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MontanaHB 56769th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Revise education laws related to multidistrict agreements

Sponsored By: Brad Barker (Republican)

Became Law

Schools and EducationCountiesSchool Finance

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

50% educator payment boost for sharing districts

Beginning in school fiscal year 2027, qualifying districts get a 50% increase in their total quality educator payment. To qualify, every district with most of its area in the county joins one countywide agreement. The agreement must provide joint funding and joint operation of the districts. It must allocate at least each district’s general fund direct state aid to joint work. Districts jointly run core programs like administration, instruction, career and technical education, food, IT, activities, special education, and transportation. If one county is fully in, out-of-county districts in that agreement also get the increase.

New shared school cooperatives across districts

Beginning July 1, 2025, two or more school boards can form a shared cooperative. The cooperative lets districts share programs, staff, services, and costs. All boards must approve. Agreements can last up to three years. Each agreement must state how a district can leave and how to dissolve and split leftover funds. Cooperatives may offer Indian language immersion or culturally rooted instruction across districts, with payment terms in the agreement. Countywide cooperatives can also join other agreements, including regional, multicounty ones. The law defines these cooperatives as public entities.

Funding rules for shared school services

Beginning July 1, 2025, districts can move money into an interlocal cooperative fund. Money can come from the general fund, most budgeted funds, and some nonbudgeted funds. Retirement and debt service funds cannot be transferred. General fund transfers are capped at the district’s direct state aid amount. Federally restricted dollars can move only if federal rules allow it. Spending from the cooperative fund must be allowed by law and fit within the board’s final budget. If a transfer used a nonvoted levy fund, the district cannot raise that levy to replace the money.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Brad Barker

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 448 • No: 37

House vote • 4/16/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 95 • No: 2

House vote • 4/15/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 42 • No: 6

House vote • 4/5/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 39 • No: 7

House vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 88 • No: 11

House vote • 3/4/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 87 • No: 11

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/13/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/8/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    5/2/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    5/2/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    4/29/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/19/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/16/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate

    4/16/2025House

  9. 2nd Reading Senate Amendments Concurred

    4/15/2025House

  10. Returned to House with Amendments

    4/10/2025Senate

  11. 3rd Reading Concurred

    4/10/2025Senate

  12. Committee Report--Bill Concurred

    4/9/2025Senate

  13. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

    4/9/2025Senate

  14. Hearing

    4/7/2025Senate

  15. Rereferred to Committee

    4/5/2025Senate

  16. 2nd Reading Concurred

    4/5/2025Senate

  17. Committee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended

    4/2/2025Senate

  18. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended

    4/1/2025Senate

  19. Hearing

    3/24/2025Senate

  20. Referred to Committee

    3/14/2025Senate

  21. First Reading

    3/14/2025Senate

  22. Transmitted to Senate

    3/6/2025House

  23. 3rd Reading Passed

    3/6/2025House

  24. Committee Report--Bill Passed

    3/4/2025House

  25. Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed

    3/4/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/17/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    4/2/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/19/2025

    PDF

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