system for voting, limiting access to voting for students and higher education institutions.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Tags Elections

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 15, 2025

LC 2174: Revise participation in extracurricular activities

This bill amends Montana education law to allow school districts and athletic organizations to restrict home school students who are not U.S. citizens from participating in extracurricular activities. The legislation maintains existing protections for home school students who are U.S. citizens, ensuring they cannot be barred from participation solely based on their enrollment status or attendance hours. For all home school students, the bill requires written verification of academic eligibility from their home school educator, with principal verification that excludes student assessments. The changes take effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts extracurricular participation for homeschool students based on citizenship status, limiting educational access and student programs.85% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill restricts extracurricular participation for non-citizen homeschool students, limiting immigrant access to educational services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 22, 2025

LC 2053: Generally revise laws related to discrimination in education

This bill amends Montana's education discrimination laws to clarify protections against sex-based discrimination in schools and universities. It explicitly prohibits educational institutions from allowing males to participate in athletic programs designated for females and requires facilities like restrooms, locker rooms, and sleeping quarters to be accessible only to the designated sex when in use. The legislation includes exceptions for maintenance workers, medical emergencies, natural disasters, and accommodations for people with disabilities, families with young children, or elderly individuals. Additionally, it clarifies that calling or referring to a student by their legal name or sex does not constitute discrimination. These changes update existing statutes to address specific scenarios related to sex-based access and participation in educational settings.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts access to educational facilities and athletic programs by limiting participation based on sex, which limits educational opportunities and access.85% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 1738: Require human sexuality instruction in public schools to include image of D&E abortion at certain gestational age

This bill requires public school districts in Montana that offer human sexuality instruction to include at least one visual image of a dilation and evacuation abortion performed between 20 and 25 weeks of gestation. The law also mandates that schools provide parents and guardians with at least 48 hours notice before any human sexuality instruction events or materials are introduced, and requires annual notification of the instruction's content and withdrawal rights. Additionally, the bill prohibits schools from accepting or using course materials or instruction from entities that provide abortion services. These changes would directly affect public school curricula and parental notification procedures regarding sexuality education.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts curriculum by mandating specific abortion imagery in sexuality education, limiting academic freedom and imposing controversial content requirements on schools.85% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill mandates graphic abortion imagery in schools, restricting access to comprehensive healthcare education and limiting patient access to reproductive health information.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 20, 2025

LC 1598: Revise education laws to prohibit certain flags and banners in school and require phrase "In God we trust" displayed in each classroom of a public school

This bill would prohibit the display of flags, banners, or symbols promoting social or political causes on public school property while allowing official flags of the United States, Montana, and the armed forces. It requires every public school classroom to display the national motto "In God We Trust" on an 8x10 inch poster, framed document, or plaque with the text in large, readable font. School districts may use their own funds or accept donations to purchase or receive these motto displays. The bill also clarifies that this display requirement does not violate existing rules against distributing sectarian publications in schools. These changes would take effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts curriculum and academic freedom by prohibiting certain flags/banners and mandates religious motto display in classrooms85% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 17, 2025

LC 384: Revise education laws related to PIR days and meetings of teacher organizations

This bill amends Montana education laws to restrict how pupil-instruction-related days can be used and changes requirements for school closures during teacher organization meetings. It removes the mandate that school trustees must close schools for annual meetings of teacher organizations and clarifies that pupil-instruction-related days cannot be used for attending state meetings of teacher organizations. The legislation also adjusts payment rules for teachers attending professional development meetings, stating that teachers may attend without loss of salary but may not be paid if they do not attend. These changes take effect on July 1, 2025, and directly affect school districts, teachers, and the Montana Board of Public Education.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts pupil-instruction-related days and removes mandate for school closures during teacher organization meetings, limiting educational access and teacher meeting rights75% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 21, 2025

LC 1320: Revise education laws related to diversity, equity, and inclusion

This bill prohibits institutions of higher education in Montana from considering race, color, ethnicity, or national origin when making decisions about admissions, hiring, scholarships, or financial aid. It requires universities to keep applicant demographic data confidential until final decisions are made and bans the use of aggregated demographic data in these processes. The legislation creates a private legal cause of action that allows individuals to sue universities for violations, with provisions for compensatory, punitive, and statutory damages, while also waiving the state's sovereign immunity. The law would take effect on October 1, 2026, applying to the Montana university system and eligible educational institutions.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts educational access by prohibiting consideration of race, color, ethnicity, or national origin in admissions, hiring, and financial aid decisions at higher education institutions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 20, 2025

LC 4370: Revise human rights laws to prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion programs

This bill would prohibit state and local government agencies in Montana from funding, establishing, or supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. It specifically bans spending public money on such initiatives, requires employees to participate in them, or creates offices dedicated to coordinating these programs. The legislation defines diversity, equity, and inclusion programs narrowly as those requiring employee participation in training or activities focused on power structures, privilege, or specific social theories related to race, gender, and identity. The bill includes exceptions for programs required by federal law, court orders, or certain constitutional educational goals, while allowing agencies to continue offering sexual harassment training and compliance offices.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts DEI programs which often support diversity in law enforcement and improve accountability, limiting criminal justice reform efforts.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts funding for DEI programs in education, limiting school initiatives focused on equity and inclusion.85% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill restricts DEI programs which support workplace equity and inclusion, limiting protections for diverse workers and reducing workplace standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 2904: Prohibit dispensing of menstrual products in school male-designated restrooms

This bill prohibits public schools and universities in Montana from providing menstrual product dispensers in male-designated restrooms. It requires existing dispensers in those restrooms to be removed within 60 days of the bill's effective date. The law defines menstrual products as items like tampons and pads, and designates bathrooms based on biological sex, while allowing menstrual products to remain available in female-designated restrooms and health centers. State education officials are tasked with enforcing compliance, with funding withheld from institutions that fail to remove dispensers within 30 days of notice.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts access to menstrual products in school restrooms, limiting educational support services for students regardless of gender identity.85% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts access to menstrual products in male-designated restrooms, limiting healthcare access for transgender and non-binary individuals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 10, 2025

LC 2078: Eliminate statutory reference to the adult basic education fund and its distribution

This bill removes the legal reference to the Adult Basic Education Fund from Montana state law. It directly affects the Montana Code Annotated by repealing Section 20-7-712, which previously governed the fund and its distribution. The change eliminates the statutory requirement for maintaining and distributing this specific education fund. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, and does not create new funding or programs but simply updates the legal code.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill eliminates statutory reference to Adult Basic Education Fund, effectively defunding this education program by removing legal requirements for its maintenance and distribution.85% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill eliminates statutory reference to Adult Basic Education Fund, effectively defunding and removing legal support for adult education programs within the education system.85% confidence

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