Bill LC 3985 proposed creating a grant program to cover fees for teen driver education programs. The bill aimed to provide financial assistance, making these programs more accessible for teenagers. By covering the costs of enrollment, it would directly benefit young individuals seeking to obtain a driver's license and their families.
This bill (LC 1221) aimed to address food insecurity among college students by requiring public institutions to establish campus food pantries and coordinate with local hunger relief organizations. It would have directly affected public college students and campus administrators by mandating these support systems. However, the bill never progressed beyond the drafting stage, with its draft placed on hold in December 2024 and ultimately "died in process" in May 2025. No specific provisions or mechanisms were finalized, as the proposal was abandoned before committee review. The bill remains a proposed measure with no enacted policy changes.
This bill proposed redirecting funds from an existing coal trust to support school and local government infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, and school facilities. It would have required the state to deposit specific coal trust funds into a designated account for these purposes. However, the bill was placed on hold in November 2024 and later died in committee without advancing further. No actual policy changes were implemented, as the bill never became law.
This proposed bill would have required a super majority (e.g., 60% or higher) of voters to approve local mill levies - taxes funding schools, roads, or services - instead of a simple majority. It would directly affect local governments and voters in communities seeking to raise funds through voter-approved levies. The bill never advanced beyond drafting, as its draft died in process on May 24, 2025, meaning no vote or enactment occurred. No concrete policy changes were implemented.
This bill (LC 1724) proposed to remove the expiration date ("sunset") for a specific property tax levy funding Montana's public universities. The "six mill levy" refers to a $6 tax per $1,000 of assessed property value paid by homeowners and businesses to support university operations. The bill would have made this tax permanent, ensuring ongoing funding for the university system without needing future legislative approval to extend it. The bill died in the legislative process on May 27, 2025, and never became law.
This bill (LC 3172) proposed creating a state licensing system for specialists in educational psychology who work with students in school settings. It aimed to establish requirements for education, training, and examinations to ensure these professionals met specific standards before practicing. The bill would have directly affected educational psychologists seeking formal licensure, requiring them to meet the new state-defined qualifications. However, the bill died in committee in May 2025 and never became law.
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SB 526 establishes a grant program to fund tribal colleges in Montana developing community health aide and dental health aide training programs. The program provides up to $3 million per institution, including a $1 million startup grant and $500,000 annually for four years, to expand or create education programs qualifying graduates for federal certification. Tribal colleges receiving grants must report annually on program outcomes, including graduates, provider certifications, patient access metrics, and cost-effectiveness. The bill directly affects tribal colleges and aims to address healthcare disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native communities by increasing local provider capacity. It allocates $1.5 million from the general fund for the 2025-2027 biennium to support this initiative.
SB 182 revises the Montana Indian language preservation program to strengthen the state's commitment to preserving American Indian cultural integrity and languages. The bill provides greater flexibility for Montana tribes to partner with various educational entities, including public, nonpublic, and tribal schools, and postsecondary institutions. It encourages integrating program efforts with school district immersion programs and emphasizes collaborative professional development and the use of existing tribal language materials. The Office of Public Instruction administers the program, distributing funds equally to participating tribal governments who submit applications detailing their language preservation strategies.
HB 553, titled "Generally revise military higher education act," updates laws related to higher education for military members. It requires faculty at educational institutions to provide eligible students with a make-up opportunity for coursework, assignments, exams, or finals missed due to inactive duty training or annual training. Faculty must give at least 15 business days for students to complete this make-up work, consistent with accreditation requirements. The bill also defines "inactive duty training" and "annual training" to support these provisions, affecting members of the U.S. armed forces reserve components or the Montana national guard enrolled in higher education.
SB 486 revises the funding mechanism for the Montana Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account program. Currently, resident school districts are required to remit a portion of their state education aid to the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) for students participating in the program. This bill allows a school district to elect to have the OPI pay this remittance amount in the first year a student participates in the program within that district. If this option is chosen, the OPI will later reduce the school district's state aid payment by the initial amount, adjusted for inflation, once the student is no longer participating in the program in that district.
