[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6111251,"mediaKeyId","2753123-83240eb0582f1195cfb3fad43f70bf41","parentId",2753123,"title","Appropriations committee debates and votes on a cluster of education funding amendments","audioSeconds",649,"startMs",4076000,"endMs",4725000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753123-83240eb0582f1195cfb3fad43f70bf41&start=4076&end=4725","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753123-83240eb0582f1195cfb3fad43f70bf41/thumbnail_4076000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6111251/Montana/Appropriations-committee-debates-and-votes-on-a-cluster-of-education-funding-amendments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111251-8d87b3cf479d74b6b1b19356a8fcd43a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773740651&Signature=htH82oG6nQ7tYwwxkRA-~MYgGxhLAf4H0wvpZRvufKWnvsSzOkCe5sOqvnr1akumRjto3DKsJbM86LbagRfmQzmhxlUiajYLJhGsu196IPAnz4xm16cdCFNqD0IQJrMurDswB7QdZL0OFBK2Kpwkn~JXmxMyfFohRjCY6ka4pSEu-clqphpzFyDUMvf5hMqSs96aD5QG3uRY5s2IWCCrLXnFYzxWwpO2Fw6ltAhfUQP6cEinFy8iQOGnZ23mB5ndcJNRifScQO4yztxNAqsxW8oRgE8r8Eh~HmzZ78Wf6Jfpv2kTk62aTpGxaqw6mIw1ZkySvW4XG-DGge3R23RiaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-24T00:00:00Z","article","The Appropriations Committee considered a package of education-related amendments during executive action on Section E of House Bill 2, approving some one-time items, striking or conditioning others, and rejecting a large teacher cost-of-living add-on.

What passed
- Amendment E.014: Changed Montana 10 appropriations to one-time-only (OTO). Representative Beatty said the program remains in a test phase; the committee approved making the appropriation OTO so it could be reconsidered in subsequent biennia.
- Amendment E.005 (Montana Promise Grant): The amendment provided $100,000 OTO to restore a need-based Montana Promise Grant previously enacted in law but lacking recurring funding. The committee approved the $100,000 OTO by roll call (16 yes, 7 no).
- Amendment E.010 (Robotics/STEM grants): Representative Matthews moved a $100,000 appropriation to support community-based and school robotics/STEM programming; the committee approved the funding by roll call (15 yes, 8 no recorded).

What failed or was rejected
- Amendment E.016 (school lunch funding change): Sponsor sought to coordinate the appropriations in Section E with a companion bill that would expand eligibility (raising the appropriation from $300,000 to $600,000 if the policy bill passed). The committee rejected the amendment on a roll call (12 yes, 11 no; motion failed).
- Amendment E.015 (teacher cost-of-living adjustment tied to home prices): Representative Matthews offered a proposal to add a formulaic grant to districts with higher housing costs. The floor heard extended debate from members on both sides; the amendment failed on roll call (10 yes, 13 no). Sponsors argued the measure would target teacher pay in high-cost localities; opponents said it required deeper study and risked second-order effects across the funding formula.

Other actions and context
- Amendment E.017: Coordinated TEACH/STARS program appropriations so that if the STARS Act passes it would replace the TEACH Act funding. The committee approved the coordination language by voice vote.
- Amendment E.018: Added procurement language for database modernization (covered in a separate article) and passed.

Why it matters: The committee’s votes shaped short-term funding for pilot programs (Montana 10 and the Montana Promise Grant), added local STEM supports, and rejected a large cost-of-living formula for teacher pay after extended debate about feasibility and equity. Several changes were made as conditional or one-time appropriations so lawmakers could revisit them at the next biennium or after companion policy bills cleared other committees.

Quotes
“Montana 10 is a program…still in the test phase. Changing this to an OTO acknowledges the fact that this is still a project in development,” Representative Beatty said when offering E.014.
“The Montana Promise Grant…priority goes to students attending tribal colleges or community colleges…this is a last-dollar, need-based program,” Representative Kiel explained when moving funding for the Promise Grant.

