- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 HB 343
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 343
ENROLLED BILL
AN ACT REVISING EDUCATION LAWS RELATED TO RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION RELEASED TIME;
REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICT TRUSTEES TO PROVIDE A RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION RELEASED TIME
PROGRAM; PROVIDING THAT THE PROGRAM MUST ALLOW A STUDENT AT LEAST 1 HOUR OF
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION RELEASED TIME A WEEK; REQUIRING AUTHORIZING THAT SCHOOL
DISTRICT TRUSTEES TO MAY ADOPT A POLICY AWARDING CREDIT FOR A RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION
RELEASED TIME COURSE AND PROVIDING REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT POLICY; AMENDING SECTION
20-1-308, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 20-1-308, MCA, is amended to read:
"20-1-308. (1) The trustees of a
school district may shall provide for a religious instruction released time program under which a pupil may must
be released from regular school attendance for the purpose of receiving religious instruction upon written
request, renewed at least annually, of the pupil's parent or guardian. The trustees shall determine the amount of
time, not less than 1 hour a week, for which a pupil may be released for religious instruction.
(2) A religious instruction released time program may not be established or administered in such a
way that public school property is utilized for the purpose of religious instruction.
(3) Public money may not be used, directly or indirectly, for the religious instruction.
(4) Any period for which a pupil is released under a religious instruction released time program is
part of the school day and week for purposes of 20-1-301, 20-1-302, 20-5-103, 20-9-311, and all other
provisions of Title 20, and the release may not adversely affect the pupil's enrollment status or attendance
record or the calculation of the school district's ANB or other funding.
(5) The trustees of a school district may adopt a policy that awards academic credit for the - 2025
69th Legislature 2025 HB 343
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 343
ENROLLED BILL
completion of a religious instruction released time course and recognizes the credits of an independently
accredited provider of released time courses.
(6)If a school district awards academic credit for a religious instruction released time course,
the school district shall evaluate the course based on secular criteria that are substantially the same criteria
used to evaluate similar courses to determine how much credit to award. The decision to award credit for a
released time course must be neutral to, and may not involve any test for, religious content or denominational
affiliation.
(7) For the purposes of this section, secular criteria may include but are not limited to the following:
(a) the number of hours of classroom instruction time;
(b) a review of the course syllabus that reflects course requirements and materials used;
(c) the methods of assessment used in the course; and
(d) the qualifications of the course instructor."
Section 2. [This act] is effective July 1, 2025.
- END - I hereby certify that the within bill,
HB 343, originated in the House.
___________________________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
___________________________________________
Speaker of the House
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
___________________________________________
President of the Senate
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025. HOUSE BILL NO. 343
INTRODUCED BY R. GREGG, E. ALBUS, K. LOVE, G. OVERSTREET, M. THIEL, T. MILLETT, A. REGIER, J.
KASSMIER, B. LER, R. MINER, J. SCHILLINGER, G. OBLANDER, L. DEMING, L. BREWSTER, T.
MCGILLVRAY, B. MITCHELL, K. SEEKINS-CROWE, Z. WIRTH
AN ACT REVISING EDUCATION LAWS RELATED TO RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION RELEASED TIME;
REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICT TRUSTEES TO PROVIDE A RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION RELEASED TIME
PROGRAM; PROVIDING THAT THE PROGRAM MUST ALLOW A STUDENT AT LEAST 1 HOUR OF
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION RELEASED TIME A WEEK; REQUIRING AUTHORIZING THAT SCHOOL
DISTRICT TRUSTEES TO MAY ADOPT A POLICY AWARDING CREDIT FOR A RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION
RELEASED TIME COURSE AND PROVIDING REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT POLICY; AMENDING SECTION
20-1-308, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”