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69th Legislature 2025 HB 814.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 814
1 HOUSE BILL NO. 814
2 INTRODUCED BY F. NAVE
3
4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE LEGISLATURE'S INTENT FOR THE
5 REORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO FORM K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN EXISTING
6 HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES; PROVIDING DUTIES FOR COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS IN
7 COLLABORATING WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND FORMING A PLAN FOR THIS REORGANIZATION AND
8 IN REPORTING TO THE EDUCATION INTERIM COMMITTEE; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE
9 EFFECTIVE DATE.”
10
11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
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13 NEW SECTION. Section 1. Reorganization of elementary and high school districts to form K-12
14school districts -- timeline -- duty of county superintendents of schools. (1) The legislature intends that,
15 no later than July 1, 2029, elementary school districts must be reorganized with the high school district in which
16 they are located to form, except as provided in 20-6-701(4), a K-12 school district with a single contiguous
17 boundary.
18 (2) County superintendents of schools in collaboration with the school district trustees and
19 administrators of the county shall, no later than March 1, 2026, provide a report to the education interim
20 committee describing the county's plan for reorganization under subsection (1). The report must include:
21 (a) a description of existing school districts of the county, including:
22 (i) a list of operating schools with 20-year enrollment data; and
23 (ii) information regarding any territory of current school districts of the county that is noncontiguous
24 or within another county;
25 (b) a description of the size and makeup of the boards of trustees of the prospective reorganized
26 K-12 school districts of the county;
27 (c) any educationally relevant or financial concerns identified in developing the county's plan;
28 (d) a timeline for the reorganization; and
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69th Legislature 2025 HB 814.1
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 814
1 (e) any other information the county superintendent considers relevant to provide to the education
2 interim committee.
3 (3) The education interim committee shall consider the reports and, if necessary, make
4 recommendations to the following legislature regarding any statutory changes required as part of the
5 reorganization under subsection (1).
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7 NEW SECTION. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an
8 integral part of Title 20, chapter 6, part 4, and the provisions of Title 20, chapter 6, part 4, apply to [section 1].
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10 NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
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