All Roll Calls
Yes: 478 • No: 104
MontanaHB 26669th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET
Establish education inflation reconciliation process
Sponsored By: Luke Muszkiewicz (Democrat)
Became Law
Schools and EducationSchool Finance
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
School funding inflation formula with 3% cap
The law requires the Superintendent to set an annual inflation factor for K‑12 base aid when building the next biennium budget. It uses July CPI values and a cube‑root method for each year. Year one uses July CPI of the prior year over July CPI three years earlier. Year two uses July CPI of the current year over July CPI three years earlier. The increase used in the present‑law base cannot exceed 3% a year and applies to both years. Enrollment increases or decreases are included along with the capped inflation factor. This applies to basic and per‑ANB entitlements, data‑for‑achievement, special education per‑ANB, and listed general fund payments. CPI means the CPI‑U, U.S. city average, 1982–84=100. The act takes effect July 1, 2025.
Regular reports on school funding and inflation
Beginning in fiscal year 2026 and every even‑numbered fiscal year, the Superintendent must report on funding vs. inflation. Send the report by September 1 to the Education Interim Budget Committee and the Education Interim Committee. Send it by December 31 to the Legislative Finance Committee. The report shows per‑ANB funding increases for listed BASE aid items for the current year and prior five years, in dollars and percents, rounded to the nearest one‑hundredth. It also shows July‑to‑July CPI changes for the same years and a cumulative comparison of the differences.
SB 258 void if both enacted
If both this act and Senate Bill 258 are passed and approved, SB 258 is void and has no effect. This rule applies only when both measures become law.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Luke Muszkiewicz
Democrat • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/15/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 77 • No: 20
House vote • 4/14/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 86 • No: 10
House vote • 4/2/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 31 • No: 19
House vote • 4/1/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 34 • No: 16
House vote • 3/1/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 88 • No: 9
House vote • 2/28/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 90 • No: 8
House vote • 2/14/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 72 • No: 22
Actions Timeline
Chapter Number Assigned
5/5/2025HouseSigned by Governor
5/1/2025HouseTransmitted to Governor
4/22/2025HouseSigned by President
4/22/2025SenateSigned by Speaker
4/18/2025HouseReturned from Enrolling
4/15/2025HouseSent to Enrolling
4/15/2025House3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate
4/15/2025House2nd Reading Senate Amendments Concurred
4/14/2025HouseRevised Fiscal Note Printed
4/3/2025HouseRevised Fiscal Note Signed
4/3/2025HouseReturned to House with Amendments
4/2/2025SenateRevised Fiscal Note Received
4/2/2025House3rd Reading Concurred
4/2/2025Senate2nd Reading Concurred
4/1/2025SenateRevised Fiscal Note Requested
3/31/2025HouseCommittee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended
3/26/2025SenateCommittee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended
3/25/2025SenateHearing
3/10/2025SenateReferred to Committee
3/4/2025SenateFirst Reading
3/3/2025Senate3rd Reading Passed
3/1/2025House2nd Reading Passed
2/28/2025HouseRevised Fiscal Note Printed
2/27/2025HouseRevised Fiscal Note Signed
2/27/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
4/15/2025
As Amended (Version 4)
3/26/2025
As Amended (Version 3)
2/25/2025
As Amended (Version 2)
2/11/2025
Introduced
1/21/2025