Montana committee hears sharply divided testimony on HB300, a bill that would define discrimination in education and limit male participation in female sports

Representative Carrie Seekins Crowe, the bill sponsor, opened the House Judiciary Committee hearing on House Bill 300 and urged members to give the measure a "do pass" recommendation, saying the text would "provide additional clarity to our discrimination in education laws" and protect women's athletic opportunities and private spaces.

The bill would amend Montana's discrimination-in-education provisions to specify that denying females access to single-sex facilities or to athletic opportunities designated for women would be unlawful discrimination. Supporters framed the measure as a restoration of Title IX's protections for female athletes and a way to give women a legal path to file complaints under the state's human-rights code. "I urge my colleagues to support this critical piece of legislation and please vote for a due pass," Seekins Crowe told the committee.

Proponents included representatives of the governor's office, conservative advocacy groups and women's sports advocates. Dylan Klapmeier, Gov. Greg Gianforte's education policy adviser, said the governor supports HB300 and described the…