# Montana HB 595: Revise qualifications for teachers of adult basic education or high school equivalency programs at state correctional institutions

Montana HB 595, Revise qualifications for teachers of adult basic education or high school equivalency programs at state correctional institutions, is a 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) House bill sponsored by Fiona Nave (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-05-05 (Chapter Number Assigned) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB595-2025
- 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 595
- State: Montana
- Session: 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)
- Title: Revise qualifications for teachers of adult basic education or high school equivalency programs at state correctional institutions
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-02-19
- Last action: 2025-05-05, Chapter Number Assigned
- Sponsor: Fiona Nave (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Corrections, Education - K-12
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (197 yes, 101 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Flexible qualifications for prison instructors: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, to teach in these programs you must be at least 18 and of good moral character. You must show one of these: an associate degree, a bachelor's degree, a teaching certificate from another state, or prior teaching experience. Military training and experience can count as prior…
- Inmates get new education program: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, the Department of Corrections runs a new education program for inmates. It offers classes to earn a high school equivalency diploma and adult basic education. The department sets policies to decide which inmates can join. Your access depends on those eligibility rules.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Fiona Nave (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Sue Vinton (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-15 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 37 | 13 |   |
| 2025-04-14 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 37 | 13 |   |
| 2025-03-07 | House | Do Pass | pass | 61 | 38 |   |
| 2025-03-06 | House | Do Pass | pass | 62 | 37 |   |

## Actions (27)

- 2025-05-05: Chapter Number Assigned (House)
- 2025-05-01: Signed by Governor (House)
- 2025-04-24: Transmitted to Governor (House)
- 2025-04-24: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-04-23: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-04-17: Returned from Enrolling (House)
- 2025-04-15: Sent to Enrolling (House)
- 2025-04-15: 3rd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-04-14: 2nd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-03-28: Committee Report (Senate)
- 2025-03-28: Committee Executive Action (Senate)
- 2025-03-24: Hearing (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: Referred to Committee (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: 1st Reading (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Transmitted to Senate (House)
- 2025-03-07: 3rd Reading (House)
- 2025-03-06: 2nd Reading (House)
- 2025-02-26: Committee Report (House)
- 2025-02-26: Fiscal Note Printed (House)
- 2025-02-26: Fiscal Note Unsigned (House)
- 2025-02-26: Committee Executive Action (House)
- 2025-02-26: Fiscal Note Received (House)
- 2025-02-24: Hearing (House)
- 2025-02-20: 1st Reading (House)
- 2025-02-20: Referred to Committee (House)
- 2025-02-19: Fiscal Note Requested (House)
- 2025-02-19: Introduced (House)

## Bill text

- Enrolled, 2025-04-16: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=336c35a4-a7d2-4c49-8c0b-abe753a5169c)
- Introduced, 2025-02-19: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=05d19dbf-5ba3-49f1-bd20-f96624c75f93)

## 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=336c35a4-a7d2-4c49-8c0b-abe753a5169c)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=05d19dbf-5ba3-49f1-bd20-f96624c75f93)

## 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-HB595-2025 (as of 2026-10-19).