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House committee advances bill to expand quality‑educator loan assistance to all newly hired teachers
Summary
The House Education Committee voted to advance House Bill 509, which would widen eligibility for Montana’s Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program to include all newly hired qualified educators in public schools; staff said the program’s remainder funds have been underused. The bill was moved out of committee by voice vote and will go to the full House.
House Education Committee — The committee moved House Bill 509 to the House floor after a brief executive action on the measure.
Laura, a committee staff member, summarized the bill: “It is an act to generally revise the Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program, to expand eligibility for the program to include all newly hired quality educators in Montana Public Schools.” Supporters said the change makes unused loan funding available to recruit teachers to districts that otherwise receive little of the program’s benefit.
Representative Lynch told the committee she would support the bill because in the past the funds remained unused when eligibility was limited to certain low‑income schools. Representative Bertolio said the chart provided by staff 'was very upsetting' and that expanding eligibility could help get teachers to affected communities.
Vice Chair Romano moved HB 509 do pass. The committee took a voice vote; proxies were recorded and the chair observed 2 no votes and the remainder in favor. Committee staff recorded proxy votes from Representative Thane and Representative Greg as aye and Representative Crow as no by proxy. The committee chair announced that HB 509 will proceed to the House floor for further action.
Next steps: HB 509 was reported out of the House Education Committee and is scheduled for consideration on the House floor.
