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Panel approves amendment letting Montana High School Association restrict participation to state residents
Summary
Senate Bill 350 was amended to allow the Montana High School Association to prohibit or restrict extracurricular participation by non‑U.S. or non‑Montana residents, addressing testimony that out‑of‑state or international athletes had participated in Montana seasons.
Senate Bill 350, sponsored by Sen. Matt Regier, clarifies eligibility for participation in interscholastic activities by nonpublic and homeschool students. The bill and a committee amendment respond to instances in which out‑of‑state or international homeschool students participated for a short time and won state championships.
The adopted amendment narrows eligibility by giving the Montana High School Association (MHSA) rule‑making authority to prohibit or restrict participation based on two factors: whether the student is a U.S. citizen and whether the student is a Montana resident. MHSA told the committee the amendment reflects discussions with schools and gives their executive board discretion to handle unusual cases (for example, students who temporarily reside in Montana but are not permanent residents). The association said it already requires academic verification and other eligibility checks and that it would add residency and citizenship determinations to prevent transient competitive entries.
The committee approved the amendment and advanced the bill to the floor by voice vote; one committee member recorded opposition during the amendment discussion and proxies were noted in the committee record. The MHSA and the bill sponsor said the association would continue to refine rules and appeals processes to apply the residency and citizenship criteria fairly and consistently.
