House Bill No. [insert bill number] establishes priorities for cultural and aesthetic project grant awards in Montana and appropriates funds for these grants. The Montana Arts Council is tasked with awarding grants based on the amounts specified in the bill, with a total appropriation of $953,500 from the cultural and aesthetic projects trust fund account for the biennium ending June 30, 2027. The bill includes a requirement for grant recipients to acknowledge support from coal tax funds in their promotional materials. Additionally, $30,000 is specifically allocated to the Montana Historical Society for the care and conservation of Capitol complex artwork.

The bill also introduces provisions for the reversion of unencumbered grant balances back to the trust fund account on July 1, 2027, and outlines a process for making pro rata reductions to grant amounts if the available funds are insufficient to meet the appropriated levels. The effective date for the act is set for July 1, 2025. The bill includes several deletions of previously listed grant recipients, indicating a restructuring of the grant allocation process.