MFPE 2019 Legislative Priorities (at adjournment)
Bills we supported that passed
Bills we opposed that failed
Bills we watched that passed
Bills we supported that failed
Bills we opposed that passed
Bills we supported that passed
- HB 159(Grubbs) - Funds k-12 schools (absent prek). Signed by Governor. VRR
- HB 175(Dooling) - Ratifies union negotiated state and university employee base pay, health insurance, and per diem. Signed by Governor. VR
- HB 351(McKamey) – Provides incentives for school districts to implement “transformational” learning. Passed Legislature. VR
- HB 387(Jones) – Expands personalized opportunities for students to accelerate career and college readiness. Passed Legislature. VR
- HB 638(Bedey) - Inflates special education funding for the biennium. Passed Legislature. VR
- HB 658(Buttrey) - Repeals Medicaid Expansion sunset with work-related requirements. Passed Legislature. VR
- SB 60(Salomon) - Dedicates $2 million in lottery net revenue to MUS STEM scholarships. Passed Legislature. VR
- SB 92(Salomon) - Provides greater local school district funding capacity to address school safety issues - Passed Legislature. VR
- SB 338(Gauthier/Cohenour) - Montana Museums Act: Provides funding for Montana Heritage Center and museums around Montana with a 1% tax increase in accommodations tax. Passed Legislature. VR
Bills we opposed that failed
- HB 303(DeVries) – Abolishes compulsory education. Tabled House Education.
- HB 396(M. Regier) – Prohibits public employees from supporting or opposing ballot issues and political candidates. Tabled House State Administration.
- HB755(Moore) - Governor's prek bill that creates taxpayer funded public and private charter pre-k schools governed by a department of early childhood independent of local school districts, board of public education, and office of public instruction. Tabled House Education - Failed two attempts to amend into SB 352Free Conference Committee.
- SB 234(Fitzpatrick) – Steps toward privatization of Montana State Fund. Passed Senate - Failed 2d Reading House. VR
Bills we watched that passed
- HB 211(Jones) – Funds quality education loan repayment. Passed Legislature.
- HB 323(Tschida) – Codifies Janus. Passed Legislature.
- HB 567(Skees) – Creates public school marshal program. Passed Legislature.
- SB 139(Lang) - Incentivizes teachers to retire at 27 years, draw full retirement, and continue to teach in 2d and 3d class sized school communities. Passed Legislature.
Bills we supported that failed
- HB 27(Funk) – Inflates special education funding. Tabled House Appropriations.
- HB 209 (Funk) – Authorizes state employee career ladders. Tabled House Appropriations.
- HB 235(Fern) – Creates opportunity for school districts to create statewide school employee health care trust. Tabled House Health and Human Services.
- HB 298(Pope) – Provides ANB funding of certain students with disabilities up to age 21. Passed House - Tabled Senate Education.
- HB 339(Moore) – Creates and funds loan repayment for Child Protective Specialists. Tabled House Appropriations.
- HB 455(Windy Boy) – Qualifies eligible classified school employees for unemployment compensation. Tabled House Business and Labor.
- HB 477(Funk) – As amended in House Judiciary requires OPI to develop model firearms safety training policies and procedures. Passed House - Tabled Senate Judiciary.
- SB 128 (Cohenour) – Repeals state employee longevity pay break in service penalty. Tabled Senate State Administration.
- SB 152(Barrett) – Makes 6-mill MUS levy permanent. Tabled House Tax. VR
Bills we opposed that passed
- HB 325(M. Regier) – Repeals a local government’s power to regulate the carrying of concealed weapons and authorizes a person with a concealed weapon permit to carry anywhere in public buildings including schools. Passed Legislature. VR
- HB 357(M. Regier) – Legislative Referendum – same intent as HB 325 but not subject to gubernatorial veto. Passed Legislature. VR
- SB 304(R. Webb) – Authorizes legislators to conceal carry on state property, including the Capitol building. Passed Legislature. VR