---
type: "Bill"
title: "Revise administrative and certification processes for student scholarship organizations"
description: "Revise administrative and certification processes for student scholarship organizations"
jurisdiction: "us/states/mt"
legislature: "Montana Legislature"
session: "2025"
identifier: "SB 253"
citation: "Montana SB 253 (2025)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["Education - K-12", "Taxation"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Sue Vinton"]
version_count: 46
action_count: 65
vote_count: 12
first_action: "2025-01-28T18:06:09+00:00"
last_action: "2025-05-16T14:27:58+00:00"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/f4e9bed4-6767-4a07-bcd0-c2993ba6f799"
source_url: "https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3480?open_tab=sum"
source_hash: "148cad72745690581effe1c9ec9e9286c2060db6489439c47fcc49a636e827d5"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-mt"]
---

# Montana SB 253 (2025) — Revise administrative and certification processes for student scholarship organizations

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **LC3480.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=275873)
2. **SB0253.001.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=291637)
3. **SB0253.001.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=291636)
4. **SB0253.002.002_Amendments-in-Context_final-condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=312793)
5. **SB0253.002.002_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=312794)
6. **SB0253_1(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278852)
7. **SB0253_1(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=293747)
8. **SB0253_1(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=295596)
9. **SB0253_1(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=295597)
10. **SB0253_1(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=295598)
11. **SB0253_1(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=295599)
12. **SB0253_1.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=277843)
13. **SB0253_2(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=295601)
14. **SB0253_2(10).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=307143)
15. **SB0253_2(11).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313308)
16. **SB0253_2(12).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313309)
17. **SB0253_2(13).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313310)
18. **SB0253_2(14).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313311)
19. **SB0253_2(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=295602)
20. **SB0253_2(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=295603)
21. **SB0253_2(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=295632)
22. **SB0253_2(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=295633)
23. **SB0253_2(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=295634)
24. **SB0253_2(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=296068)
25. **SB0253_2(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=296885)
26. **SB0253_2(9).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=305750)
27. **SB0253_2.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=295600)
28. **SB0253_3(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=317641)
29. **SB0253_3(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=318823)
30. **SB0253_3(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=318824)
31. **SB0253_3(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=318827)
32. **SB0253_3.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313326)
33. **SB0253_X(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=318829)
34. **SB0253_X(10).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=324968)
35. **SB0253_X(11).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=326944)
36. **SB0253_X(12).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=327059)
37. **SB0253_X(13).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=327884)
38. **SB0253_X(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=319099)
39. **SB0253_X(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=319100)
40. **SB0253_X(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=319142)
41. **SB0253_X(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=319143)
42. **SB0253_X(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=321023)
43. **SB0253_X(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=322728)
44. **SB0253_X(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=322729)
45. **SB0253_X(9).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=322730)
46. **SB0253_X.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=318828)

