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MontanaHB 15169th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Revise educational laws pertaining to recruitment and retention and MSDB

Sponsored By: Connie Keogh (Democrat)

Became Law

Schools and EducationDevelopmental Disabilities, Persons WithTeachers

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Loan help for educators in impacted schools

Beginning July 1, 2025, qualifying educators at impacted schools and qualified educational sign‑language interpreters can get student loan repayment. Loans must be outstanding when you apply. The state pays up to 3 years total in your lifetime. Your school or district may add 1 extra year with local funds. The Board of Public Education keeps a public list of impacted schools.

More schools and staff qualify for payments

The state pays quality educator funds to school districts, special education cooperatives, the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind, certain correctional education programs, and the Montana Youth Challenge Program. Special education cooperatives and the deaf‑blind school are paid directly; payments for correctional and youth programs are routed through Corrections and Military Affairs. Payments use prior‑year full‑time‑equivalent educators who meet license or board‑set qualifications, including educational sign‑language interpreters. “Impacted school” now includes special education cooperatives, the state deaf‑blind school, the youth challenge program, correctional facilities, public schools on Indian reservations, and public schools over a 20‑minute drive from a Montana city of more than 15,000 people. Most new definitions and rules take effect July 1, 2025. Interpreters employed in the 2024–25 school year and after count, and related payments increase starting in school fiscal year 2026.

Travel help for residential students at state deaf‑blind school

The Montana School for the Deaf and Blind pays some travel costs for residential Montana students to go to and from home. Allowed travel includes scheduled or charter flights, school buses, approved certified carriers, or a parent or guardian under an individual contract. Parents who drive under a contract can be reimbursed under rules. Reimbursement is limited to the number of round trips in the school calendar for that fiscal year. The superintendent may grant a variance but cannot approve more than the total approved trips.

Paid teacher residencies and service rules

Beginning July 1, 2025, the state runs a paid teacher residency. Residents can get housing or a housing allowance, a last‑dollar tuition grant for the residency year, and pay. Teacher‑leaders receive stipends, and training is flexible and cohort‑based. Some pay and supports can depend on finishing and signing a Montana public school teaching contract. If a resident does not finish or does not teach in a Montana public school for at least 3 years within 5 years, the tuition grant becomes a loan. The Superintendent notifies the Commissioner of Higher Education to convert it.

Bonus funding for districts with competitive pay

A district that meets the legislative base‑pay goal gets an extra quality educator incentive. The goal is base pay at least 10 times the quality educator payment and, for first‑class districts, at least 70% of the district’s average teacher pay. To get the incentive for the next school fiscal year, the district must send proof by December 1 and report the number of full‑time‑equivalent teachers in their first three years, not counting years under emergency authorization.

Linked changes with another education bill

This law ties two sections to House Bill 252. If HB 252 also amends section 20‑9‑324, this act’s change to that section is void. If HB 252 amends 20‑9‑327, this act’s change to that section is void and HB 252 must add educational sign‑language interpreters. These rules apply only when both bills include those changes.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Connie Keogh

    Democrat • House

Cosponsors

  • John Fuller

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 640 • No: 50

House vote • 4/11/2025

Do Adopt

Yes: 90 • No: 9

House vote • 4/11/2025

Do Adopt

Yes: 93 • No: 6

House vote • 4/10/2025

Do Adopt

Yes: 47 • No: 1

House vote • 4/9/2025

Do Adopt

Yes: 48 • No: 1

House vote • 3/28/2025

Do Not Concur

Yes: 71 • No: 27

House vote • 3/21/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 47 • No: 3

House vote • 3/20/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 47 • No: 3

House vote • 1/28/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 1/27/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 98 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/19/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/13/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    5/7/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    5/6/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    5/2/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/14/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/11/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted

    4/11/2025House

  9. 2nd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted

    4/11/2025House

  10. 3rd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted

    4/10/2025Senate

  11. 2nd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted

    4/9/2025Senate

  12. Conference Committee Report Received

    4/7/2025House

  13. Hearing

    4/1/2025House

  14. 2nd Reading Senate Amendments Not Concurred

    3/28/2025House

  15. 2nd Reading Pass Consideration

    3/26/2025House

  16. Returned to House with Amendments

    3/21/2025Senate

  17. 3rd Reading Concurred

    3/21/2025Senate

  18. 2nd Reading Concurred

    3/20/2025Senate

  19. Revised Fiscal Note Printed

    2/24/2025House

  20. Revised Fiscal Note Signed

    2/22/2025House

  21. Revised Fiscal Note Received

    2/21/2025House

  22. Revised Fiscal Note Requested

    2/18/2025House

  23. Committee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended

    2/14/2025Senate

  24. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended

    2/13/2025Senate

  25. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended

    2/13/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • As Amended (Version 4)

    4/17/2025

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    4/15/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 3)

    2/17/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    1/24/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/9/2025

    PDF

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