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MontanaHB 49969th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Extend the grow your own grant program

Sponsored By: Thedis Crowe (Democrat)

Became Law

AgricultureCollegesSchools and EducationUniversity SystemAppropriations

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Teacher scholarships with service requirement

Beginning July 1, 2025, eligible students can get last-dollar scholarships up to $5,000 per year. Total aid cannot exceed $10,000 per student and cannot exceed your cost of attendance after other grants. You qualify if you joined a Grow Your Own program in high school and earned at least 6 college credits toward an education degree, or you live in a community with a school the Board says has a teacher shortage. You must be enrolled in a high-need teacher prep program and commit to teach in a shortage-impacted school. If you are not licensed in the needed area within 5 years, or do not teach at least 3 years in an impacted school within 10 years, the grant becomes a loan you must repay. Awards depend on available legislative funding and the program sunsets June 30, 2029.

Grants to build local teacher pipelines

Starting July 1, 2025, school districts qualify for Grow Your Own grants if they have a school the Board lists as having a teacher shortage. Montana colleges, including tribal and community colleges, can get development grants for up to two years when they partner with an eligible district. Two‑year and tribal/community colleges can also get grants to seek teacher program accreditation in high‑need fields or to build joint programs with four‑year schools that may not require residency. The law defines which colleges count as “postsecondary institutions” and what a “quality educator shortage” means, which sets who can apply. Grants depend on legislative funding and the program ends June 30, 2029.

Program extended to 2029 with funding

The law keeps the Grow Your Own program in place through June 30, 2029. It takes effect July 1, 2025. Lawmakers provide $500,000 from the general fund for the biennium starting July 1, 2025, and intend this to be part of the base budget next session. Each year, the Commissioner of Higher Education must report to the Education Interim Committee on current participants, former participants with Montana teacher certificates, and those teaching in their original district.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Thedis Crowe

    Democrat • House

Cosponsors

  • Tyson T. Running Wolf

    Democrat • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 209 • No: 138

House vote • 4/22/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 29 • No: 21

House vote • 4/18/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 27 • No: 23

House vote • 4/17/2025

Take HB 499 from Comm-Webber

Yes: 27 • No: 23

House vote • 4/5/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 62 • No: 36

House vote • 4/4/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 64 • No: 35

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    6/20/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    6/19/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    6/10/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    6/9/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    6/2/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/25/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/22/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Concurred

    4/22/2025Senate

  9. 2nd Reading Concurred

    4/18/2025Senate

  10. Taken from Committee; Placed on 2nd Reading

    4/17/2025Senate

  11. Tabled in Committee

    4/15/2025Senate

  12. Hearing Canceled

    4/15/2025Senate

  13. Hearing

    4/14/2025Senate

  14. Hearing

    4/10/2025Senate

  15. Referred to Committee

    4/7/2025Senate

  16. First Reading

    4/7/2025Senate

  17. Transmitted to Senate

    4/5/2025House

  18. 3rd Reading Passed

    4/5/2025House

  19. 2nd Reading Passed

    4/4/2025House

  20. Committee Report--Bill Passed

    4/2/2025House

  21. Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed

    4/1/2025House

  22. Hearing

    3/31/2025House

  23. Rereferred to Committee

    3/31/2025House

  24. Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended

    3/29/2025House

  25. Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended

    3/28/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/23/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    3/29/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/13/2025

    PDF

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