A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The School Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (SIFIA Act) proposes amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a new tax credit for school infrastructure bonds. These bonds are intended to fund the design, construction, expansion, renovation, furnishing, or equipping of qualified school facilities. To qualify, the project must involve a private, for-profit entity entering into an agreement with a State or local educational agency to build and operate the facilities before transferring them to the agency. Additionally, the buildings must be reasonably expected to be net-zero energy buildings. The bill establishes specific limitations on the total amount of bonds and annual issuance limits.
Yes· 3 of 18
- Scored +7
Does this put more money into public schools?
The bill provides new financing mechanisms for school infrastructure and facility improvements.
- Scored +6
Would students be better off under this?
The bill funds the modernization and expansion of school facilities for students.
- Scored +6
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill designates a $1 billion set-aside specifically for rural areas.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support for School Infrastructure: The bill allows for the financing of design, construction, expansion, renovation, furnishing, or equipping of qualified school facilities (Section 2(e)(1)(A)).
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Energy Efficiency Goals: The bill incentivizes the creation of buildings that are reasonably expected to be net-sero energy buildings (Section 2(e)(1)(B)).
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Benefits for Rural Areas: A specific $1,000,000,000 set-aside is designated for projects located in rural areas (Section 2(e)(3)(C)(i)).
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Support for Small and Diverse Businesses: The Secretary is directed to give preference in allocations to projects where the private developer is a "preferred concern," which includes small business concerns, minority-owned concerns, or woman-owned concerns (Section 2(e)(3)(D) and Section 2(e)(7)).
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Tax Credits for Investors: Taxpayers holding SIFIA bonds are allowed a tax credit against the tax imposed by the chapter (Section 2(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Requirements for Private Entities: Private, for-profit entities must meet specific experience requirements, such as having experience developing, owning, and operating public schools that are net-zero buildings (Section 2(e)(5)(A)).
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Strict Expenditure Deadations: Issuers must reasonably expect to spend 100 percent of the available project proceeds within a 6-year period; failure to do so requires the redemption of nonqualified bonds (Section 2(e)(2)).
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Limitations on Funding for Nonprofits: There is a cap of $500,000,000 in aggregate face amount for school facilities operated by a nonprofit organization under a charter or other agreement (Section 2(e)(4)(B)).
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Strict Allocation Limits for School Districts: No single school district can be allocated more than $1,500,000,000 in aggregate face amount of SIFIA bonds (Section 2(e)(4)(A)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill designates a $1 billion set-aside specifically for rural areas. Would students be better off under this? — The bill funds the modernization and expansion of school facilities for students. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides opportunities for private, for-profit entities to engage in school infrastructure projects. Would children be better off under this? — Improved school facilities directly benefit children in the educational system. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill's preference for minority-owned concerns provides potential benefit to African American business owners. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — The bill's preference for minority-owned concerns provides potential benefit to Asian American business owners. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill's preference for minority-owned concerns provides potential benefit to Hispanic American business owners. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill's preference for minority-owned concerns provides potential benefit to Native American business owners. Would women be better off under this? — The bill's preference for woman-owned concerns provides potential benefit to women entrepreneurs. Would high-income households be better off under this? — The bill provides tax credits which can benefit investors in SIFIA bonds. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Improved public school facilities can benefit low-income communities serving public schools.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill includes a $1 billion set-aside specifically for projects in rural areas. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — The bill incentivizes net-zero energy buildings for school facilities. Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — The bill promotes net-zero energy construction through tax credits.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — The bill provides preference to woman-owned concerns in project allocations. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill provides preference to minority-owned concerns in project allocations.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into public schools? — The bill provides new financing mechanisms for school infrastructure and facility improvements.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill gives preference to small business concerns in the allocation of bond issuances.
- 3/27/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Terri SewellDemocrat · Alabama