Montana Schools Get $700 Grants for Life-Saving Defibrillators

State program provides up to $700 per defibrillator to help schools respond to cardiac emergencies

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By Staff Writer
Jul 29, 2025

HELENA — Montana schools can now apply for state grants to help purchase and maintain automated external defibrillators under a new program launched by Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen.

The Montana AED Reimbursement Program, made possible by House Bill 869, provides schools up to $700 per defibrillator or maintenance costs on a 1:1 matching basis. The initiative aims to ensure schools are equipped to respond quickly during cardiac emergencies, particularly during athletic events and other high-risk activities.

“AEDs save lives,” Hedalen said. “This program ensures that schools especially during athletic events and other high-risk activities are equipped to respond quickly in the event of cardiac emergencies.”

The program operates through two application windows on a first-come, first-served basis:

Grant Window 1: July 18 through October 15, 2025, with districts eligible for up to $700 in reimbursements
Grant Window 2: January 15 through March 15, 2026, allowing districts to apply for any remaining funds up to $700 per individual AED

House Bill 869, which created the grant fund, was sponsored by Representative Melissa Romano during the 2025 legislative session. The legislation established the reimbursement structure to help schools across Montana acquire lifesaving equipment.

Hedalen credited Romano’s leadership in advancing the legislation, saying the representative’s “partnership were critical in advancing this legislation” and “prioritizing student safety.”

Schools can apply for the program through an online application form available on the Montana Office of Public Instruction website. The grants are designed to help districts overcome financial barriers to acquiring AEDs, which can be crucial in emergency situations where every second counts.

The program represents Montana’s commitment to student safety infrastructure, recognizing that cardiac emergencies can occur at any time during school activities. AEDs are portable devices that can analyze heart rhythms and deliver electric shocks to restore normal heart function during sudden cardiac arrest.

School districts interested in applying for the reimbursement program should act quickly, as funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis through both application windows.