Montana hearing: bill would let 9–10 month school employees apply for summer unemployment; committee tables measure

House State Administration Committee members heard testimony on House Bill 812 on March 1, 2025, a measure from Rep. Denise Joy that would allow certain nonprofessional educational employees who work nine or ten months to apply for unemployment benefits during scheduled school breaks.

Supporters told the committee the change would reduce turnover among low‑paid classified staff who often work summer months without pay, while the Department of Labor and Industry and school finance groups warned the additional claims could materially draw down Montana—s unemployment insurance trust.

Representative Denise Joy, the bill sponsor, told the committee she is a nine‑month school employee and framed the measure as a retention tool: "HB 12, 8 12 is legislation that solves a problem," she said, describing how many classified employees lose income during the roughly 60 summer days when school is not in session and therefore…