The bill, H.B. No. 4156, proposes amendments to the Education Code regarding the creation of a new school district through the detachment of territory from an existing district. It introduces a new definition for "board," specifying it as the State Board of Education. The process for initiating the detachment is revised to require a petition presented to the board, rather than a resolution from the board of trustees of the existing districts. The petition must be signed by at least 20% of registered voters in the area to be detached, and the board is responsible for holding a hearing on the petition's validity within 30 days of receipt.

Additionally, the bill outlines the responsibilities of the board in creating the new district, including adopting rules for the allocation of indebtedness and personal property among the affected districts. It specifies that the new district will assume liability for any outstanding debts allocated to it. The bill also clarifies that title to real property in the detached territory will vest in the new district. The changes aim to streamline the process of creating new school districts and ensure equitable distribution of resources and liabilities. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 13.103, Education Code 13.104, Education Code 13.105 (Education Code 13)