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House Education advances two bills to the floor; HB 15 inflation amendment debated and postponed
Summary
The committee voted HB 67 and HB 24 out of committee to the House floor by voice votes, and extensively debated an amendment to HB 15 that would raise the inflationary adjustment above the statutory 3% cap; action on HB 15 was postponed for further caucus and amendment work.
The Montana House Education Committee on Oct. 12 took committee actions on several bills and debated an amendment to the school funding inflation bill.
The committee moved House Bill 67 and House Bill 24 to the House floor by voice vote. House Bill 67, a Teachers' Retirement System technical update brought at the request of the Teachers Retirement Board, was approved on a voice vote with no tally provided. House Bill 24, an Education Interim Committee measure clarifying kindergarten and enrollment provisions, also passed to the floor by voice vote.
Separately, members debated an amendment to House Bill 15, the inflation adjustment to school funding components. Vice Chair Romano offered an amendment to replace the bill’s originally proposed 3% inflation figures with higher rates calculated from current CPI‑based formulas (presented in committee as 5.67% for FY2026 and 4.83% for FY2027). Committee discussion focused on whether the statutory 3% cap (20‑9‑326, as discussed) constrains the legislature and how fiscal notes and appropriations will reflect the change. Budget and staff advisers explained the superintendent of public instruction's budget submission is capped at 3% for the “present law base,” but the legislature retains appropriation authority and may increase spending above that cap during the session.
Because members requested additional fiscal detail and caucus time, the sponsor withdrew the earlier motion to advance HB 15 and the committee postponed final action until it can review an engrossed amendment and an updated fiscal note. Committee staff said the amended fiscal estimate would be prepared if the amendment is formally adopted.
Votes at a glance
- House Bill 67 (Teachers Retirement Board technical revisions): passed out of committee to the House floor by voice vote; no tally provided. - House Bill 24 (clarify kindergarten/enrollment provisions): passed out of committee to the House floor by voice vote; no tally provided.
No final committee votes were taken on HB 15 (inflation amendment) or HB 151 (educational interpreters) during the Oct. 12 meeting.