## Votes

- Do Concur — **77–23** (pass) · lower
- be_concurred_in_as_amended — **13–10** (pass) · lower
- Do Pass — **45–5** (pass) · upper
- Do Pass — **49–1** (pass) · upper
- be_concurred_in — **19–2** (pass) · lower
- Do Pass — **44–6** (pass) · upper
- do_pass — **7–1** (pass) · upper
- Do Concur — **57–43** (pass) · lower
- Do Concur — **57–43** (pass) · lower
- Do Pass — **43–7** (pass) · upper
- do_pass_as_amended — **22–0** (pass) · upper
- Do Pass — **44–6** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- Sue Vinton — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2025-01-28T18:06:09+00:00** (LC) Drafter Assigned
- **2025-01-28T19:19:06+00:00** (LC) Draft in Edit
- **2025-01-28T20:09:06+00:00** (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- **2025-01-29T15:46:22+00:00** (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- **2025-01-29T17:43:34+00:00** (LC) Draft in Assembly
- **2025-01-29T20:19:42+00:00** (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- **2025-01-31T19:55:10+00:00** (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- **2025-01-31T21:09:57+00:00** (S) Introduced
- **2025-02-03T20:16:00+00:00** (S) First Reading `reading-1`
- **2025-02-04T17:39:56+00:00** (S) Referred to Committee - (S) Taxation `referral-committee`
- **2025-02-06T07:00:00+00:00** (S) Hearing - (S) Taxation
- **2025-02-20T19:14:31+00:00** (S) Fiscal Note Requested
- **2025-02-21T16:35:54+00:00** (S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed - (S) Taxation `committee-passage`
- **2025-02-21T20:19:00+00:00** (S) Committee Report--Bill Passed - (S) Taxation `committee-passage`
- **2025-02-21T21:18:13+00:00** (S) Fiscal Note Received `receipt`
- **2025-02-24T19:57:40+00:00** (S) Fiscal Note Unsigned
- **2025-02-24T19:57:51+00:00** (S) Sponsor Rebuttal to Fiscal Note Received `receipt`
- **2025-02-24T19:58:07+00:00** (S) Sponsor Rebuttal to Fiscal Note Signed
- **2025-02-24T20:50:30+00:00** (S) 2nd Reading Pass Consideration `reading-2`
- **2025-02-25T15:37:58+00:00** (S) Fiscal Note Printed
- **2025-02-25T15:38:12+00:00** (S) Sponsor Rebuttal to Fiscal Note Printed
- **2025-02-28T21:13:00+00:00** (S) 2nd Reading Passed `reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-02-28T22:18:00+00:00** (S) Rereferred to Committee - (S) Finance and Claims `referral-committee, referral-committee`
- **2025-02-28T23:09:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading `reading-2`
- **2025-03-01T19:04:54+00:00** (S) Hearing - (S) Finance and Claims
- **2025-03-19T17:48:55+00:00** (S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended - (S) Finance and Claims `committee-passage`
- **2025-03-19T21:13:00+00:00** (S) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended - (S) Finance and Claims `committee-passage`
- **2025-03-20T10:12:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading `reading-2`
- **2025-03-20T17:01:36+00:00** (S) Revised Fiscal Note Requested
- **2025-03-20T20:47:00+00:00** (S) 2nd Reading Passed `reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-03-21T10:11:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading `reading-3`
- **2025-03-21T20:23:00+00:00** (S) 3rd Reading Passed `passage, reading-3`
- **2025-03-21T21:48:53+00:00** (S) Transmitted to House
- **2025-03-24T15:47:01+00:00** (H) Referred to Committee - (H) Taxation `referral-committee`
- **2025-03-24T19:47:01+00:00** (H) First Reading `reading-1`
- **2025-03-26T14:03:35+00:00** (S) Revised Fiscal Note Received `receipt`
- **2025-03-26T16:47:05+00:00** (S) Fiscal Note Unsigned
- **2025-03-27T14:58:25+00:00** (H) Hearing - (H) Taxation
- **2025-03-27T16:37:27+00:00** (S) Revised Fiscal Note Printed
- **2025-04-09T17:56:30+00:00** (H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred - (H) Taxation
- **2025-04-09T22:12:00+00:00** (H) Committee Report--Bill Concurred - (H) Taxation
- **2025-04-15T19:26:00+00:00** (H) 2nd Reading Concurred `reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-04-15T20:31:30+00:00** (H) Rereferred to Committee - (H) Appropriations `referral-committee, referral-committee`
- **2025-04-15T20:45:59+00:00** (H) Hearing - (H) Appropriations
- **2025-04-18T14:37:44+00:00** (H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended - (H) Appropriations
- **2025-04-18T16:36:00+00:00** (H) Committee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended - (H) Appropriations
- **2025-04-22T18:38:04+00:00** (S) Revised Fiscal Note Received `receipt`
- **2025-04-23T02:13:59+00:00** (S) Fiscal Note Unsigned
- **2025-04-23T02:14:09+00:00** (S) Revised Fiscal Note Printed
- **2025-04-23T22:00:00+00:00** (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading `reading-2`
- **2025-04-23T22:25:00+00:00** (H) 2nd Reading Concurred `reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-04-24T20:00:00+00:00** (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading `reading-3`
- **2025-04-24T20:10:00+00:00** (H) 3rd Reading Concurred `passage, reading-3`
- **2025-04-25T00:00:03+00:00** (H) Returned to Senate with Amendments
- **2025-04-28T19:00:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading `reading-2`
- **2025-04-28T19:20:00+00:00** (S) 2nd Reading House Amendments Concurred `amendment-amendment, amendment-passage, reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-04-29T16:00:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading `reading-3`
- **2025-04-29T18:12:00+00:00** (S) 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by House `passage, passage, reading-3, reading-3`
- **2025-04-29T19:06:14+00:00** (S) Sent to Enrolling
- **2025-04-30T13:00:21+00:00** (S) Returned from Enrolling
- **2025-05-03T04:00:00+00:00** (S) Signed by President `passage`
- **2025-05-05T19:00:51+00:00** (H) Signed by Speaker `passage`
- **2025-05-05T19:55:00+00:00** (S) Transmitted to Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2025-05-13T21:18:00+00:00** (S) Signed by Governor `executive-signature`
- **2025-05-16T14:27:58+00:00** Chapter Number Assigned `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/f4e9bed4-6767-4a07-bcd0-c2993ba6f799`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Montana legislature records).