MontanaHB 63169th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Revise student online protection laws related to postsecondary opportunities

Sponsored By: Curtis Schomer (Republican)

Became Law

Schools and EducationVocational EducationPrivacyUniversity SystemInformation Technology

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Stronger privacy rules for K-12 student apps

The law lists many kinds of student data as protected. This includes names, contact details, grades, discipline, health records, Social Security numbers, biometrics, and more. It sets which online tools count as K-12 school apps. App operators who know or should know their tool is used mainly for K-12 must follow these rules. Cloud and software vendors that store or manage student records are covered as third parties.

Students keep ownership of their work

Students own the work they create, like essays, reports, photos, music, and portfolios. Account info that keeps their work linked to them is also covered. Test answers are excluded if keeping them would harm a standardized test’s validity.

Deidentified student data can be used

Deidentified or aggregated deidentified student data is not a pupil record under this law. Third-party providers can use deidentified data to improve and customize tools, show effectiveness in marketing, and develop or improve educational sites and apps. This can help products work better but allows use of deidentified data outside student records.

Dual-credit and work-based courses not covered

Courses taken for postsecondary credit are not treated as K-12 school purposes. Work-based learning courses from a partner under 20-7-1510 are also excluded. K-12 privacy rules in sections 20-7-1323 to 20-7-1326 do not apply to those courses or their online tools.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Curtis Schomer
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Russ Tempel
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 280 • No: 14

House vote • 4/15/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote • 4/14/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 33 • No: 14

House vote • 3/7/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 3/5/2025