A bill for an act modifying provisions related to eligibility for payments under the education savings account program, and including effective date provisions.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ken Croken and 2 co-sponsors

HF 187 removes household income limits for education savings accounts, expanding financial aid for families with children in nonpublic schools starting July 2025.

Introduced, referred to Education.

#privateeducation #privateeducationstudentaccounts

Bill Information

Bill Number: HF 187

Title: A bill for an act modifying provisions related to eligibility for payments under the education savings account program, and including effective date provisions.

Status: Introduced, referred to Education.

Introduced Date: January 30, 2025

Classification: Bill

Subject: Private education, private education student accounts

Purpose and Intent

The primary purpose of HF 187 is to modify the eligibility requirements for the education savings account program. This program allows families to receive financial assistance for educational expenses related to nonpublic schooling. The bill aims to broaden access to these funds by changing the criteria based on household income.

Key Provisions

Removal of Household Income Requirement:

The bill proposes to eliminate the existing eligibility requirement that ties access to education savings account payments to the household income of the pupil.
This change would apply to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2025.

Eligibility for Nonpublic School Students:

All resident pupils eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12 who attend a nonpublic school will be eligible to receive education savings account payments for the applicable school budget year.

Transition Period:

The bill specifies that the household income eligibility requirement will still apply to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2024, allowing for a transitional phase before the new provisions take effect.

Impact

Who Will Be Affected:

The bill will primarily affect families with children enrolled in nonpublic schools, as it expands their eligibility for financial assistance through education savings accounts.
It may also impact nonpublic schools by potentially increasing enrollment as more families may choose to utilize the education savings account funds.

Financial Implications:

By removing the income requirement, the bill could lead to an increase in the number of families accessing education savings accounts, which may result in higher overall expenditures from the state budget for education.

Procedural Aspects

The bill was introduced on January 30, 2025, and has been referred to the Education committee for further consideration. The effective date of the changes will be upon enactment, with specific provisions regarding the transition period for income eligibility.

This summary provides an overview of HF 187, highlighting its intent, key changes, and potential impacts on families and nonpublic education institutions.

Bill