Montana commission would recommend a school funding rewrite for 2029

The 2027–2028 commission would propose public school funding legislation to the 2029 Legislature. The work would cover Montana’s public school funding system. The commission would start with the 2025–2026 commission’s final report and conduct further research it finds necessary. If enacted, the bill would take effect July 1, 2027. This redesign assignment would end June 30, 2029.

The commission would review schools’ needs and costs and assess whether the funding formula meets them. The review would cover Montana’s public elementary and secondary schools. The commission would recommend funding changes if needed. These requirements would take effect July 1, 2027, if enacted.

The Legislature would provide money to the Legislative Services Division for the school funding commission to meet. The Legislature states that this funding would be one-time. The money would cover the two-year budget period beginning July 1, 2027.