This bill prevents certain state-mandated property tax levies from being carried forward to future years if local governments do not use their full authorized tax authority in the current year. It directly affects Montana counties, school districts, and other governmental entities that impose property taxes, specifically limiting how they can bank unused tax mill authority for later use. The key provision amends existing property tax law to exclude specific state-mandated levies - such as those for school districts, regional resource authorities, and certain special assessments - from the ability to carry forward unused tax authority. Local governments will still be able to carry forward unused tax authority for their own discretionary levies, but they cannot do so for taxes required by state law for specific purposes.
This bill amends Montana's property tax laws to revise how government entities can increase property tax levies. It directly affects state and local taxing units such as school districts, counties, and municipalities that impose property taxes. The key provision allows entities to increase taxes by the prior year's assessed amount plus half of the average inflation rate over the previous three years, capped at 4% total growth. The bill also clarifies how newly taxable property is treated in calculations and establishes specific rules for tax increment financing districts.
This bill clarifies the relationship between Montana's Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Board of Public Education by explicitly requiring the Superintendent to execute directives issued by the Board under its constitutional authority. The legislation amends state law to define the Superintendent's specific duties, which include managing teacher certification, overseeing school budgets, approving school openings and closures, distributing state funding, and coordinating special education services. Directly affected parties are state education officials, school districts, and the Board of Public Education, with the changes intended to reduce ambiguity about the Superintendent's role in implementing Board decisions.
This bill allows high school students in grades 11 and 12 to earn elective credits toward graduation by working at long-term care, nursing home, home care, or child care facilities. Students can earn one credit for every 250 hours worked, with a maximum of two credits allowed. Schools must create application forms to verify work hours and may set specific conditions on the types of tasks students perform. The program applies to both public and private schools and takes effect on July 1, 2025.
This bill amends Montana's Military Higher Education Act to clarify definitions of military service terms and strengthen protections for reservists and National Guard members attending college. It requires faculty to provide eligible students at least 15 business days to complete missed coursework when they miss assignments due to inactive duty training or annual training. The legislation also mandates that students returning from active duty within 12 months be readmitted with their previous academic standing, provided they request it. These changes directly affect students in Montana's reserve components and National Guard who need to balance military obligations with higher education requirements.
This bill amends Montana's school funding law to allow state financial support for preschool children with disabilities by including them in the Average Number Belonging (ANB) calculations used to determine school district funding. Previously, only preschool programs created at the discretion of school trustees were excluded from these calculations, which meant children with disabilities receiving mandatory special education services had no mechanism for state funding. The key provision adds a new clause to the existing statute that permits counting preschool children with disabilities in ANB based on their aggregate hours of pupil instruction, aligning their eligibility with other special education students. This change directly affects school districts by creating a funding pathway for the special education programs they are already required to provide for three- and four-year-old children with disabilities.
This bill creates a statewide program in Montana that pairs new teachers with retired educators from the same school district to provide guidance and support. School districts can choose to participate on a case-by-case basis, allowing retired teachers to offer assistance such as classroom observation feedback, administrative help, and orientation to district policies for up to 36 hours over a three-month period. The program authorizes districts to compensate retired teachers on an hourly basis using a rate derived from the district's base pay, with state funding of $100,000 annually available to reimburse districts for these mentoring hours.
This bill allows Montana school districts to increase their voter-approved property tax levies without holding a new election, provided the increase matches the inflation adjustments applied to state funding. It amends existing school funding laws to ensure that when the legislature raises state aid for inflation, school boards can automatically adjust their local tax levies by the same amount without requiring another vote from taxpayers. The measure also requires districts to offset any new over-BASE tax increases by reducing other nonvoted property tax levies by an equal amount, maintaining overall tax neutrality. These changes apply to school districts across Montana and take effect immediately upon becoming law.
This bill requires student scholarship organizations in Montana to obtain annual certification from the Department of Revenue before accepting tax-credit donations. The law establishes specific financial requirements, mandating that at least 90% of donation revenue be used for scholarships and that funds be distributed within three years. Organizations must also ensure scholarships remain available to any qualified education provider without restriction. The Department of Revenue must review applications within 60 days and may deny certification if requirements are not met, with a 30-day window for organizations to correct issues before a final denial. These changes aim to increase transparency and accountability for organizations managing education tax credits and scholarships.
This bill amends Montana education laws to require parental consent for students to participate in identity instruction and strengthens parental notification rights regarding human sexuality education. It mandates that schools provide parents with written permission options before identity instruction and ensures parents receive advance notice at least 48 hours before any human sexuality or identity instruction events or materials are introduced. The legislation also requires school districts to publicly disclose curriculum materials and summaries annually, prohibits schools from accepting instruction from abortion service providers, and establishes reporting procedures for violations to the state Board of Public Education.
