Education (Student Financial Aid)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 4, 2025

LC 1917: Remove prohibition on certain compensation for collegiate student-athlete's name/image/likeness

This bill amends Montana law to allow colleges and athletic organizations to pay student-athletes for using their name, image, or likeness in commercial deals, while also protecting athletes from being penalized for signing such contracts. The legislation defines student-athlete rights to earn compensation from external sources and prohibits schools from restricting these rights or retaliating against athletes who exercise them. However, the bill explicitly prevents schools from paying athletes directly for their name, image, or likeness, though it allows schools to include clauses in scholarship agreements that grant the school permission to use the athlete's likeness for promotional purposes. The changes apply immediately upon passage and require athletes to disclose any commercial contracts to their institution's athletic officials.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands student-athlete compensation rights and protects athletes from retaliation, enhancing educational access and student welfare in higher education.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 10, 2025

LC 2106: Revise best beginnings eligibility

This bill updates income eligibility rules for Montana's Best Beginnings child care scholarship program, which helps families afford child care services. It requires the state to set income limits at no less than 185% of the federal poverty level or 85% of the state median income, whichever is higher, while also ensuring the maximum income cap does not exceed federal child care grant standards. The legislation includes a $17 million annual appropriation from the general fund to support the program starting July 1, 2025, and takes effect on that same date.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $17M annual funding to expand child care scholarship program eligibility, strengthening public service access for families.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands child care eligibility, supporting early childhood education access and enabling parents to work while children receive care services.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases funding for child care scholarships, which supports families accessing healthcare services by reducing financial barriers to care.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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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 12, 2025

LC 2328: Extend the grow your own grant program

This bill extends the Montana Grow Your Own grant program through June 30, 2029, and adds postsecondary institutions as eligible recipients of startup grants to help develop teacher training pipelines. The legislation removes the requirement for grant recipients to convert scholarships to loans if they do not teach in shortage areas within specified timeframes, while maintaining the existing five-year and ten-year service commitments. It also expands eligibility for scholarship recipients to include those who earned at least six postsecondary credits in education while in high school or live in communities with educator shortages. The bill appropriates $500,000 for the 2025-2026 biennium to fund these expanded program activities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill extends teacher training grants, expands eligibility, and removes loan conversion requirements to strengthen educator pipeline and educational access95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Teachers

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 29, 2025

LC 3480: Revise administrative and certification processes for student scholarship organizations

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill strengthens tax credit donation processes for scholarships, promoting fiscal responsibility and ensuring funds are used for education purposes.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens scholarship organizations and expands educational access by regulating tax-credit donations for student scholarships, ensuring funds reach qualified education providers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 13, 2025

LC 1849: Revise the quality educator loan forgiveness program to expand eligibility

This bill expands Montana's Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program to include all newly hired quality educators in public schools, with priority given to those working in schools facing educator shortages. Under the new rules, eligible teachers can receive up to three years of state-funded loan repayment assistance, with amounts increasing from $3,000 in the first year to $5,000 by the third year, plus an additional year potentially funded by their school or district. If available funds are insufficient to cover all applicants, the state superintendent will prorate payments, prioritizing educators in impacted schools before distributing remaining funds to others. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025, and apply to applications submitted on or after that date.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands loan forgiveness for educators, increases funding for teachers, and improves recruitment in shortage areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Teachers

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 10, 2025

LC 1787: Provide best beginnings scholarships to child care workers

This bill expands Montana's Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship Program to include child-care workers employed at licensed day-care centers or registered family or group day-care homes. Under the new provisions, eligible child-care workers would receive scholarships without needing to meet the income eligibility requirements that currently apply to families seeking care for their children. The legislation appropriates $5.5 million annually from the general fund to support these scholarships starting July 1, 2025, and amends existing state code sections to establish the eligibility criteria for child-care workers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $5.5M annually from general fund to fund child care worker scholarships, directly increasing public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill funds child-care worker scholarships, supporting early childhood education access and workforce development.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides scholarships to child care workers, expanding benefits and supporting workforce development in early childhood education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 15, 2025

LC 50: Establish subtrust within the coal trust to increase educational tax credits

This bill creates a new Educational Opportunity Fund within Montana's Coal Severance Tax Trust Fund and uses earnings from that fund to increase the maximum limits for educational tax credits. The legislation affects taxpayers and corporations by allowing them to claim tax credits for donations to public schools for innovative programs and to student scholarship organizations. Key provisions include raising the annual aggregate limit for tax credits from $5 million to a higher amount based on fund earnings, removing the sunset date for these credit programs, and establishing rules for how school districts must handle excess donations. The bill also requires school districts to seek department preapproval for donations before issuing tax credit receipts to donors.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases funding for education through coal tax trust, expands tax credit limits, and strengthens school finance programs.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates new educational fund and increases tax credit limits for school donations, directly expanding educational funding and access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

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vetoed · Montana · House Jun 19, 2025

HB 456: Provide best beginnings scholarships to child care workers

This bill expands Montana's Best Beginnings scholarship program to provide direct financial aid to child-care workers employed at licensed day-care centers or registered family/group day-care homes. It removes standard income eligibility requirements for these workers (previously only applied to families) and allocates $5.5 million annually from the general fund starting July 2025 to fund these scholarships. The program now specifically supports child-care workers through this new funding stream, separate from the existing family-focused scholarship component.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5.5M annually from general fund to fund child-care worker scholarships, increasing state spending on public workforce support program.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds scholarships for child-care workers (early education workforce), expanding access to educational support and strengthening the sector through dedicated $5.5M annual appropriation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 457: Revise best beginnings eligibility

HB 457 aimed to modify the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship Program. It proposed changing the family income eligibility requirement from a minimum of 185% of the federal poverty level to 85% of the state median income for each family size. Additionally, the bill sought to appropriate $17 million annually from the general fund to the Department of Public Health and Human Services for the program for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $17M annually from general fund to expand child care program, directly funding a public service per appropriations subject.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands early childhood education access by lowering income eligibility threshold and appropriating $17M annually for child care scholarships, directly increasing funding and accessibility for families.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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