The bill proposes significant changes to the boundaries of hospital and school districts in Montana, focusing on improving public service accessibility. It introduces a structured process for petitioning boundary changes, which includes public hearings and elections, and sets criteria for who can petition. The legislation emphasizes the need for property owners to seek boundary alterations when faced with physical barriers or inadequate emergency service access. Additionally, it outlines how tax collections and reconciliation payments will be shared between school districts when territory transfers occur, ensuring that affected districts are compensated for any changes in taxable value.

Key provisions of the bill include the requirement that only registered electors in the affected areas can vote on boundary changes, and that properties withdrawn from a district remain liable for existing debts. It also establishes a framework for reconciling taxable valuations and transferring territory, particularly for isolated pupils, mandating that the resident school district impose a levy to generate reconciliation payments to the district of attendance. The bill specifies that the taxable value of transferred territory will be split equally between the sending and receiving districts for three years and introduces ongoing payment provisions if a reconciliation payment was previously made. Advisory councils will be established in districts with many isolated pupils to ensure community involvement, and the bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage, with certain sections applicable to school years starting on or after July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-6-105
SB0260_1(1): 20-6-105
SB0260_1(2): 20-6-105
SB0260_1(3): 20-6-105
SB0260_1(4): 20-6-105
SB0260_1(5): 20-6-105
SB0260_1: 20-6-105
SB0260_2(1): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(10): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(11): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(12): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(13): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(14): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(15): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(2): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(3): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(4): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(5): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(6): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(7): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(8): 20-6-105
SB0260_2(9): 20-6-105
SB0260_2: 20-6-105
SB0260_3(1): 20-6-105
SB0260_3(2): 20-6-105
SB0260_3(3): 20-6-105
SB0260_3(4): 20-6-105
SB0260_3: 20-6-105
SB0260_4(1): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(10): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(11): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(2): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(3): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(4): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(5): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(6): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(7): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(8): 20-6-105
SB0260_4(9): 20-6-105
SB0260_4: 20-6-105
SB0260_X(1): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(10): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(11): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(12): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(13): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(14): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(15): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(2): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(3): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(4): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(5): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(6): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(7): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(8): 20-6-105
SB0260_X(9): 20-6-105
SB0260_X: 20-6-105