Bill would require OPI report on school inflation; sponsor says figure is informational only

Representative Luke Muszkiewicz told the House Appropriations Committee that House Bill 266, as amended, requires the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) to provide a report no later than Sept. 1, 2025, and every four years thereafter, documenting inflation experienced by school districts over the previous six years and reconciling that with legislative adjustments.

"Simply put, as amended in house education ... the bill amends twenty‑nine‑three 26 to require OPI to provide a report no later than 09/01/2025, and then every 4 years thereafter," Muszkiewicz said. He stressed the report is informational: assumptions in the fiscal note note that any recommendation would be contingent on approval by the two interim committees and that the superintendent, governor, and legislature are not required to adopt recommendations.

The hearing included testimony from Lance Melton of the Montana School Boards Association and the Coalition of Advocates for Montana's Public Schools, who said proponents worked with the sponsor to make the measure strictly informational. "Bottom line is, nothing's mandated here," Melton said, urging the committee to consider the bill as a way to supply data to the interim committees.

Muskiewicz and proponents noted a fiscal note example that projected an informational figure of roughly $92.5 million if no other bills passed; proponents said several other bills under consideration would likely reduce any hypothetical total. Committee members asked clarifying questions about timing and how the report would intersect with existing interim committee work; sponsors said the change would make data available earlier in the budget cycle.

The committee closed the hearing with no formal opposition recorded online and no executive action taken during the session.