Bill > HB153

This bill revises the structure and mandate of the School Funding Interim Commission in Montana for the 2025-2026 interim period, expanding its membership and creating a new Innovation and Excellence in Education Working Group. The commission will now include representatives from the board of public education, the superintendent of public instruction, the board of regents, and the governor, in addition to the existing legislative and public members. Appointments must now be made by May 1 in the year the commission forms, and the bill establishes specific guidelines for the commission's work, including developing a funding formula that is transparent, equitable, and prioritizes current-year student education. The new working group is tasked with conducting a comprehensive analysis of Montana's education policies, benchmarking them against high-performing international and domestic education systems, and developing recommendations to improve educational performance. The group must publish its recommendations and implementation plan by January 30, 2026, and may contract with a national organization to support its efforts. The bill also appropriates $10,000 from the general fund to support the commission's activities and becomes effective immediately upon passage.

Education

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1443