Bill allows residents whose property is bisected by updated maps to choose school district; committee passes HB111112

The Senate Education Committee passed HB111112 after sponsors told the panel the bill addresses cases where updated geographic information system mapping places a single house or parcel in more than one school district.

Representative Warren West, joined by Matt McKee and Les Warren, said the bill responds to constituents whose properties were split when assessors used more-precise mapping. Under the proposal, if a district line now runs through a property, the owner may choose which of the two districts children will attend; property-tax revenue would continue to go to the district containing the majority of the parcel. The sponsor said eligibility requires the property to be the owner’s primary residence and an undivided parcel.

Senators asked whether tax revenue would be split; sponsor answered that taxes follow the majority-of-property rule. The committee moved and passed the bill by voice vote.