Ending: Committee members said they wanted to prioritize programs with demonstrated early results while avoiding broad structural changes to the school funding formula during the session; many members urged further study for large, structural teacher compensation fixes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations - Monday, Mar 24, 2025 08:29 - 13:12","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved a mix of one-time education funding and conditional changes while rejecting a large teacher cost-of-living add-on after extended debate.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6111256,"Committee approves database modernization funding changes and places procurement under DOA oversight",749,3240000,3989000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753123-83240eb0582f1195cfb3fad43f70bf41&start=3240&end=3989","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753123-83240eb0582f1195cfb3fad43f70bf41/thumbnail_3240000.jpg","/articles/6111256/Montana/Committee-approves-database-modernization-funding-changes-and-places-procurement-under-DOA-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111256-21246bd46b282e7e3a427593b0b67071/orig.mp4?Expires=1773740651&Signature=M3VYRNvpoZRlKyQ6amZ3OAC8j-YJWExaf-bVzJVqYftWhH9hTuhh6FDjbz8berjgTf0Dn~O37dFBDPOhMMZ6NLPTC~C6KdJWUKz~~0sScsMOVQoS-RTWGELrL1TnXI0AyQLQysbaI59nMZgMS1vhoWSxD8cxNcp487XxQ8TUo0bJKlOQE3T-oXyykmzhbjpr06PqN2mWpe7wnFbcat~cjGg03TwTUR9vPA-zBj7fo20kiXjbJPitpt7WOjcSvMD1bLR6UrX7oHwsxoyBKE88c5wO2J8lZrfGraxyKIm8CdS6u6chQUQ7XX~j8vPztG~CoswxxMSNirWJz~iXqpoWhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Appropriations Committee approved multiple amendments in House Bill 2 that alter how OPI’s database modernization work will be funded and procured.

Representative Beatty moved amendment E.002 to switch the OPI database modernization appropriation from general fund to a state special revenue account. He explained the fund switch is contingent on companion language in a separate bill that would expand the permitted uses of a facility and technology special revenue account (Representative Beatty).

Committee members then approved amendment E.018, which places procurement authority for the appropriation with the Department of Administration. Representative Beatty said the procurement was “sufficiently complicated” that Administration’s procurement expertise should manage the process to ensure the state meets procurement and legal requirements.

Why it matters: The actions move OPI’s appropriation off the general fund to a restricted revenue account and centralize procurement responsibility with Department of Administration, which sponsors said will reduce legal and procurement risk for a complex IT project.

Key votes and outcomes
- Amendment E.002 (database modernization fund switch to state special revenue): passed by voice vote (unanimous among those present) after sponsor explanation and limited questioning.
- Amendment E.018 (procurement language; place procurement under Department of Administration): passed by voice vote (unanimous among those present).
- Amendment E.016 (school lunch funding contingency coordination) failed on a roll call (12 yes, 11 no; motion failed). That vote was taken during the same Section E sequence and affected coordination of appropriations between bills; the committee recorded the roll call result.

Clarifying details: Sponsors said the fund switch would be contingent on companion bill language expanding permissible uses of the targeted state special revenue account. Staff said procurement centralization is aimed at producing a legally sound, efficient purchase for a complex statewide database project.

Quotes
“This switch will be contingent on approval of language within the companion bill, which expands slightly the purposes for which the facility and technology special revenue account may be used,” Representative Beatty said when moving E.002.

“We place [procurement authority] under the Department of Administration for any procurement actions that are necessary to complete this project… the expertise of the department… are gonna be necessary,” Beatty said moving procurement language.

