House Bill 252 seeks to enhance school funding laws in Montana by introducing new incentives and budgetary adjustments aimed at improving educational outcomes. Key provisions include the establishment of a new K-12 base aid future-ready funding component focused on post-graduation preparation, increased budget authority for school districts facing high housing costs, and the restoration of full funding to the Advanced Opportunities Program. The bill also revises the incentive structure to boost teacher base salaries, expands eligibility for educational entities to receive incentives for meeting starting teacher pay benchmarks, and includes provisions for the inclusion of district clerks and emergency authorized teachers in the quality educator funding component.

Significant amendments to existing law include the redefinition of "district" to "educational entity," which broadens the scope of eligible institutions, and the introduction of a "future ready payment" to incentivize career and technical education opportunities for students. The bill mandates the Department of Labor and Industry to create a process for recognizing additional credentials and work-based learning experiences, ensuring high school students can receive credit for relevant courses. Furthermore, it requires the legislative fiscal analyst to develop an interactive school funding data dashboard to improve transparency. The bill is set to take effect upon passage and will apply to school years beginning on or after July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_1(1): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_1(2): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_1(3): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_1(4): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_1(5): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_1(6): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_1(7): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_1: 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_2(1): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_2(10): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_2(11): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_2(2): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_2(3): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_2(4): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_2(5): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_2(6): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_2(7): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_2(8): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_2(9): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_2: 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_3(1): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_3(10): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_3(11): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_3(2): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_3(3): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_3(4): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_3(5): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_3(6): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_3(7): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_3(8): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_3(9): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_3: 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_X(1): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_X(10): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_X(11): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_X(2): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_X(3): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_X(4): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_X(5): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_X(6): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_X(7): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_X(8): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_X(9): 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366
HB0252_X: 20-3-325, 20-6-326, 20-6-812, 20-7-102, 20-7-1404, 20-7-1503, 20-7-1506, 20-7-1602, 20-9-306, 20-9-324, 20-9-327, 20-9-344, 20-9-366