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Committee tables bill allowing Legislature to exceed 3% inflation cap for school funding
Summary
Sen. Laura Smith's bill would let the Legislature provide inflationary adjustments above a 3% cap; proponents said it gives flexibility to address education funding pressures. The committee voted to table the bill.
Senate Bill 258, introduced by Sen. Laura Smith, would add a sentence recognizing the legislature’s authority to provide inflationary adjustments in excess of a 3% cap for school funding. Smith described the measure as a narrow, sensible mechanism to address inflationary pressures on K‑12 budgets.
Proponents — including the Montana Quality Education Coalition and the Montana Federation of Public Employees — told the committee the bill would allow lawmakers to respond to inflation’s impact on school operations. There were no opponents or informational witnesses at the hearing. Committee members asked how SB 258 would interact with other pending measures addressing school funding and whether it should have an effective date; the sponsor said the bill’s language is intended to defer to related companion bills and that an immediate effective date could be added.
During executive action the committee voted to table SB 258 by roll call; the transcript records the tabling vote as 8 in favor to 7 opposed and indicates the bill was tabled.