Ending: Committee approval means OPI’s database modernization funding will be structured as a state special revenue appropriation and procurement will proceed under DOA oversight; final funding authority and account permissibility depend on companion-bill language.","Appropriators shifted a database modernization appropriation from general fund to state special revenue and approved procurement language placing the project under Department of Administration oversight, alongside technical corrections to reach intended biennial treatment.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6111259,"Appropriations panel strips summer EBT administration from OPI, debates transfer to DPHHS",1753,1613000,3366000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753123-83240eb0582f1195cfb3fad43f70bf41&start=1613&end=3366","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753123-83240eb0582f1195cfb3fad43f70bf41/thumbnail_1613000.jpg","/articles/6111259/Montana/Appropriations-panel-strips-summer-EBT-administration-from-OPI-debates-transfer-to-DPHHS","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111259-494a0d41acc2ae93c998911faf3bebb5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773740651&Signature=R23cMlK5nLK81v6yI0Q04XqjEvadv5iu6XLhOKYTcRBxIJd3jhkOY9brK9SBCdk4FjvQfhznaIiZeLkE2PjcuBn7o0gwa1H76tPuzp8Ec2iIYQm5ZWp4e~4pP69OvZuxqjVwT1zOnXCZcHgiEXEHymYV2WuQnsojGyMmjMYpJ2ZEVZTrUMP-O1DAHu4sgAY-SLMebivhRcaSfv6aPSwqVxas1lJKUZTueY141MbNn0ipVUz3hEUnZfZAajU0Zh31LXuL3CHemHrwQ0iSuckRhOOWoORZ8kPH~tqaoHl1JPDBESxCAfOaxKZS2MVKvCezUXlZTFaTJ0bCEMl7K2ZSCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Appropriations Committee on February 6 removed the Office of Public Instruction’s (OPI) appropriation for administration of the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) program and debated where administration should be housed.

Committee members moved and debated a global amendment that would have shifted Summer EBT administration from OPI to the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). Representative Cafaro explained that the program was administered jointly by OPI and DPHHS in the current biennium and that combining administration in one agency would “streamline and simplify the process” (Representative Cafaro).

Why it matters: The committee’s action changes which agency would hold the personnel and administrative authority for Summer EBT in the budget text, and committee members flagged follow-up work in Section B to determine whether the program itself will receive funding there. If the program is not funded in Section B, the appropriation removed from OPI would have no effect because no program would remain to administer.

Key details and votes
- A global amendment (O.005) that would have moved Summer EBT administration from OPI to DPHHS was introduced and discussed but later withdrawn by the mover to allow a separate Section B amendment to handle the funding mechanics (motion withdrawn by Representative Johnson; motion recorded as withdrawn in committee).
- Representative Beatty moved amendment E.011 to remove the Summer EBT appropriation from OPI (so OPI no longer holds the PB/position or administrative funding). The committee approved E.011 by voice vote; the motion passed unanimously by those present.

Clarifying details: Committee staff and sponsors said DPHHS had been doing major portions of program administration and that moving the PB and administrative funding to DPHHS also incorporated a small additional PB and administrative costs (sponsor and staff described an additional roughly $72,000 in administrative costs tied to DPHHS’s existing work). Committee members pressed that if a Section B amendment to fund the program failed, the administrative PB would disappear because there would be no program to administer.

What’s next: The committee recorded the removal of OPI’s authority for Summer EBT administration in Section E; members said a companion amendment or action in Section B will determine whether the program will be funded and administered in DPHHS. The global that attempted to address both sections at once was withdrawn to allow the B-section amendment to be drafted and considered.

Quotes (selected)
“[Summer EBT] was administered by both DPHHS and OPI…we don’t need administration of one program in two different departments, and this will just streamline and simplify the process,” Representative Cafaro said as he introduced the transfer idea.
“If the amendment failed in B for summer EBT, there would be no need for administration in either department,” Representative Gillette noted during committee discussion.

