HB2124 - Relating to the establishment of a property value study hardship grant program.

  89R664 PRL-F     By: Lozano H.B. No. 2124       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of a property value study hardship   grant program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 48, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 48.282 to read as follows:           Sec.   48.282.     PROPERTY VALUE STUDY HARDSHIP GRANTS. (a) For   the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, from money appropriated   for purposes of this section, the commissioner may administer a   grant program to provide grants to eligible school districts to   offset a reduction in the district's funding under the Foundation   School Program resulting from the use of the state value for the   district's taxable value of property as provided by Section   403.302(c), Government Code, for the 2024 and 2025 tax years.           (b)     The amount of a grant awarded under this section is the   difference, if that difference is greater than zero, between:                 (1)     the funding the school district would have   received under Chapter 46, this chapter, and Chapter 49 for the   applicable school year if the local value for the district's   taxable value of property was used for the applicable tax year; and                 (2)     the funding to which the district is entitled   under Chapter 46, this chapter, and Chapter 49 for the applicable   school year.           (c)     An open-enrollment charter school is not eligible to   receive a grant under this section.           (d)     Funding provided to a school district under this section   is in addition to all other funding provided under Chapter 46, this   chapter, and Chapter 49.           (e)     The commissioner may require a school district to   submit, or request from a state agency or a political subdivision of   this state, additional information as needed to make a   determination under this section.           (f)     The total amount of grants awarded under this section   for a school year may not exceed $175 million.           (g)     In awarding grants under this section, the commissioner   shall prioritize school districts experiencing the greatest   percentage reduction in funding described by Subsection (a).           (h)     The commissioner may not adjust the amount of a grant   awarded under this section based on data revisions received after   the grant has been awarded.           (i)     A determination by the commissioner under this section   is final and may not be appealed.           (j)  This section expires September 1, 2027.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.