---
type: "Bill"
title: "Revise education laws to support advanced opportunities"
description: "Revise education laws to support advanced opportunities"
jurisdiction: "us/states/mt"
legislature: "Montana Legislature"
session: "2025"
identifier: "SB 278"
citation: "Montana SB 278 (2025)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["Developmental Disabilities", "Education - K-12", "Education - Post-Secondary", "Education - School Finance", "Education - Technical and Trades"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Sara Novak"]
version_count: 55
action_count: 53
vote_count: 10
first_action: "2024-12-14T15:01:54+00:00"
last_action: "2025-05-13T14:39:31+00:00"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/96f8fed3-85a7-481a-8721-08faf54d1f26"
source_url: "https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3223?open_tab=sum"
source_hash: "475dad338f5966ede234e2901cc9136493d0d9ee88d377285410053ddb5acb2b"
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 278 (2025) — Revise education laws to support advanced opportunities

## Version chain

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

1. **LC3223.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278054)
2. **SB0278.001.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=283645)
3. **SB0278.001.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=283644)
4. **SB0278.002.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=304684)
5. **SB0278.002.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=304682)
6. **SB0278_1(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=280545)
7. **SB0278_1(10).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=288446)
8. **SB0278_1(11).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=288447)
9. **SB0278_1(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=280546)
10. **SB0278_1(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=280570)
11. **SB0278_1(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=280571)
12. **SB0278_1(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=280572)
13. **SB0278_1(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=280578)
14. **SB0278_1(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=280586)
15. **SB0278_1(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=288444)
16. **SB0278_1(9).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=288445)
17. **SB0278_1.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=279866)
18. **SB0278_2(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=288449)
19. **SB0278_2(10).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=306489)
20. **SB0278_2(11).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=306490)
21. **SB0278_2(12).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=306491)
22. **SB0278_2(13).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=306492)
23. **SB0278_2(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=288451)
24. **SB0278_2(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=288453)
25. **SB0278_2(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=288553)
26. **SB0278_2(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=288557)
27. **SB0278_2(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=288560)
28. **SB0278_2(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=288582)
29. **SB0278_2(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=292471)
30. **SB0278_2(9).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=305997)
31. **SB0278_2.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=288448)
32. **SB0278_3(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=306828)
33. **SB0278_3(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=307890)
34. **SB0278_3(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=309016)
35. **SB0278_3(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=309440)
36. **SB0278_3(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=309562)
37. **SB0278_3(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313067)
38. **SB0278_3(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313068)
39. **SB0278_3.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=306822)
40. **SB0278_X(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313070)
41. **SB0278_X(10).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=322736)
42. **SB0278_X(11).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=324970)
43. **SB0278_X(12).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=326802)
44. **SB0278_X(13).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=327061)
45. **SB0278_X(14).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=328122)
46. **SB0278_X(15).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=328132)
47. **SB0278_X(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313071)
48. **SB0278_X(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313688)
49. **SB0278_X(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313689)
50. **SB0278_X(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313690)
51. **SB0278_X(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=317140)
52. **SB0278_X(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=320703)
53. **SB0278_X(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=322734)
54. **SB0278_X(9).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=322735)
55. **SB0278_X.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313069)

## Votes

- do_pass — **18–4** (pass) · upper
- Do Pass — **38–11** (pass) · upper
- Do Pass — **46–4** (pass) · upper
- Do Pass — **36–14** (pass) · upper
- do_pass_as_amended — **13–1** (pass) · upper
- Do Concur — **75–24** (pass) · lower
- Do Pass — **38–12** (pass) · upper
- be_concurred_in_as_amended — **13–2** (pass) · lower
- Do Concur — **70–30** (pass) · lower
- be_concurred_in — **14–9** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- Sara Novak — primary (person)

