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Committee advances bill to fund K–12 digital toolkit with four-year sunset

2813575 · March 28, 2025
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Summary

The committee heard testimony supporting statewide access to a K–12 digital toolkit that districts have used under ESSER funding, added a four‑year sunset, and gave the bill a do‑pass recommendation.

A Montana legislative committee on Friday advanced House Bill 861, which would appropriate state funding to provide statewide access to a K–12 digital toolkit for Montana school districts, and attached a four‑year sunset to the appropriation.

Supporters told the committee the toolkit — widely used in the state after purchase with federal ESSER COVID relief funds — supplies searchable, standards‑aligned instructional resources and career exploration content that rural and small districts lack. Committee members adopted an amendment to terminate the appropriation after four years, then voted to recommend the bill for passage.

Proponents said the toolkit functions as supplemental material teachers may use but are not required to adopt. Representative Dustin Tillman, sponsor of House Bill 861, told the committee the resource reaches many…

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