House Education amends but then rejects released‑time credit changes; HB343 tabled after close vote

House Education opened executive action on House Bill 343, a sponsor‑led cleanup of Montana’s released‑time rules that would revise when school districts may award academic credit for religious instruction.

Committee staff walked members through a stack of redrafts and two competing amendments. One amendment turned a previously mandatory trustee duty to award credit into permissive language and added criteria if districts chose to grant credit; it also clarified that release time should not affect pupil enrollment, attendance records or district funding calculations. Vice Chair Greg, the amendment sponsor, argued the changes replicate long‑standing practice and merely provide options for local trustees: “options on the table — that’s all we’re doing,” he said.

Opponents, including Representative Thane and others, said the credit provision raised church–state concerns and might require staff oversight to avoid entanglement. Representative Thane said she would vote no on the amendment because she worried about awarding credit “without taking staff time” and the constitutional issues that might follow; Representative Strand and Representative Eiseley echoed concerns about ambiguity in credit hours, curriculum and accreditation standards.

The committee approved amendment 343.003 on a roll‑call vote, 8–7, and attached it to the bill. Members then debated a second amendment (343.001.004) intended to remove accreditation requirements. That amendment failed on a roll‑call, 6–9. The committee then held a roll‑call vote on HB343 as once amended; the bill failed by one vote, 7–8. Members subsequently moved and carried a motion to table HB343 by voice vote, pausing further action.

The voting record for the two recorded roll calls and the final bill vote was read into the record by the clerk. Following the table motion, Chair Rexton closed executive action on HB343.