## Timeline

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

- **2024-12-14T15:01:54+00:00** (LC) Drafter Assigned
- **2025-01-31T20:59:25+00:00** (LC) Draft in Legal Review
- **2025-02-01T03:45:53+00:00** (LC) Draft in Edit
- **2025-02-02T16:24:42+00:00** (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- **2025-02-05T00:13:32+00:00** (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- **2025-02-05T13:04:19+00:00** (LC) Draft in Assembly
- **2025-02-05T15:25:56+00:00** (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- **2025-02-05T23:59:07+00:00** (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- **2025-02-06T23:54:58+00:00** (S) Introduced
- **2025-02-07T19:27:12+00:00** (S) Fiscal Note Requested
- **2025-02-07T20:24:00+00:00** (S) First Reading `reading-1`
- **2025-02-10T19:02:00+00:00** (S) Referred to Committee - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs `referral-committee`
- **2025-02-17T21:38:24+00:00** (S) Fiscal Note Received `receipt`
- **2025-02-19T22:05:10+00:00** (S) Fiscal Note Signed
- **2025-02-19T22:05:17+00:00** (S) Fiscal Note Printed
- **2025-02-21T00:25:55+00:00** (S) Hearing - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
- **2025-02-25T22:21:14+00:00** (S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended - (S) Education and Cultural Resources `committee-passage`
- **2025-02-26T20:19:00+00:00** (S) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended - (S) Education and Cultural Resources `committee-passage`
- **2025-02-28T09:04:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading `reading-2`
- **2025-02-28T21:18:00+00:00** (S) 2nd Reading Passed `reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-02-28T22:22:00+00:00** (S) Rereferred to Committee - (S) Finance and Claims `referral-committee, referral-committee`
- **2025-03-01T19:04:54+00:00** (S) Hearing - (S) Finance and Claims
- **2025-03-03T17:16:55+00:00** (S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed - (S) Finance and Claims `committee-passage`
- **2025-03-03T22:47:00+00:00** (S) Committee Report--Bill Passed - (S) Finance and Claims `committee-passage`
- **2025-03-04T09:04:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading `reading-3`
- **2025-03-04T22:21:00+00:00** (S) 3rd Reading Passed `passage, reading-3`
- **2025-03-04T23:15:52+00:00** (S) Transmitted to House
- **2025-03-05T22:08:25+00:00** (H) Referred to Committee - (H) Education `referral-committee`
- **2025-03-06T15:07:42+00:00** (H) First Reading `reading-1`
- **2025-04-03T19:25:30+00:00** (H) Hearing - (H) Education
- **2025-04-07T21:38:52+00:00** (H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended - (H) Education
- **2025-04-08T20:05:00+00:00** (H) Committee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended - (H) Education
- **2025-04-09T21:52:30+00:00** (H) Rereferred to Committee - (H) Appropriations `referral-committee, referral-committee`
- **2025-04-10T00:00:32+00:00** (H) Hearing - (H) Appropriations
- **2025-04-10T00:57:11+00:00** (H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred - (H) Appropriations
- **2025-04-10T15:15:00+00:00** (H) Committee Report--Bill Concurred - (H) Appropriations
- **2025-04-11T14:30:00+00:00** (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading `reading-2`
- **2025-04-11T16:15:00+00:00** (H) 2nd Reading Concurred `reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-04-11T21:01:00+00:00** (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading `reading-3`
- **2025-04-11T23:56:00+00:00** (H) 3rd Reading Concurred `passage, reading-3`
- **2025-04-12T01:02:24+00:00** (H) Returned to Senate with Amendments
- **2025-04-15T21:53:21+00:00** (S) 2nd Reading Pass Consideration `reading-2`
- **2025-04-16T19:00:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading `reading-2`
- **2025-04-16T19:45:00+00:00** (S) 2nd Reading House Amendments Concurred `amendment-amendment, amendment-passage, reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-04-17T19:00:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading `reading-3`
- **2025-04-17T19:16:00+00:00** (S) 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by House `passage, passage, reading-3, reading-3`
- **2025-04-17T23:58:35+00:00** (S) Sent to Enrolling
- **2025-04-20T12:28:20+00:00** (S) Returned from Enrolling
- **2025-04-29T20:00:24+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`
- **2025-05-13T14:00:00+00:00** (S) Signed by Governor `executive-signature`
- **2025-05-13T14:39:31+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/96f8fed3-85a7-481a-8721-08faf54d1f26`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Montana legislature records).