Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB599: Revise student data collection laws
Status: Signed into law, May 19, 2025
What the bill says
An act revising parental rights regarding data collection for children; providing opt-out and opt-in options for parents regarding evaluations, surveys, and data collection; requiring that notifications be sent to parents regarding any physical and mental health screenings or surveys; and amending section 40-6-701, mca.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT REVISING PARENTAL RIGHTS REGARDING DATA COLLECTION FOR CHILDREN; PROVIDING OPT-OUT AND OPT-IN OPTIONS FOR PARENTS REGARDING EVALUATIONS, SURVEYS, AND DATA COLLECTION; REQUIRING THAT NOTIFICATIONS BE SENT TO PARENTS REGARDING ANY PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS OR SURVEYS; AND AMENDING SECTION 40-6-701, MCA. Section 1. Section 40-6-701, MCA, is amended to read: "40-6-701. Interference with fundamental parental rights restricted -- cause of action. (1) A government entity may not interfere with the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their children unless the government entity demonstrates that the and (b) is narrowly tailored and is the least restrictive means available for the furthering of the compelling governmental interest. (2) All fundamental parental rights are exclusively reserved to the parent of a child without obstruction or interference by a government entity, including but not limited to the rights and responsibilities to do the following: (a) direct the education of the child, including the right to choose public, private, religious, or home schools and the right to make reasonable choices with public schools for the education of the child; (b) access and review all written and electronic education records relating to the child that are controlled by or in the possession of a school; (c) direct the upbringing of the child; (d) direct …
Sponsors
- Nikolakakos, Melissa (R, 20) · primary sponsor
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) Returned to House
- : (S) 3rd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (April 22, 2025): 29 yea, 21 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 18, 2025): 27 yea, 22 nay, passed
- AMD-HB0599.002.001 Emrich D/PASS (April 18, 2025): 23 yea, 26 nay, failed
- Take HB 599 from Comm-McKamey (April 17, 2025): 27 yea, 23 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 7, 2025): 74 yea, 25 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 5, 2025): 66 yea, 32 nay, passed
Subjects: Privacy, Minors, Information Technology, Education - K-12
Common questions
- What is HB599?
- HB599 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise student data collection laws.
- What does HB599 do?
- In its own words: An act revising parental rights regarding data collection for children; providing opt-out and opt-in options for parents regarding evaluations, surveys, and data collection; requiring that notifications be sent to parents regarding any physical and mental health screenings or surveys; and amending section 40-6-701, mca.
- What is the status of HB599?
- Signed into law as of May 19, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 19, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB599?
- Nikolakakos, Melissa (R, 20).
- Where is the official record for HB599?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3016
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.