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Montana committee advances bill banning race-conscious decisions at public universities
Summary
The House Education Committee advanced House Bill 663 after a divided hearing and amendment; sponsor said it codifies federal guidance banning demographic factors in admissions, while student leaders and constitutional skeptics warned it could stifle campus diversity and invite lawsuits.
Rep. Carrie Seakins Crowe introduced House Bill 663 as a measure to bar public universities from considering race, ethnicity, national origin or gender in hiring, admissions, scholarships and financial aid, saying the change would ensure applicants are judged on merit and give institutions until Oct. 1, 2026, to comply.
The bill prompted immediate opposition from student representatives. Hope Morrison, who testified for the Associated Students at the University of Montana, said HB 663 “increases government overreach” and could burden taxpayers with lawsuits while stripping decision-making from the Montana Board of Regents. Morrison cited a November 2024 student survey she said found 85% of University of Montana students value exposure to different lived experiences.
Joe Teal, deputy commissioner at the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, told the committee OCHE’s assessment is that current admissions and financial-aid practices are not discriminatory. Teal said OCHE worked with the sponsor on an amendment removing a provision that would have barred admissions or financial-aid officers from seeing demographic information needed for federal reporting, which he said would have been costly and impractical.
Committee members asked whether the bill addresses a Montana-specific problem or a national trend and pressed officials on practical effects, including a private right of action in the bill that would allow individuals to sue for compensatory and statutory damages. The sponsor described the measure as codifying guidance from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and preserving a level playing field for applicants.
After debate and the sponsor’s amendment to address several technical concerns raised by OCHE, the committee voted on executive action. The motion that HB 663, once amended, do pass was moved by Vice Chair Greg. A roll-call vote recorded the committee’s decision to advance the amended bill to the House floor, with the final committee tally at 8 in favor and 7 opposed.
What’s next: The bill moves to the full House for further consideration, where additional amendments and floor debate are possible.
