# Montana HB 343: Require schools to provide religious instruction released time program Montana HB 343, Require schools to provide religious instruction released time program, is a 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) House bill sponsored by Randyn Gregg (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-05-15 (Chapter Number Assigned) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB343-2025 - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Montana HB 343 - State: Montana - Session: 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) - Title: Require schools to provide religious instruction released time program - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-29 - Last action: 2025-05-15, Chapter Number Assigned - Sponsor: Randyn Gregg (Republican) - Cosponsors: 2 - Subjects: Education - K-12, Religion - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 4 (167 yes, 130 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Parents can request weekly religious released time: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, every district provides a released time program for religious instruction. A parent or guardian must make a written request and renew it each year. Trustees set the schedule, but it must be at least 1 hour each week. Released time counts as part of the school day and week. I… - Possible school credit for released time: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, districts may give academic credit for released time religious courses. If they do, they must use neutral, secular criteria like hours, syllabus, assessments, and teacher qualifications. Districts may also recognize credit from independently accredited providers. Your studen… - No school property or public funds for religious instruction: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, religious instruction for released time must be off public school property. Schools cannot use public money, directly or indirectly, to pay for the instruction. Districts and providers must arrange off‑campus space. Families or private groups cover any costs. Travel or sched… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Randyn Gregg (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Braxton Mitchell (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Daniel Emrich (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-18 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 31 | 19 | | | 2025-04-17 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 26 | 24 | | | 2025-03-05 | House | Do Pass | pass | 56 | 42 | | | 2025-03-04 | House | Do Pass | pass | 54 | 45 | | ## Actions (25) - 2025-05-15: Chapter Number Assigned (House) - 2025-05-12: Signed by Governor (House) - 2025-05-05: Transmitted to Governor (House) - 2025-05-02: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-05-01: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-04-24: Returned from Enrolling (House) - 2025-04-18: Sent to Enrolling (House) - 2025-04-18: 3rd Reading (Senate) - 2025-04-17: 2nd Reading (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Committee Report (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Committee Executive Action (Senate) - 2025-04-07: Hearing (Senate) - 2025-03-31: Hearing (Senate) - 2025-03-06: Referred to Committee (Senate) - 2025-03-05: 1st Reading (Senate) - 2025-03-05: Transmitted to Senate (House) - 2025-03-05: 3rd Reading (House) - 2025-03-04: 2nd Reading (House) - 2025-03-01: Committee Report (House) - 2025-02-28: Committee Executive Action (House) - 2025-02-10: Hearing (House) - 2025-02-07: Hearing Canceled (House) - 2025-01-30: 1st Reading (House) - 2025-01-30: Referred to Committee (House) - 2025-01-29: Introduced (House) ## Bill text - Enrolled, 2025-04-22: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=9ea483f0-8154-4eac-b0c9-5f8d7572bfa3) - As Amended (Version 2), 2025-03-03: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=2cf0a5d8-396d-4503-a35e-3596a168f12f) - Introduced, 2025-01-29: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=9aed6cc2-51a4-4b21-97a2-c40d70b995fb) ## Related bills - SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law (signed) - HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit (vetoed) - HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws (vetoed) - SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act (vetoed) - SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program (vetoed) - SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer (vetoed) ## Sources - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=9ea483f0-8154-4eac-b0c9-5f8d7572bfa3) - [As Amended (Version 2) (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=2cf0a5d8-396d-4503-a35e-3596a168f12f) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=9aed6cc2-51a4-4b21-97a2-c40d70b995fb) ## Related - [SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB437-2025) - [HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB831-2025) - [HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB628-2025) - [SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB410-2025) - [SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB424-2025) - [SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB422-2025) - [Montana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana/bills) - [Montana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB343-2025 (as of 2026-10-19).