Bill > SB574

This bill establishes a School Administrative Unit Study Commission within the department of education to examine how school systems are structured and how efficiently they operate, with the goal of finding ways to consolidate or restructure these units, known as SAUs (School Administrative Units), and potentially provide property tax relief. The commission will be composed of legislative members from both the senate and house of representatives, along with representatives from the department of education, school administrators, local school boards, and business office administrators, and will be tasked with reviewing enrollment trends, analyzing costs per student in each SAU, identifying successful consolidation models in other states, and investigating barriers to school consolidation or closure. The commission is required to report its findings and any legislative recommendations by November 1, 2026, at which point the commission itself will be repealed.