Student‑led school mental‑health pilot bill draws wide support at committee hearing

HELENA — Members of the House Education Committee heard broad testimony in favor of House Bill 385, a student‑led school mental‑health pilot program sponsored by Representative Melissa Romano.

Romano told the committee the bill would fund locally determined, student‑led mental‑health promotion initiatives and require applicants to show need and an evaluation plan. “House Bill 3 85 is not just another education initiative. I believe it's a lifeline for our children and a bold step towards fostering healthier, more supportive school environments,” Romano said in her opening.

The hearing included testimony from students, district staff, tribal representatives, state and national advocacy groups and health professionals. Gavin Mao, a student member of the Board of Public Education, described personal experience with depression and the potential of school‑based services. “Had a mental health program like this existed, it would have made available an accessible alternative to private care that many families in Montana cannot afford,” Mao said.

Several speakers described existing school‑based peer mentoring programs. Andrea Savage, a Great Falls mental‑health coordinator who oversees a peer mentoring program, told lawmakers the district had scaled a program from seven students to roughly 200 across middle and high schools and reported fewer emergency‑department visits for active suicidal ideation. “We've been able to… decrease of 25 percent of those students, getting the help or, decreasing the amount of students that are presenting,” Savage said.

Testimony cited alarming state data and disproportionate impacts on Native American youth. Student witness Charlie Snellman cited Department of Public Health and Human Services figures saying that from 2013 to 2022 approximately 1,307 youth ages 10 to 17 died by suicide; tribal representatives highlighted higher youth suicide attempts in Native communities and urged collaboration with tribal leaders.

Supporters urged the committee to fund the program sufficiently and to design grants to be accessible to small and rural districts. Representative Romano said she planned an amendment to lower the minimum grant amount to make smaller districts more competitive; during the hearing she said she had proposed lowering the minimum award to $5,000 and retaining a cap at $50,000 or the lesser of $25 per enrolled student. Committee members asked how the pilot would interact with other state efforts, and Romano said the bill is intended to be locally driven and to amplify student voice.

Medical and education organizations, including the Montana Medical Association and the Montana Federation of Public Employees, testified in favor, citing prevention benefits and the need for sustained funding. One opponent‑identified group, Citizens Commission on Human Rights, supported the bill but recommended language emphasizing noncoercive, rights‑based approaches and an objective medical review for students whose symptoms may stem from physical conditions.

The committee did not take a vote at the hearing. Romano closed by urging a due‑pass recommendation so schools could begin piloting locally tailored supports.