MontanaSchool districts could waive reduced-price meal copayments with state funding
If enacted, Montana would fund districts that choose to remove copayments for students eligible for reduced-price school breakfast and lunch.
What it does
If enacted, districts could stop charging eligible students reduced-price copayments for school breakfast and lunch and receive replacement funds, subject to available funding.
If enacted, the proposal would provide $600,000 in each of two fiscal years for the program, unless another approved bill already provided funding for it.
Argument forEligible students might participate more easily in school meals when their families no longer have to pay a reduced-price copayment.
Argument againstDistricts might face funding uncertainty if the appropriated money does not cover replacement payments and later funding is not provided.
More detail
The superintendent of public instruction would distribute replacement funds to school districts that choose to stop charging reduced-price meal copayments. The program would cover reduced-price eligible students whose families meet federal income rules for the school breakfast and national school lunch programs. The program could operate only with money appropriated for this purpose. If funding were insufficient, the superintendent could accept donations and would request more funding for the next two-year budget period. The superintendent would adopt rules to run the program. The proposed program would take effect July 1, 2025, if enacted.
The proposal would set aside $600,000 for each of the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026. The money would go to the office of public instruction for the reduced-price meal copayment program. The appropriation would be void if House Bill 2 were approved with funding for the same program. The proposed funding would cover the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026, if enacted.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Jun 19(H) Vetoed by Governor Greg GianforteLatest
- Jun 10(H) Transmitted to GovernorTo Governor
- Jun 9(S) Signed by PresidentPassed Senate
- Jun 2(H) Signed by SpeakerPassed House
- Apr 28(H) Returned from Enrolling
- Apr 23(H) Sent to Enrolling
- Apr 23(S) Returned to House
- Apr 22(S) 3rd Reading
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 22(S) Scheduled for 3rd ReadingMinor
- Apr 18(S) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 18(S) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Apr 17(S) Take from Committee; Place on 2nd Reading - (S) Education and Cultural ResourcesMinor
- Vote recorded Take HB 551 from Comm-Morigeau J. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 16(S) Motion
- Vote recorded Take HB 551 from Comm-Morigeau J. Result: fail.Upper
- Vote recorded to_table. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 16(S) Tabled in Committee - (S) Education and Cultural ResourcesMinor
- Apr 14(S) Hearing - (S) Education and Cultural Resources
- Apr 7(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Education and Cultural ResourcesMinor
- Apr 7(S) 1st Reading
- Apr 5(H) Transmitted to Senate
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 5(H) 3rd Reading
- Apr 5(H) Scheduled for 3rd ReadingMinor
- Apr 4(H) Revised Fiscal Note Printed
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 4(H) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Apr 4(H) Revised Fiscal Note Signed
- Apr 4(H) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Apr 3(H) Revised Fiscal Note ReceivedMinor
- Apr 1(H) Committee Report - (H) Appropriations
- Apr 1(H) Revised Fiscal Note Requested
- Apr 1(H) Fiscal Note Printed
- Apr 1(H) Fiscal Note Signed
- Apr 1(H) Fiscal Note ReceivedMinor
- Mar 31(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Appropriations
- Vote recorded do_pass_as_amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 29(H) Hearing - (H) Appropriations
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 29(H) Rereferred to Committee - (H) AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 29(H) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Mar 27(H) Committee Report - (H) Education
- Mar 26(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Education
- Vote recorded do_pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 17(H) Hearing - (H) Education
- Mar 17(H) Hearing Canceled - (H) Education
- Mar 15(H) Hearing - (H) Education
- Feb 19(H) 1st Reading
- Feb 19(H) Referred to Committee - (H) EducationMinor
- Feb 18(H) Fiscal Note Requested
- Feb 18(H) Introduced
- Feb 18(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- Feb 17(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- Feb 13(LC) Draft in Assembly
- Feb 13(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- Feb 13(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- Feb 8(LC) Draft in Edit
- Feb 7(LC) Draft in Legal Review
- 2024
- Nov 20(LC) Drafter AssignedIntroduced
EducationTaxes & BudgetGovernment & Ethics