House Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes to designate the last full week in September as "Celebrate Freedom Week" in Montana's public schools. The bill emphasizes the importance of educating students about the sacrifices made for freedom during the founding of the United States and the values that underpin the nation. It requires school districts to conduct at least three hours of instruction related to the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Montana Constitution, while also amending Section 20-1-306 of the Montana Code Annotated to include "Freedom Week" as a commemorative exercise.

The bill also mandates that trustees of school districts adopt a policy to ensure the effective conduct of commemorative exercises. Notably, the previous requirement for students in grades 3 through 12 to recite a specific passage from the Declaration of Independence has been removed, along with provisions for parental exemptions and conscientious objections. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
HB0591_2(1): 20-1-306
HB0591_2(2): 20-1-306
HB0591_2(3): 20-1-306
HB0591_2(4): 20-1-306
HB0591_2(5): 20-1-306
HB0591_2: 20-1-306