BRIEF: School Choice in the States, November 2017

LEGISLATION AND LITIGATION

Florida

Florida’s House Education Subcommittee voted 9–5 in favor of HB 1, a bill that would create HOPE Scholarships for students who have been the victims of bullying or abuse. This would become Florida’s second tax-credit scholarship program.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s House Education Committee voted 10–9 to recommend that the legislature enact SB 193, a bill that would create an education savings account program for a variety of students in need. The full New Hampshire House will consider the legislation in January.

Ohio

Ohio legislators are considering HB 200, which would consolidate the state’s three voucher programs into a single Opportunity Scholarship program that would offer up to $5,000 to K–8 students and up to $7,500 to high school students.

Pennsylvania

After Pennsylvania’s legislature enacted a $10 million increase to the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, Gov. Tom Wolf decided to allow the bill (HB 178) to become law without his signature. The program now offers $85 million in tax credits in return for charitable contributions to scholarship-granting organizations.