Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB24: Clarify laws related to kindergarten
Status: Signed into law, April 7, 2025
What the bill says
An act revising education laws to clarify provisions related to kindergarten and specific types of enrollment increases; amending sections 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, and 20-9-313, mca; and providing an effective date and an applicability date.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT REVISING EDUCATION LAWS TO CLARIFY PROVISIONS RELATED TO KINDERGARTEN AND SPECIFIC TYPES OF ENROLLMENT INCREASES; AMENDING SECTIONS 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, AND 20-9-313, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE. Section 1. Section 20-1-301, MCA, is amended to read: "20-1-301. School fiscal year. (1) The school fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30. At least the minimum aggregate hours required in subsection (2) must be conducted during each school fiscal year, except that 1,050 aggregate hours of pupil instruction for graduating seniors may be sufficient. The minimum aggregate hours required in subsection (2) are not required for any pupil demonstrating proficiency pursuant to 20-9-311(4)(d). (2) The minimum aggregate hours required by grade are: (a) 360 hours for a half-time kindergarten program or 720 hours for a full-time kindergarten program, as provided in 20-7-117; (b) 720 hours for grades 1 through 3; and (c) 1,080 hours for grades 4 through 12. (3) Except for a circumstance related to an unforeseen emergency pursuant to Title 20, chapter 9, part 8, for any elementary or high school district that fails to provide for at least the minimum aggregate hours, as listed in subsections (1) and (2), to any pupil not demonstrating proficiency pursuant to 20-9-311(4)(d), the superintendent of public instruction shall reduce the …
Sponsors
- Romano, Melissa (D, 80) · primary sponsor
- Novak, Sara (D, 36)
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (H) Signed by Governor
- : (H) Transmitted to Governor
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (H) Returned from Enrolling
- : (H) Sent to Enrolling
- : (S) 3rd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (S) 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (March 21, 2025): 49 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Do Concur (March 20, 2025): 49 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Do Pass (January 21, 2025): 79 yea, 20 nay, passed
- Do Pass (January 20, 2025): 91 yea, 7 nay, passed
Subjects: Education - School Finance, Education - K-12
Common questions
- What is HB24?
- HB24 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Clarify laws related to kindergarten.
- What does HB24 do?
- In its own words: An act revising education laws to clarify provisions related to kindergarten and specific types of enrollment increases; amending sections 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, and 20-9-313, mca; and providing an effective date and an applicability date.
- What is the status of HB24?
- Signed into law as of April 7, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (April 7, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB24?
- Romano, Melissa (D, 80), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB24?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0289
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.