House Bill No. [insert number] seeks to revise property taxation and establish a framework for managing isolated pupils within school districts. The bill allows school districts to petition for reconciliation payments when isolated pupils—students unable to access services in their resident district—enroll in a nonresident district. It defines terms such as "isolated pupil" and "reconciliation payment," and sets criteria for districts to qualify for these payments, including a processing fee and submission timeline. Additionally, the bill mandates that the taxable value of territory transferred between districts be split over three years and outlines the responsibilities of county superintendents in assessing these petitions.

The bill also amends Section 20-6-105 of the Montana Code Annotated, detailing the conditions under which territory transfer petitions can be filed, and introduces new requirements for hearings and evidence regarding the impact of such transfers. It establishes an advisory council for districts with significant isolated pupil enrollment to address their educational needs. Furthermore, it stipulates that petitions for territory transfer must cover both elementary and high school purposes, and outlines a framework for distributing taxable value from transferred territory. The receiving district is required to budget and impose a levy for three years to generate revenue equivalent to the most recent reconciliation payment, which must be deposited into the tuition fund and returned to the transferring district. The bill is intended to enhance the educational framework for isolated pupils and will take effect for school years starting on or after July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-6-105
HB0846_1(1): 20-6-105
HB0846_1(2): 20-6-105
HB0846_1(3): 20-6-105
HB0846_1(4): 20-6-105
HB0846_1(5): 20-6-105
HB0846_1(6): 20-6-105
HB0846_1(7): 20-6-105
HB0846_1: 20-6-105
HB0846_2: 20-6-105