The bill revises the laws governing the School Funding Interim Commission, specifically updating its membership and establishing a deadline for appointments. Notably, it removes the designation of an interim presiding officer and modifies the commission's focus for the 2025-2026 interim. The bill introduces an "Innovation and Excellence in Education Working Group," which will be tasked with developing recommendations and an implementation plan to enhance the basic system of free, quality public education. The commission is required to strive for a funding formula that is understandable, equitable, and prioritizes current student needs, among other criteria.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 5-20-301 of the Montana Code Annotated, detailing the composition of the commission and the appointment process. It specifies that appointments must be made by May 1 in the year the commission is formed and includes new members such as the presiding officer of the board of public education and the governor or their designee. The bill also appropriates $10,000 from the general fund to support the commission's activities in May and June 2025, and it mandates that the working group publish its recommendations and implementation plan by January 30, 2026.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 5-20-301
HB0153_1(1): 5-20-301
HB0153_1(10): 5-20-301
HB0153_1(11): 5-20-301
HB0153_1(12): 5-20-301
HB0153_1(2): 5-20-301
HB0153_1(3): 5-20-301
HB0153_1(4): 5-20-301
HB0153_1(5): 5-20-301
HB0153_1(6): 5-20-301
HB0153_1(7): 5-20-301
HB0153_1(8): 5-20-301
HB0153_1(9): 5-20-301
HB0153_1: 5-20-301
HB0153_2(1): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(10): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(11): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(12): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(13): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(14): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(15): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(16): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(17): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(18): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(19): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(2): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(20): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(21): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(22): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(3): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(4): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(5): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(6): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(7): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(8): 5-20-301
HB0153_2(9): 5-20-301
HB0153_2: 5-20-301
HB0153_3(1): 5-20-301
HB0153_3(10): 5-20-301
HB0153_3(11): 5-20-301
HB0153_3(12): 5-20-301
HB0153_3(2): 5-20-301
HB0153_3(3): 5-20-301
HB0153_3(4): 5-20-301
HB0153_3(5): 5-20-301
HB0153_3(6): 5-20-301
HB0153_3(7): 5-20-301
HB0153_3(8): 5-20-301
HB0153_3(9): 5-20-301
HB0153_3: 5-20-301
HB0153_X(1): 5-20-301
HB0153_X(2): 5-20-301
HB0153_X(3): 5-20-301
HB0153_X(4): 5-20-301
HB0153_X(5): 5-20-301
HB0153_X: 5-20-301