Montana agencies would have planned suicide prevention support for schools

The Department of Public Health and Human Services would have worked with the Office of Public Instruction to prepare the plan. The agencies would have planned to extend existing suicide prevention grants into a program available in every Montana public school, addressing bullying, suicide, and substance use. The plan would have covered lessons, financial and technical help for schools, data collection, ways to measure success, and teachers’ classroom experience. It would have included estimated costs, steps to carry out the program, and requested legislative support, such as funding or legislation. The planning requirement would have taken effect upon passage and approval.

The two agencies would have jointly reported their progress and submitted the completed plan to legislative committees. Reports would have gone to the education interim committee and the children, families, health, and human services interim committee. Progress reports would have been due by September 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026. The plan and a third progress report would have been due by May 1, 2026.