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SB 177MONTANASession 2025State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Montana authorizes community choice school commission to seek public funding and accept private gifts

Original title: Allow community choice school commission to seek public funding

Last action · May 8, 2025: Chapter Number AssignedSponsor: Sue Vinton

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Does

Montana law now explicitly authorizes the state to seek and receive public funding, and clarifies its authority to receive and expend private gifts and donations. The measure takes effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Why it matters

Provides a direct legal pathway for the state's to secure public revenues alongside private donations to fund its operations or distribute to authorized choice schools.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Community Choice School Commission

Gains explicit statutory authority to seek and receive public funding alongside its private donation capabilities.

Directly affected

Choice schools

May receive discretionary distributions of funds from the commission derived from private gifts and donations.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What new funding sources are available to the Community Choice School Commission under this law?
The commission is explicitly authorized to seek and receive public funding, in addition to its existing ability to receive and expend private gifts and donations.
Where are private gifts and donations deposited?
Gifts and donations must be deposited in the community choice school account pursuant to section 20-11-126, .

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

39 actions
  1. May 8, 2025Senate
    Chapter Number Assigned
  2. May 5, 2025SenateEnrolled
    (S) Signed by Governor
  3. Apr 25, 2025Senate
    (S) Transmitted to Governor
  4. Apr 25, 2025House
    (H) Signed by Speaker
  5. Apr 21, 2025Senate
    (S) Signed by President
  6. Apr 12, 2025Senate
    (S) Returned from Enrolling
Show 33 earlier actions
  1. Apr 11, 2025Senate
    (S) Sent to Enrolling
  2. Apr 11, 2025House
    (H) 3rd Reading
  3. Apr 11, 2025House
    (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
  4. Apr 10, 2025House
    (H) 2nd Reading
  5. Apr 10, 2025House
    (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  6. Mar 29, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Committee Report
  7. Mar 28, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Committee Executive Action
  8. Mar 21, 2025House
    (H) Hearing
  9. Feb 18, 2025Senate
    (S) Fiscal Note Requested
  10. Feb 7, 2025House
    (H) 1st Reading
  11. Feb 7, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Referred to Committee
  12. Feb 6, 2025Senate
    (S) Transmitted to House
  13. Feb 6, 2025Senate
    (S) 3rd Reading
  14. Feb 6, 2025Senate
    (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
  15. Feb 5, 2025Senate
    (S) 2nd Reading
  16. Feb 5, 2025Senate
    (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  17. Feb 4, 2025SenateFloor
    (S) 2nd Reading Pass Consideration
  18. Jan 31, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Committee Report
  19. Jan 30, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Committee Executive Action
  20. Jan 21, 2025Senate
    (S) Hearing
  21. Jan 21, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Referred to Committee
  22. Jan 21, 2025Senate
    (S) 1st Reading
  23. Jan 21, 2025SenateIntroduced
    (S) Introduced
  24. Jan 20, 2025House
    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
  25. Dec 23, 2024House
    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
  26. Dec 23, 2024House
    (LC) Draft in Assembly
  27. Dec 23, 2024House
    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
  28. Dec 20, 2024House
    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
  29. Dec 12, 2024House
    (LC) Draft in Edit
  30. Dec 12, 2024House
    (LC) Draft in Legal Review
  31. Oct 28, 2024House
    (LC) Draft Taken Off Hold
  32. Oct 21, 2024House
    (LC) Draft On Hold
  33. Oct 21, 2024House
    (LC) Drafter Assigned

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Sue VintonSenate · District 20RepublicanPrimary sponsor

Connected Entities

Community Choice School Commission, board of public education
OrganizationCommunity Choice School Commission“State commission with statewide authorizing jurisdiction for choice schools.”Map →
Organizationboard of public education“State board providing general supervision and administrative support to the comm”Map →

Sources

Open source document

bills.legmt.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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