Education

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 66: Revise laws related to public libraries and library services

This bill revises Montana state law to clarify the purpose and core functions of free public libraries, ensuring their services align with traditional library roles. It directly affects all public libraries in the state by defining specific activities they must provide, such as access to books and digital materials, educational support, technology access, literacy programs, and meeting spaces. The legislation prohibits libraries from offering services unrelated to these core functions, while allowing flexibility for other activities consistent with library purposes. This change aims to standardize library operations across the state and maintain focus on information access and community education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens educational access by ensuring public libraries provide educational support, literacy programs, and technology access, which complements K-12 and higher education goals.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 10, 2025

LC 2216: Revise laws to promote the teaching of cursive writing in schools

This bill amends Montana's legislative goals for public education to require that all students receive instruction in cursive handwriting. The law directly affects elementary and secondary schools by adding a new requirement to the state's educational objectives. It specifies that cursive instruction should develop cognitive and fine motor skills in young students and enable students to read original historical documents like the U.S. Constitution. The bill becomes effective on July 1, 2025, and does not mandate specific teaching methods or allocate funding for implementation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates cursive instruction to develop cognitive skills and enable reading historical documents, strengthening educational curriculum and student learning outcomes.90% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 30, 2025

LC 693: Provide for human trafficking awareness training for school bus drivers

This bill requires school bus drivers in Montana to complete a free, transportation industry-specific training course on recognizing and reporting signs of human trafficking as part of their driver qualifications. The Office of Public Instruction will provide the training materials at no cost to driver candidates and is directed to recommend that this training be included in ongoing inservice training for bus drivers. The law also encourages the Office of Public Instruction to educate the broader community about child sex trafficking prevention and to coordinate with law enforcement and other agencies on awareness efforts. These changes take effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances public safety by training school bus drivers to recognize and report human trafficking, strengthening law enforcement capabilities and victim protection.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enhances student safety by requiring human trafficking awareness training for school bus drivers, protecting students and supporting educational staff.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by requiring human trafficking awareness training for school bus drivers, improving safety standards and driver qualifications.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking School Transportation Public Transit

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 5, 2025

LC 2285: Increase on-schedule reimbursement rates for school transportation

This bill increases the state reimbursement rates that school districts receive for on-schedule transportation services, directly affecting Montana school districts that operate bus routes. The key provision raises mileage reimbursement rates based on the size of the school bus, with larger buses receiving higher per-mile payments ranging from 85 cents to 299 cents. The changes apply to school fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2025, and include adjustments for nonbus mileage when drivers travel to overnight locations more than 10 miles from school.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases state reimbursement rates for school transportation, directly funding essential public services and strengthening school district budgets.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill increases state reimbursement rates for school transportation, directly funding school districts and improving operational capacity for K-12 education.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill increases reimbursement rates for school transportation, directly funding and strengthening school bus services and transportation infrastructure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding School Transportation Public Transit

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 3601: Revise education laws related to multidistrict agreements

This bill allows Montana school districts to form cooperative partnerships to share services and resources, such as administration, payroll, and custodial work, while also permitting private entities to join these agreements. It simplifies the process for districts to enter into these partnerships by clarifying how funds can be transferred between district accounts and establishing rules for how long agreements can last and how they can be dissolved. The legislation also introduces a financial incentive, increasing total quality educator payments by 50% for districts that join countywide resource-sharing agreements covering all districts in a county. These changes aim to give school boards more flexibility in organizing operations without requiring additional local taxes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables school districts to form cooperative partnerships for shared services and resources, improving efficiency and allowing private entity participation to strengthen educational infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 18, 2025

LC 4225: Increase IRC 529 education savings income tax deduction

This bill increases Montana's state income tax deduction for contributions to 529 family education savings accounts from $3,000 to $4,500 for the 2025 tax year. It allows taxpayers to reduce their taxable income by up to $4,500 for contributions made to accounts owned by themselves, their spouse, or their Montana-resident children or stepchildren. The bill also establishes an automatic inflation adjustment mechanism that will increase the deduction limit each year based on changes in the consumer price index, rounded to the nearest $100. Additionally, the changes apply retroactively to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, and take effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases state income tax deduction for 529 contributions, providing tax relief and encouraging education savings.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill increases tax deduction for 529 education savings accounts, expanding access to higher education funding and supporting families saving for college.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 19, 2025

LC 1058: Provide for fee waivers of government documents to former foster children

This bill allows former foster children in Montana who are under 21 years old to receive free copies of certain government documents, including birth certificates, driver's licenses, identification cards, and student transcripts. The legislation removes fees for these individuals at county clerks, the Department of Public Health and Human Services, the Department of Justice, and Montana university systems, though transcript fees may still be charged if the state cannot reimburse them. To access these waivers, eligible individuals only need to verbally confirm they meet the criteria, and the state is authorized to seek federal funding to cover the cost of waived fees. The bill also updates existing state laws to reflect these fee exemptions and grants the Department of Public Health and Human Services authority to create rules for implementation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill removes fees for student transcripts and government documents for former foster children, improving educational access for vulnerable youth.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 13, 2025

LC 630: Revise education laws related to a teacher's authority to maintain a positive classroom environment

This bill grants teachers the authority to temporarily remove students from the classroom when behavior disrupts the learning environment for others. It requires school districts to create policies or update employee agreements that outline how teachers can use this authority, while ensuring these rules do not conflict with individualized education plans for students with disabilities. When a student is excluded, the teacher must direct them to school administration, and the student cannot return until a principal or designee communicates a return plan that may include behavioral agreements or meetings with parents and staff. Students who fail to meet the return plan requirements or repeatedly disrupt the classroom face further disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill empowers teachers to maintain classroom order, protecting educational environment and supporting educators' ability to teach effectively.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Teachers

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 12, 2025

LC 3575: Constitutional amendment for sales tax to fund K-12 education

This bill proposes amending the Montana Constitution to allow a statewide 4% sales and use tax specifically to reduce property taxes for K-12 education. If approved by voters, the amendment would require the legislature to dedicate the revenue from this tax to lowering property taxes for school funding, unless a three-fourths vote in both legislative chambers decides otherwise. The measure would take effect on July 1, 2027, and requires a two-thirds legislative vote to pass before appearing on the November 2026 ballot for public approval.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates new sales tax revenue specifically to fund K-12 education and reduce property taxes, directly advancing state budget and taxation goals for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill proposes new sales tax revenue specifically to fund K-12 education and reduce property taxes for schools, directly increasing educational funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax School Funding

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 17, 2025

LC 3589: Legislative referendum on sales tax to fund education

This bill proposes a legislative referendum to let Montana voters decide whether to create a new sales tax of up to 4% to reduce property taxes for public schools and the Montana university system. The proposed tax would exempt essential items like groceries, housing, utilities, fuel, healthcare, and financial services to minimize the burden on consumers. If approved by voters in the November 2026 general election, the sales tax would be implemented to fund education while lowering property tax amounts for school districts and universities. The bill requires the full text and title of the measure to appear on the ballot for voters to consider.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill proposes new sales tax to fund education and reduce property taxes, directly advancing budget and taxation goals for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill proposes new sales tax specifically to fund public schools and university system, directly increasing education funding95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax

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