House Bill 15: Implement K-12 inflation
Apply inflationary adjustments to various components of the school funding formula. Key changes include updated figures for the basic entitlement, per-ANB entitlements, and various payments related to quality educators, at-risk students, and special education … The bill also establishes an effective date of July 1, 2025, and specifies that the new provisions will apply to school fiscal years beginning on or after this date. This legislative change aims to ensure that school funding keeps pace with inflation, thereby supporting the financial needs of educational institutions in Montana.
Sponsor: David Bedey
Last Action: Passed the House. Bill concurred in Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee, Feb. 21
House Bill 252: Create the student and teacher advancement for results and success act (STARS)
The proposed bill seeks to enhance school funding laws in Montana by introducing new funding components and increasing budget authority for educational entities. Key features include the establishment of a “Future Ready” funding component aimed at improving post-graduation preparation, increased budget authority for districts with high housing costs, and the restoration of full funding to the Advanced Opportunities Program. The bill also revises the incentive structure to boost teacher base salaries, expands eligibility for educational entities to receive incentives for meeting starting teacher pay benchmarks, and includes provisions for district clerks and emergency authorized staff in funding components. Additionally, it emphasizes resource sharing among school districts and mandates the creation of a school funding data dashboard for improved transparency.
Sponsor: Llew Jones and Bruce “Butch” Gillespie
Last Action: Bill pased second reading in the House, Feb. 21
House Bill 266: Establish education inflation reconciliation process
Aims to revise the annual inflation-related adjustments to K-12 base aid in Montana, ensuring better alignment with the definition of a “basic system of free quality public elementary and secondary schools.” Establishes a self-executing general fund funding formula that includes a mechanism for accurate annual inflationary adjustments.
Sponsor: Luke Muszkiewicz
Last Action: Bill was heard in the House Appropriations Committee February 17
House Bill 265: Provide Over-BASE levy authority consistent with inflation adopted by Legislature
Aims to revise school funding laws to enhance the alignment of school district general fund budgets with the definition of a “basic system of free quality public elementary and secondary schools.” Introduces a self-executing funding formula that includes mechanisms for annual inflationary adjustments. Additionally, the bill authorizes school boards to increase previously voter-approved over-base levies in accordance with these inflationary adjustments.
Sponsor: Luke Muszkiewicz
Last Action: Tabled in House Education Committee, Feb. 7
Seeks to reform school funding laws in Montana by introducing a countywide levy supported by guaranteed tax base aid, which will replace the existing school district base levy. This change aims to enhance funding equalization, better support school district base budgets, and reduce required tuition payments. The bill also revises the use of non-levy revenue in relation to school district budgets and shifts from district guaranteed tax base aid to county guaranteed tax base aid. Additionally, it outlines new responsibilities for trustees, district clerks, county superintendents, and county treasurers in managing the countywide levy, while amending several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to reflect these changes.
Sponsor: David Bedey
Last action: Passed House. Referred to Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee, Feb. 19
House Bill 22: Align home value amounts for school district property tax impact statements
Amends Section 20-9-116 of the Montana Code Annotated to align the home value amounts used in school district property tax impact statements with other statutory provisions. Specifically, the bill requires school district trustees to adopt a resolution by March 31 each fiscal year when intending to impose an increase in a nonvoted levy. The resolution must include estimated impacts on homes valued at $100,000, $300,000, and $600,000, replacing the previous requirement that only considered homes valued at $100,000 and $200,000.
Sponsor: Melissa Romano
Last Action: House, Sent to Enrolling, Feb. 20
House Bill 260: Revise teacher stipends for national board certification
Proposes an increase in the professional stipends for teachers who hold certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Specifically, amends Section 20-4-134 of the Montana Code Annotated to establish a new stipend structure. Teachers will receive an annual stipend of up to $1,500, which will be equivalent to 50% of the quality educator payment amount for the applicable year. Additionally, teachers in high-poverty or impacted schools will be eligible for a higher stipend of up to $2,500, equivalent to 85% of the quality educator payment amount. The bill also outlines the eligibility criteria for teachers and the distribution process for stipend payments.
Sponsor: Luke Muszkiewicz
Last Action: Passed House. Hearing scheduled in Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee, Feb. 25, 3 p.m., Room 317
House Bill 67: Generally revise laws related to administration of TRS
Seeks to revise and clarify various administrative and tax qualification provisions of the Teachers’ Retirement System in Montana. Key changes include the clarification of employer reporting duties, elective membership deferral for certain positions, and definitions related to active and dormant member statuses. Aligns mandatory distribution provisions with federal law and clarifies calculations for disability retirement allowances. Notable insertions include the definition of “extra duty service” to cover both educational and non-educational roles for school district employees, as well as a requirement for employers to report details of substitute teachers, teacher’s aides, and paraprofessionals who have opted out of the retirement system until they complete 210 hours of service.
