Bill
Bill > HB265
MT HB265
Provide Over-BASE levy authority consistent with inflation adopted by the legislature
summary
Introduced
01/21/2025
01/21/2025
In Committee
01/21/2025
01/21/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
05/20/2025
05/20/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REVISING SCHOOL FUNDING LAWS RELATED TO THE ALLOWABLE INCREASE IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT’S GENERAL FUND BUDGET TO IMPROVE ALIGNMENT WITH THE DEFINITION OF "BASIC SYSTEM OF FREE QUALITY PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS" PROVIDED IN SECTION 20-9-309, MCA, BY ENSURING THAT THE GENERAL FUND FUNDING FORMULA IS SELF-EXECUTING AND INCLUDES A MECHANISM FOR ACCURATE ANNUAL INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENTS; AUTHORIZING A SCHOOL BOARD TO INCREASE A PREVIOUSLY VOTER-APPROVED OVER-BASE LEVY BY THE SCHOOL FUNDING INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENTS PROVIDED BY THE LEGISLATURE; AMING SECTIONS 20-9-308 AND 20-9-353, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE.”
AI Summary
This bill modifies Montana school funding laws to provide more flexibility for school districts in adjusting their over-BASE budget levies. Specifically, the bill allows school boards to increase a previously voter-approved over-BASE levy by the same inflationary adjustment provided by the legislature for basic and per-ANB (Average Number Belonging) entitlement amounts without requiring a new voter election. If the proposed increase exceeds the inflationary adjustment, school districts would still need to seek voter approval. The bill aims to improve the efficiency of school budget management by enabling trustees to adjust levies in line with inflation while maintaining fiscal constraints. Key changes include allowing automatic levy increases tied to legislative inflationary adjustments and removing some previous restrictions on levy modifications. The provisions will apply to school fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2025, and are designed to provide school districts with more responsive budgeting tools without increasing overall property tax burdens. The legislation is intended to align school funding more closely with the state's definition of a "basic system of free quality public elementary and secondary schools" by creating a more self-executing and adaptable funding formula.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
(H) Died in Process (on 05/20/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Document Type | Source Location |
---|---|
State Bill Page | https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2918 |
State Bill Page | https://bills.legmt.gov/#/lc/bill/2/LC2918 |
Fiscal Note HB0265_1 | https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=4f3307b5-ec52-4b81-b839-2a2f632abf1b |
BillText | https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=594b20d0-0ff9-48b7-913b-7eed5b9d706b |
BillText | https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=269423 |
Loading...