H.B. No. 4571 aims to streamline the requirements for school districts regarding the publication of annual financial statements. The bill repeals Section 140.006 of the Local Government Code, which previously mandated that the presiding officer of a school district submit a financial statement to local newspapers. It removes specific requirements for school districts, including the stipulation that financial statements must be published within a certain timeframe and in specific types of newspapers. The bill clarifies that these requirements do not apply to school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, or certain entities created under the Texas Constitution.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new Section 140.0065 to the Local Government Code, which specifies that the governing body of an open-enrollment charter school must ensure that its financial statement is made available in accordance with Chapter 552 of the Government Code and is continuously posted on the school's website. This change aims to reduce redundancy and unnecessary regulatory burdens on school districts while ensuring transparency in financial reporting for charter schools. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that threshold is not met.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Local Government Code 140.006, Education Code 31.105 (Local Government Code 140, Education Code 31)