Senate Bill No. introduced by C. Pope aims to enhance mental health education in all public schools across Montana by directing the Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Office of Public Instruction to develop a comprehensive program plan. This plan will expand existing suicide prevention grants into a universal program that includes a curriculum, financial and technical support for schools, data collection, success measurement, and targeted mental health areas such as bullying and substance use. The bill mandates interim reports on the program's progress to relevant legislative committees by specified dates in 2025 and 2026.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for notifying tribal governments about the new act and establishes an immediate effective date upon passage and approval. The initiative is rooted in the proven benefits of the PAX Good Behavior Game curriculum, which has shown to reduce anxiety, violence, and substance abuse among students, ultimately aiming to alleviate the burden on the state's healthcare and criminal justice systems.