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HB 1761

Appropriation; Legislative expenses.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Manly Barton and 8 co-sponsors

HB 1761 would limit EFA grants by family income starting 2025–26, with full eligibility under 250% FPL and stepped awards up to 25–50% for higher incomes.

Died In Conference
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Bill Summary · HB 1761

Summary — HB 1761 (2025)

IMPORTANT NOTE: The available document appears to combine text from multiple states and different bills (including Arkansas, Illinois, and Mississippi drafts/amendments). This summary focuses on the Arkansas substance that is clearly identified in the bill title and the fiscal impact statement: changes to the Arkansas Children's Educational Freedom Account (EFA) Program. Where other state or unrelated appropriation language appears in the record, this is noted below.

Purpose

To introduce income-based eligibility limits and tiered award amounts for students participating in the Arkansas Children's Educational Freedom Account (EFA) Program beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, with the stated intent of “increasing fiscal responsibility.”

Key provisions (Arkansas text)

  • Amends Arkansas Code § 6-18-2506 to add income-based eligibility and award tiers for EFAs effective for the 2025–2026 school year and thereafter.
  • Retains several existing categorical eligibilities (as shown in amended subsections), including:
    • Children of active-duty uniformed service personnel.
    • Students coming from schools/districts rated “F” or students identified as in need of Level 5 — Intensive support.
    • Students enrolling in kindergarten for the first time (appears in the text).
  • New income-based eligibility and award amounts:
    • Families with gross income at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL): presumptively full eligibility (text indicates primary eligibility category).
    • Families with income >250% FPL but ≤350% FPL: EFA award limited to 50% of the prior year’s statewide foundation funding per student under § 6-20-2305.
    • Families with income >350% FPL but ≤400% FPL: EFA award limited to 25% of the prior year’s statewide foundation funding per student under § 6-20-2305.
  • Continuing participants from the 2024–2025 school year are explicitly preserved as eligible.
  • Some draft text also contains a line stating “Beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, there shall be no limitation on student participation,” which conflicts with the income-limit provisions; the bill text as provided appears internally inconsistent in places.

Who would be affected

  • Primary: Arkansas students and families applying to the Arkansas Children's EFA Program beginning in 2025–2026.
  • Secondary: The Arkansas Department of Education (administration of eligibility and payment adjustments) and public school funding flows insofar as EFA payments are tied to statewide foundation funding.

Fiscal impact

  • Fiscal Impact Statement (Arkansas Dept. of Education, dated 3/17/25) reports “No Fiscal Impact,” noting the division has $187,487,318 available for Education Freedom Accounts and that the same dollar amount would be available regardless of eligibility changes.

Procedural status and timeline

  • Introduced: January 7, 2025 (sponsor: Rep. D. Garner).
  • Amended in committee and subject to multiple legislative actions (see record).
  • Companion/related: SB 293 listed as a companion.
  • Final status (per provided actions): Died In Conference (March 29, 2025). Other entries indicate the bill also “Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment” (May 5, 2025), reflecting mixed/overlapping records from multiple jurisdictions.

Notes / Caveats

  • The provided packet includes text and amendment language from other bills and states (Illinois and Mississippi appropriation drafts and amendment reports). These are not part of the Arkansas EFA policy change and appear to have been conflated in the source materials.
  • The bill text contains some inconsistent or stricken/inserted language; implementation details (e.g., how awards are calculated administratively, verification of family income, treatment of siblings, cap on total program participation) are not specified in the excerpt provided and would need to be confirmed in the final enrolled bill or agency rules.

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

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