Rep. Jamie Isaly

Maddy summaryHJ 58 is a joint resolution requesting an interim study to examine how Montana can better utilize school counselors to improve student outcomes. It directs a legislative committee to investigate counselor shortages, current student-counselor ratios, best practices from other states, and input from Montana counselors and education agencies. The study, required to report findings to the 70th Legislature by September 2026, does not create new law but aims to inform future policy. The resolution died in the House process on May 22, 2025, without becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 837 establishes a statewide Retired Teacher Induction and Mentoring Program to support new teachers by pairing them with retired teachers from the same school district. School districts can optionally participate, matching a new teacher with a former teacher for up to three months of guidance. Participating districts compensate retired teachers hourly for up to 36 hours, and the Office of Public Instruction then reimburses these costs. The program, funded by an annual $100,000 state appropriation, aims to provide new teachers with support such as classroom feedback, administrative assistance, and help with district policies.

Maddy summaryHB 811 aimed to increase the maximum generating capacity for customer-generated electricity systems that use net metering. Currently, systems like those powered by solar, wind, or hydropower, which can feed excess electricity back to the grid, are limited to 50 kilowatts. This bill proposed to raise that capacity limit to 100 kilowatts. This change would directly affect customer-generators by allowing them to install larger renewable energy systems on their property and still qualify for net metering.

Maddy summaryHB 101 reclassifies gray wolves as furbearers, integrating them into existing furbearer hunting and trapping regulations. The bill establishes specific wolf hunting licenses for residents and nonresidents, outlining associated fees and tagging requirements for harvested wolves. It introduces new management provisions, allowing for more liberal harvest opportunities such as multiple licenses per individual, the use of bait for trapping, and night hunting on private lands. Additionally, the bill permits landowners to take wolves threatening human safety, livestock, or dogs on their property without a license under specific reporting requirements and a quota.

Maddy summaryHB 73 proposes to repeal a Montana law that currently allows livestock or poultry owners to kill eagles, predatory hawks, and owls. If passed, the bill would remove the state's authorization for such actions by specifically repealing Section 87-5-209 of the Montana Code Annotated. This change would directly affect livestock and poultry owners by revoking their legal permission to destroy these specific bird species.

Maddy summaryHB 359 revises the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) laws concerning retired teachers returning to work. It temporarily reduces the required break-in-service period for retired teachers from 150 to 120 days if they retired on or after January 1, 2024. The bill also creates an exception, allowing retired teachers to work for up to 45 days during this break-in-service period specifically to mentor new teachers. These provisions, which also extend existing temporary rules, are effective until June 30, 2029, after which the previous requirements will apply.