Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB343: Require schools to provide religious instruction released time program
Status: Signed into law, May 15, 2025
What the bill says
An act revising education laws related to religious instruction released time; requiring school district trustees to provide a religious instruction released time program; providing that the program must allow a student at least 1 hour of religious instruction released time a week; authorizing that school district trustees may adopt a policy awarding credit for a religious instruction released time course and providing requirements for that policy; amending section 20-1-308, mca; and providing an effective date.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT REVISING EDUCATION LAWS RELATED TO RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION RELEASED TIME; REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICT TRUSTEES TO PROVIDE A RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION RELEASED TIME PROGRAM; PROVIDING THAT THE PROGRAM MUST ALLOW A STUDENT AT LEAST 1 HOUR OF RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION RELEASED TIME A WEEK; AUTHORIZING THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT TRUSTEES MAY ADOPT A POLICY AWARDING CREDIT FOR A RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION RELEASED TIME COURSE AND PROVIDING REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT POLICY; AMENDING SECTION 20-1-308, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Section 1. Section 20-1-308, MCA, is amended to read: "20-1-308. Religious instruction released time program -- academic credit. (1) The trustees of a school district may shall provide for a religious instruction released time program under which a pupil may must be released from regular school attendance for the purpose of receiving religious instruction upon written request, renewed at least annually, of the pupil's parent or guardian. The trustees shall determine the amount of time, not less than 1 hour a week, for which a pupil may be released for religious instruction. (2) A religious instruction released time program may not be established or administered in such a way that public school property is utilized for the purpose of religious instruction. (3) Public money may not be used, directly or indirectly, for the religious instruction. (4) Any period for which a pupil is released under …
Sponsors
- Gregg, Randyn (R, 78) · primary sponsor
- Emrich, Daniel (R, 11)
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 (April 18, 2025): 31 yea, 19 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 17, 2025): 23 yea, 24 nay, failed
- Do Pass (March 5, 2025): 56 yea, 42 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 4, 2025): 54 yea, 45 nay, passed
Subjects: Religion, Education - K-12
Common questions
- What is HB343?
- HB343 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Require schools to provide religious instruction released time program.
- What does HB343 do?
- In its own words: An act revising education laws related to religious instruction released time; requiring school district trustees to provide a religious instruction released time program; providing that the program must allow a student at least 1 hour of religious instruction released time a week; authorizing that school district trustees may adopt a policy awarding credit for a religious instruction released time course and providing requirements for that policy; amending section 20-1-308, mca; and providing an effective date.
- What is the status of HB343?
- Signed into law as of May 15, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 15, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB343?
- Gregg, Randyn (R, 78), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB343?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2657
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.