Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB525: Authorize use of school chaplains in school districts and public charter schools
Status: Failed, May 23, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act authorizing a school district or public charter school to use paid or volunteer school chaplains to provide supports, services, and programs to students; requiring a school district or public charter school to adopt a school chaplain policy with minimum requirements; providing requirements for a school chaplain to be eligible to work in a school; requiring publication of a list of school chaplains and their religious affiliations on a school district or public charter school website…
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT AUTHORIZING A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL TO USE PAID OR VOLUNTEER SCHOOL CHAPLAINS TO PROVIDE SUPPORTS, SERVICES, AND PROGRAMS TO STUDENTS; REQUIRING A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL TO ADOPT A SCHOOL CHAPLAIN POLICY WITH MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING REQUIREMENTS FOR A SCHOOL CHAPLAIN TO BE ELIGIBLE TO WORK IN A SCHOOL; REQUIRING PUBLICATION OF A LIST OF SCHOOL CHAPLAINS AND THEIR RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS ON A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL WEBSITE; AUTHORIZING A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL TO ENGAGE A SCHOOL CHAPLAIN IN LIEU OF A SCHOOL COUNSELOR; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: NEW SECTION. Section 1. School chaplains. (1) A school district or a public charter school may adopt a policy to authorize paid or volunteer school chaplains to provide supports, services, and programs to students as assigned by the district school board or the charter school governing board, if different. The policy adopted pursuant to this section must, at a (b) require that a principal of a school with a school chaplain shall inform all parents of the availability of the supports, services, and programs provided by the school chaplain; and (c) require written parental consent before a student participates in or receives …
Sponsors
- Manzella, Theresa (R, 44) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (H) Died in Committee
- : (H) Tabled in Committee
- : (H) Hearing
- : (H) 1st Reading
- : (H) Referred to Committee
- : (S) Transmitted to House
- : (S) 3rd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (S) 2nd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Pass (March 6, 2025): 32 yea, 17 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 6, 2025): 32 yea, 18 nay, passed
Subjects: Religion, Education - K-12
Common questions
- What is SB525?
- SB525 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Authorize use of school chaplains in school districts and public charter schools.
- What does SB525 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act authorizing a school district or public charter school to use paid or volunteer school chaplains to provide supports, services, and programs to students; requiring a school district or public charter school to adopt a school chaplain policy with minimum requirements; providing requirements for a school chaplain to be eligible to work in a school; requiring publication of a list of school chaplains and their religious affiliations on a school district or public charter school website…
- What is the status of SB525?
- Failed as of May 23, 2025. Latest action: (H) Died in Committee (May 23, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB525?
- Manzella, Theresa (R, 44).
- Where is the official record for SB525?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC4339
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.