Antiscience bill in Montana dies

Montana's House Bill 321, which purports to "encourage critical thinking regarding controversial scientific theories" such as "biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, random mutation, natural selection, DNA, and fossil discoveries," was tabled in the House Education Committee on February 9, 2015.

According to the Billings Gazette (January 29, 2015), the bill "would encourage high school teachers to present evolutionary biology as disputed theory rather than sound science and protect those who teach viewpoints like creationism in the classroom."

The House Education Committee discussed HB 321 in its February 6, 2015, meeting. Only two testifiers, including the bill's sponsor, Clayton Fiscus (R-District 46), spoke in favor of the bill, while over a dozen testifiers, including scientists, teachers, theologians, school board members, and concerned parents, testified against it.