Sponsor: Marta Bertoglio
Last Action: Referred to Senate State Administration Committee, Feb. 18
House Bill 158: Revise working retiree provisions under TRS
Revises the provisions regarding the reemployment of retired teachers, specialists, and administrators under the Teachers’ Retirement System in Montana. Amends Section 19-20-732, allowing retired members who have been receiving a retirement allowance for at least two months to be employed full-time for a maximum of five years, an increase from the previous limit of three years. The bill also stipulates that the retired member must have completed 27 or more years of creditable service prior to retirement and hold a valid teaching certificate. Additionally, it requires employers to certify that they have been unable to fill the position after advertising it, and the retirement board must verify the retired member’s eligibility.
Sponsor: Melissa Nikolakakos and Llew Jones
Last Action: Hearing scheduled in Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee, Feb. 25, 3 p.m., Room 317
House Bill 24: Clarify laws related to kindergarten
Revises education laws in Montana, particularly focusing on kindergarten and enrollment provisions. Clarifies that kindergarten programs must meet at least half-time requirements and modifies the definition of a kindergarten program to include children who are 5 years old by September 10, allowing for half-time enrollment options. Additionally, this bill would mandate that preschool programs for children aged 3 to 5 be integral to the elementary school system.
Sponsor: Melissa Romano
Last Action: Hearing scheduled in Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee, February 25, 3 p.m., Room 317
House Bill 231: Revise property tax rates for certain property
Seeks to amend property tax laws in Montana, focusing on class four residential and commercial properties. Introduces a lower tax rate for certain owner-occupied residential properties and long-term rentals, as well as a reduced tax rate for a portion of commercial property value. Key provisions include automatic qualification for the homestead reduced tax rate for specific properties in tax years 2025 and 2026, and a structured application process for continued eligibility starting in tax year 2027.
Sponsor: Llew Jones, Steve Fitzpatrick
Last Action: Bill passed House Appropriations Committee as ammended, Feb. 21
HB 338: Revise laws regarding targeted early numeracy intervention
Seeks to enhance early childhood education in Montana by broadening the focus from solely literacy to include numeracy, thereby providing more comprehensive educational support for young children. Introduces greater flexibility in evaluating children’s eligibility for early interventions, which is expected to lead to more personalized and effective educational strategies.
Sponsor: Melissa Romano
Last Action: Passed House. First reading in the Senate Feb. 19
HB 357: Provide funding for middle school career and technical education
Aims to enhance funding for career and technical education (CTE) programs in middle grades by requiring the Superintendent of Public Instruction to distribute funds to accredited elementary and K-12 school districts with junior high, middle school, or 7th and 8th grade programs. Also emphasizes the importance of providing high-quality CTE, including career exposure and exploration, to students in these grades.
Sponsor: Eric Tilleman
Last Action: Passed House Education Committee as ammended, Feb. 20
HB 153: Revise laws related to the school funding interim commission
Aims to revise the laws governing the School Funding Interim Commission in Montana by updating its membership, establishing a deadline for appointments, and designating a presiding officer. Notably, the bill introduces a new focus for the commission during the 2025-2026 interim, which includes forming an “Innovation and Excellence in Education Working Group.” This group is tasked with developing recommendations and an implementation plan to enhance the quality of public education in Montana.
Sponsor: David Bedey
Last Action: Passed House. Referred to Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee, Feb. 21
HB 262: Establish state policy on evidence-based reading instruction
establishes a state policy on early literacy instruction, mandating that such instruction in public schools be evidence-based and incorporate scientifically supported components. It emphasizes that reading instruction should not rely on ineffective strategies, specifically disallowing approaches that teach reading through context, structure, syntax, visual cues, or memory, including the three-cueing system. The bill outlines specific requirements for early literacy instruction, which must be direct, systematic, explicit, and responsive, and include essential components such as phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Sponsor: Linda Reksten
Last Action: Passed the House. Referred to Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee, Feb. 21
HB 151: Revise educational laws pertaining to recruitment and retention and MSDB
Aims to revise education laws in Montana, particularly focusing on recruitment and retention efforts, as well as provisions related to the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind. Key changes include making educational sign language interpreters eligible for the Quality Educator Payment and the Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program. Additionally, the bill expands the types of educational entities that can receive incentives for meeting starting teacher pay benchmarks and participate in the Teacher Residency Program.
Sponsor: Connie Keogh and John Fuller
Last Action: Passed House. Revised Fiscal Note Received, Feb. 21.
HB 483: Revise laws to reduce property taxes while preserving the current 95 school equalization mills
Revises Montana’s school funding laws, particularly addressing the effects of property reappraisal on school funding and property taxes. It requires the Office of Public Instruction and the Department of Revenue to report on these impacts and mandates adjustments to guaranteed tax base multipliers to alleviate property tax burdens.
Sponsor: Courtenay Sprunger
Last Action: Heard in House Taxation Committee February 19.