Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB181: Generally revise Indian education for all laws
Status: Signed into law, May 13, 2025
What the bill says
An act generally revising education laws to strengthen the state's commitment to preserving american indian cultural integrity under article x, section 1(2), of the montana constitution; revising indian education for all laws to emphasize tribal consultation and the role of indian language and cultural specialists; placing additional requirements on the board of public education and the office of public instruction to improve indian education for all and strengthen accountability…
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING EDUCATION LAWS TO STRENGTHEN THE STATE'S COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURAL INTEGRITY UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 1(2), OF THE MONTANA CONSTITUTION; REVISING INDIAN EDUCATION FOR ALL LAWS TO EMPHASIZE TRIBAL CONSULTATION AND THE ROLE OF INDIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL SPECIALISTS; PLACING ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ON THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TO IMPROVE INDIAN EDUCATION FOR ALL AND STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY; CLARIFYING THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION FOR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY OF INDIAN EDUCATION FOR ALL FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE STATE TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS; ESTABLISHING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; REVISING A DEFINITION; AMENDING SECTIONS 20-1-501, 20-1-502, 20-1-503, 20-7-101, AND 20-9-329, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, Article X, section 1(2), of the Montana Constitution states: "The state recognizes the distinct and unique cultural heritage of the American Indians and is committed in its educational goals to the preservation of their cultural integrity"; and WHEREAS, the Montana Legislature has honored this commitment in several ways, including through the creation of Indian Education for All; and WHEREAS, accountability for school districts in providing Indian Education for All and for the funding provided by the Legislature for Indian Education for All has been lacking; and WHEREAS, this lack of accountability has resulted in costly and protracted litigation. Section 1. Section 20-1-501, MCA, is amended …
Sponsors
- Windy Boy, Jonathan (D, 16) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (S) Signed by Governor
- : (S) Transmitted to Governor
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (S) Returned from Enrolling
- : (S) Sent to Enrolling
- : (S) 3rd Reading House Amendments
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (S) 2nd Reading House Amendments
Votes
- Do Pass (April 14, 2025): 42 yea, 6 nay, passed
- Do Pass (April 12, 2025): 50 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 9, 2025): 69 yea, 28 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 8, 2025): 73 yea, 24 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 25, 2025): 29 yea, 20 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 24, 2025): 30 yea, 19 nay, passed
Subjects: Education - School Finance, Indians, Education - K-12
Common questions
- What is SB181?
- SB181 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Generally revise Indian education for all laws.
- What does SB181 do?
- In its own words: An act generally revising education laws to strengthen the state's commitment to preserving american indian cultural integrity under article x, section 1(2), of the montana constitution; revising indian education for all laws to emphasize tribal consultation and the role of indian language and cultural specialists; placing additional requirements on the board of public education and the office of public instruction to improve indian education for all and strengthen accountability…
- What is the status of SB181?
- Signed into law as of May 13, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 13, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB181?
- Windy Boy, Jonathan (D, 16).
- Where is the official record for SB181?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1350
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.