MT HB260

Increases annual stipends for teachers with National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification from a fixed $1,500 maximum to 50% of the quality educator payment amount, with automatic annual inflationary adjustments

Raises the enhanced stipend for teachers in high-poverty or impacted schools from $2,500 to 85% of the quality educator payment amount

Changes state contribution formulas from fixed dollar amounts to percentages: base stipend state share increases from $500-$1,000 to 50%-75% of the stipend; enhanced stipend state share increases from $1,000-$2,000 to 55%-85%

Eligible teachers must be full-time employees of Montana public school districts, education cooperatives, the Montana school for the deaf and blind, or correctional facilities

Effective July 1, 2025, applying to stipends paid for school years beginning on or after that date