House Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes significant revisions to the allocation of excess lottery revenue, shifting the focus from direct distributions to schools to a new framework that allocates funds to school districts based on a per-quality-educator formula. The bill establishes a Lottery Education State Special Revenue Account, which will be funded by lottery revenues and is statutorily appropriated to the Office of Public Instruction for distribution to school districts. The distribution of these funds will occur annually by June 1, rather than quarterly, and will be calculated based on the number of quality educators employed by each district in the previous fiscal year.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to expand the eligible uses of a school district's flexibility fund, allowing for expenditures related to health and safety improvements, as well as the removal and replacement of obsolete facilities. It also revises the powers and duties of the lottery commission to ensure that net revenues are directed to the Office of Public Instruction for distribution to schools and the Montana STEM scholarship program. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and will apply to net revenues of lottery proceeds starting from that date.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402
HB0373_1(1): 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402
HB0373_1(2): 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402
HB0373_1(3): 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402
HB0373_1(4): 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402
HB0373_1(5): 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402
HB0373_1: 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402
HB0373_2(1): 17-7-502, 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402
HB0373_2(10): 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402
HB0373_2(2): 17-7-502, 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402
HB0373_2(3): 17-7-502, 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402
HB0373_2(4): 17-7-502, 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402
HB0373_2(5): 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402
HB0373_2(6): 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402
HB0373_2(7): 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402
HB0373_2(8): 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402
HB0373_2(9): 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402
HB0373_2: 17-7-502, 20-9-543, 23-7-202, 23-7-402