Please sign up for legislative news and alerts on our NEWSLETTER page.
2019 Session is Underway –
A bill establishing Education Savings Grants (ESGs) (SF372) for all Iowa students was introduced by Senator Jerry Behn and was passed out of the Senate Education Subcommittee on Thursday, February 28. The bill was heard in the Senate Education Committee on March 6 and was amended to be a special needs ESA. The bill was passed by the committee and is now eligible to be considered by the full Senate some time this session. The new bill number is SF547.
2018 Session Wrap Up –
The Iowa Legislature passed a $1 million increase in the School Tuition Organization Tax Credit cap (from $12 million to $13 million) as well as an expansion in eligibility to include families with income at 400% poverty level or below (currently set at 300%). The changes will go into effect for tax year 2019. (Beginning January 1, 2019).
The Iowa Legislature also passed a provision coupling state law on 529 savings plans to the recent Federal tax law changes allowing parents to pay nonpublic K-12 tuition with 529 funds. This change takes effect immediately. The details and rules have not yet been released yet, but Iowa ACE is staying in close communication with the Iowa State Treasurer’s office, who administers this program, as we know it’s an important issue for parents.
Other School Choice Bills Introduced during the 2018 Session:
SSB 3206 -Introduced on March 21 and passed through Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on March 22, awaiting consideration by whole Senate Appropriations Committee. Bill creates an Education Savings Grant program for Kindergarteners and transfer students, similar to HSB 651, but the amount of the grant is 60% of state per-pupil expenditure amount. This bill was not taken up by the full Senate Education Committee.
HSB 651 – Created an Education Savings Grant program for Kindergarteners and transfer students who had spent at least two semesters in a public school. The bill made it out of the House Education Subcommittee but failed to make it to a full Education Committee vote before the “funnel deadline” of February 16.
Please go to our Newsletter page to read the latest news and to sign up for those and action alerts.