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A 568

Relates to school boards approving a budget that exceeds the tax levy limit by a sixty percent vote; subsequently it must be approved by a majority of the qualified voters

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Phil Steck

A 568 requires a 60% supermajority by the school board to approve any budget that exceeds the tax levy limit, then a majority of qualified voters in a referendum.

REFERRED TO EDUCATION
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Bill Summary · A 568

Legislative Bill Summary — A 568

Overview

A 568 is a bill introduced on January 8, 2025, sponsored by Phil Steck. The bill, currently REFERRED TO EDUCATION, would create a two-step process for approving a school district budget that exceeds the state’s tax levy limit: first a supermajority vote by the school board, and then a majority vote by the district’s qualified voters in a referendum.

Purpose and Intent

  • To require heightened local involvement and.board consensus before a school district can adopt a budget that surpasses the tax levy limit.
  • To add a mandatory voter referendum after board approval when the proposed budget exceeds the levy limit, ensuring residents have a direct say in larger-than-limit tax increases for school districts.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Budget threshold: Applies only to budgets that exceed the district’s tax levy limit.
  • Board requirement: The school board must approve such a budget with a 60% supermajority vote.
    • “Sixty percent vote” implies a higher threshold than a simple majority for board approval.
  • Voter referendum: After the board’s 60% approval, the budget must be approved by a majority of the district’s qualified voters.
    • “Qualified voters” references those eligible to vote in district elections.
  • Conditional sequencing: The board’s 60% approval is a prerequisite to presenting the budget to voters for approval.

Who/What Would Be Affected

  • School districts with budgets that exceed the established tax levy limit.
  • Local residents and taxpayers within those districts (as qualified voters) who would vote in the required referendum.
  • School boards, which would face a higher threshold to approve excess-budget proposals and must anticipate a subsequent referendum.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Referred to Education (introduced January 8, 2025).
  • Legislative actions recorded: Both entries on 2025-01-08 show “REFERRED TO EDUCATION.”
  • No specific effective date or implementation timeline is provided in the summary; if enacted, the bill would establish a two-step process to apply to qualifying budgets.

Related Legislation

  • Related prior-session bills: A 1239, A 2699, A 368, A 3175, A 8502, A 4248.

Notes

  • The bill builds on the framework governing school district tax levies by introducing a higher board vote threshold and a mandatory voter referendum for budgets exceeding the levy limit.
  • Detailed definitions (e.g., what constitutes “tax levy limit,” mechanics of the referendum, and election timelines) would appear in the bill text and accompany any committee amendments.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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