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69th Legislature 2025 SB 182
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – SB 182
ENROLLED BILL
AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING EDUCATION LAWS TO STRENGTHEN THE STATE'S COMMITMENT TO
PRESERVING AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURAL INTEGRITY UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 1(2), OF THE
MONTANA CONSTITUTION; PROVIDING GREATER FLEXIBILITY FOR THE EDUCATIONAL
PARTNERSHIPS ENTERED INTO BY TRIBES IN THE MONTANA INDIAN LANGUAGE PRESERVATION
PROGRAM; ENCOURAGING THE INTEGRATION OF EFFORTS BETWEEN THE MONTANA INDIAN
LANGUAGE PRESERVATION PROGRAM AND THE INDIAN LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAMS OF
SCHOOL DISTRICTS; EMPHASIZING THE VALUE OF COLLABORATIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
AND THE USE OF MATERIALS PREVIOUSLY PRODUCED BY THE TRIBES UNDER THE PROGRAM THAT
ARE HOUSED AT THE MONTANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY; AMENDING SECTION 20-9-537, MCA; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Article X, section 1(2), of the Montana Constitution states: "The state recognizes the
distinct and unique cultural heritage of the American Indians and is committed in its educational goals to the
preservation of their cultural integrity"; and
WHEREAS, the Montana Legislature has honored this commitment in several ways, including through
the creation of the Montana Indian language preservation program; and
WHEREAS, the Montana Legislature recognizes the fundamental principle and integrity of the
government-to-government relationship between the State of Montana and the Indian Nations of Montana; and
WHEREAS, increasing tribal sovereignty in administering the Montana Indian language preservation
program and allowing Montana tribes greater flexibility in how they implement the program with a greater
variety of educational partners will only strengthen the impact of the program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
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Section 1. Section 20-9-537, MCA, is amended to read:
"20-9-537. Montana Indian language preservation program. (1) There is a Montana Indian
language preservation program. The program is established to support efforts of Montana tribes and partnering
school districts to preserve and perpetuate Indian languages in the form of spoken, written, sung, or signed
language and to help meet the state's educational goal of preserving the cultural integrity of American Indians
under Article X, section 1(2), of the Montana constitution.
(2) (a) The office of public instruction shall administer the program and, in collaboration with each
tribal government of a federally recognized Indian tribe in Montana, shall create program guidelines.
(b) The program guidelines must:
(i) describe the roles of tribal governments, of tribal education, culture, or language departments
or other recognized Indian education resource specialists, and of partnering school districts educational entities
with which the tribe will partner, including but not limited to public school districts, community choice schools,
nonpublic schools, tribal schools, postsecondary institutions, and early learning providers;
(ii) include definitions of language fluency in sufficient detail to allow measurement of progress
toward Indian language preservation; and
(iii) address performance and output standards, distribution of funds, accounting of funds, and use
of funds.
(3) (a) The office of public instruction shall equally distribute funds to tribal governments in a
manner described in the program guidelines. A tribal government wishing to participate in the program shall
submit an application to the office of public instruction that includes at a minimum:
(i) if applicable, statements of commitment from school districts educational entities with which the
tribal government will partner through the program, including, if applicable, descriptions of how the efforts of the
Montana Indian language preservation program will be integrated into Indian language immersion programs of
school districts pursuant to Title 20, chapter 7, part 14;
(ii) a designation of a tribal entity to administer the program. The designation must be to the tribal
education department or equivalent or, if the tribe does not have an education department, to another entity
such as a tribal culture or language department or equivalent.
(iii) a description of the role of American Indian language and culture specialists in the program,
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ENROLLED BILL
including the number of specialists currently employed by partnering districts;
(iv) a detailed description of proposed curriculum development, instruction, and professional
development activities, including:
(A) the role of American Indian language and culture specialists; and
(B) the utilization of curriculum and other materials developed by the tribe under the program
during the years 2013 through 2021 that are securely housed in perpetuity at the Montana historical society;
(v) a description of how proposed activities support the tribal government's long-term strategy for
Indian language preservation, including:
(A) an estimate of the current number of fluent speakers; and
(B) plans to build multigenerational fluency through:
(I) partnerships with early learning providers; and
(II) adult education offerings; and
(vi) a proposed budget for the expenditure of funds received under the program and any other
anticipated funding sources. The budget may include professional development opportunities. The tribal entities
administering the program are encouraged to partner with one another and utilize national and international
organizations with expertise in language preservation and perpetuation in designing professional development
opportunities.
(b) Tribal governments and partnering school districts shall report annually to the office of public
instruction in a format prescribed in the program guidelines. A tribal government failing to meet the reporting
requirements may not receive program funds until reporting requirements have been met.
(c) The office of public instruction shall report to the legislature, to the education interim committee,
and to the state-tribal relations committee in accordance with 5-11-210. The report must include:
(i) current program guidelines as required in subsection (2);
(ii) a summary of each participating tribal government's activities under the program; and
(iii) metrics that indicate how well activities funded under this program are promoting language
fluency.
(4) Any cultural and intellectual property rights from program efforts belong to the tribe. Use of the
cultural and intellectual property may be negotiated between the tribe and other partnering entities.
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ENROLLED BILL
(5) A tribe may use payments received pursuant to this section as matching funds for federal or
private fund sources to accomplish the purposes of this section."
Section 2. Notification to tribal governments. The secretary of state shall send a copy of [this act]
to each federally recognized tribal government in Montana.
Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2025.
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I hereby certify that the within bill,
SB 182, originated in the Senate.
___________________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
___________________________________________
President of the Senate
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
___________________________________________
Speaker of the House
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
SENATE BILL NO. 182
INTRODUCED BY J. WINDY BOY, S. NOVAK, M. LEE, T. CROWE, J. SECKINGER, B. CLOSE, S. FYANT, J.
SOOKTIS, E. MATTHEWS, J. MORIGEAU, T. RUNNING WOLF, F. SMITH, S. WEBBER, M. FOX, D. BAUM,
B. CARTER, J. COHENOUR, D. HAWK, C. KEOGH, S. MORIGEAU, E. STAFMAN, Z. ZEPHYR, M. MARLER,
C. FITZPATRICK
AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING EDUCATION LAWS TO STRENGTHEN THE STATE'S COMMITMENT TO
PRESERVING AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURAL INTEGRITY UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 1(2), OF THE
MONTANA CONSTITUTION; PROVIDING GREATER FLEXIBILITY FOR THE EDUCATIONAL
PARTNERSHIPS ENTERED INTO BY TRIBES IN THE MONTANA INDIAN LANGUAGE PRESERVATION
PROGRAM; ENCOURAGING THE INTEGRATION OF EFFORTS BETWEEN THE MONTANA INDIAN
LANGUAGE PRESERVATION PROGRAM AND THE INDIAN LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAMS OF
SCHOOL DISTRICTS; EMPHASIZING THE VALUE OF COLLABORATIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
AND THE USE OF MATERIALS PREVIOUSLY PRODUCED BY THE TRIBES UNDER THE PROGRAM THAT
ARE HOUSED AT THE MONTANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY; AMENDING SECTION 20-9-537, MCA; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.