Ending: Committee members said they expect further action in Section B to resolve whether Summer EBT is funded and to finalize which agency will administer it; if Section B does not restore the program, the removed OPI appropriation will not be needed.","The House Appropriations Committee removed the Office of Public Instruction's administrative appropriation for the Summer EBT program and debated moving administration to the Department of Public Health and Human Services; a related cross-section global was withdrawn before a vote.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6111245,"Appropriators restore Department of Administration facility rates, debate Board of Investments fiduciary conversion",9832,2799000,12631000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753123-83240eb0582f1195cfb3fad43f70bf41&start=2799&end=12631","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753123-83240eb0582f1195cfb3fad43f70bf41/thumbnail_2799000.jpg","/articles/6111245/Montana/Appropriators-restore-Department-of-Administration-facility-rates-debate-Board-of-Investments-fiduciary-conversion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111245-34fe0e075872696dbb31a72c85ab300f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773740651&Signature=Kok2SbAOrIudBPPU6A2zcVkS9-B-m7HXoCAkGqfz8mb3mSX3ztoTV0~uzVDfusRIWb0rM48-oPxiI-~Ad048P5od9n8wwLSf~jETVNXEILiDdwdHXfgJV6qc5VqWxBBlQ4e9NljTsxozkEj1rMxR4zukFr2GKF6uBADv4V9H2Qw0CB0Ngpvx~2PXg099WZNUUh15Omq~nGASKYTYmpKUSHwxnwhAD~zgvQfQc2oE4zNP0ut6wRCltUmthY0dL6Pg6xLeHExKNXaysejQC~o0rpsjy2-lRZUb6NlcdLkNPYVrJO44DpWoBLVJMo~gkrWoEFUcsWT~AHk7MOxVjKcsxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Appropriations members returned a higher facilities management rate to the Department of Administration (DOA) and debated whether the State Board of Investments (BOI) should operate as a fiduciary fund — a structural change sponsors say would increase net returns for state revenue streams.

Rate restoration: Representative Walsh moved and the committee approved an amendment to restore the DOA facilities management rent rate to the level proposed in the executive budget. Sponsors said the blended rent rate must cover janitorial, security, building maintenance, event support, snow removal and other services the state provides for a large portfolio of state-owned and leased space. Director Misty Giles of the Department of Administration told the committee the agency’s working-capital policy requires roughly 60 days of reserves; the lower subcommittee rate would have put DOA below that threshold.

Fiduciary conversion for BOI: Committee members also addressed an amendment that restores BOI internal-service billing rates unless a companion bill is passed that would convert BOI to a fiduciary fund. BOI Director Dan Villa told the committee fiduciary status would let BOI reduce administrative pass-through fees, keep larger pools invested (avoiding parking funds at low yield), and potentially increase long-term returns that benefit pension funds and other participants. Sponsors said the fiduciary conversion would require statutory language in a companion bill; the appropriations amendment includes contingent language so the budget lines will track whether a statutory change occurs.

Why it matters: The rent-rate decision affects how much state agencies pay for facility services and the stable funding available for maintenance and operations. The BOI fiduciary discussion has broader fiscal implications because changing fund type could alter how administrative costs are allocated and how returns from permanent trusts are captured and distributed to general and special funds.

Key votes and outcomes
- Amendment O.003 (restore DOA facility-management rate requested by executive): passed after debate (committee voice/roll-call reflected in committee record).
- Committee discussed contingent language that would let BOI become a fiduciary if a companion statute is passed; staff and the BOI director said fiduciary status would remove certain internal service fee needs because fiduciary accounting treats participant charges differently.

Clarifying details: Director Villa explained fiduciary funds require higher legal duties but allow more of the invested pool to remain fully invested instead of being pulled into lower-yield cash for operational float; staff estimated a potential near-term general fund benefit from fiduciary conversion due to reduced pass-through charges, but it depends on statutory changes and detailed accounting.

Ending: Committee members approved the rate restoration and left contingent fiduciary language in place pending companion-bill action; staff were asked to coordinate statutory language and to provide follow-up cost estimates and implementation mechanics.","The committee restored higher facility-management internal service rates for the Department of Administration after a subcommittee cut; members also debated a contingent change allowing the Board of Investments to operate as a fiduciary and how that would affect rates and general fund flows.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Appropriations committee debates and votes on a cluster of education funding amendments

Committee approves database modernization funding changes and places procurement under DOA oversight

Appropriations panel strips summer EBT administration from OPI, debates transfer to DPHHS

Appropriators restore Department of Administration facility rates, debate Board of Investments fiduciary conversion