A Republican bill with 8 Republican cosponsors · See all 8 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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
This bill, titled the "Student Empowerment Act," seeks to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. It proposes to allow 529 account funds to be used for kindergarten through grade 12 educational expenses. The amendment expands the definition of "qualified higher education expense" to include various elementary and secondary school costs. These expenses can apply to students in public, private, religious, or homeschool settings. The changes would apply to distributions made after the act's enactment date.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +7
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The bill specifically allows 529 funds to be used for necessary educational therapies for students with disabilities.
- Scored +6
Would students be better off under this?
The bill expands funding opportunities for K-12 tuition, materials, and testing fees.
- Scored +6
Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities?
The bill expands the use of 529 funds to cover educational therapies for students with disabilities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Expanded use of 529 accounts: Families can use these accounts to pay for various K-12 costs such as tuition, curriculum, books, and online materials (Section 2(a)(A-D)).
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Support for supplemental learning: The bill allows for tuition for tutoring or educational classes outside of the home, provided the instructor meets specific qualifications (Section 2(a)(E)).
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Assistance with testing and advancement: Funds can be used for fees related to nationally standardized achievement tests, advanced placement exams, college admission exams, or dual enrollment in higher education (Section 2(a)(F-G)).
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Support for students with disabilities: The bill permits the use of funds for educational therapies, such as occupational, behavioral, physical, and speech-language therapies, when provided by a licensed or accredited practitioner (Section 2(a)(H)).
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Inclusion of homeschoolers: The proposed changes explicitly include expenses incurred in connection with a homeschool (Section 2(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- There are no specific negative impacts or burdens explicitly detailed within the provided text of the bill.
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 with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill specifically allows 529 funds to be used for necessary educational therapies for students with disabilities. Would students be better off under this? — The bill expands funding opportunities for K-12 tuition, materials, and testing fees. Would children be better off under this? — The bill provides more ways to fund essential educational and therapeutic services for children. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — It provides middle-class families more flexibility in using tax-advantaged savings for K-12 expenses. Would high-income households be better off under this? — The bill expands the utility of existing 529 investment vehicles for wealthy families. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill supports dual enrollment and testing fees which benefit students transitioning to higher education.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill expands the use of 529 funds to cover educational therapies for students with disabilities. Does this make child care cost less? — By allowing 529 funds for K-12 tuition and materials, the bill provides financial flexibility for families with children.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this cut taxes for middle-income families? — The bill allows middle-income families to use tax-advantaged 529 accounts for K-12 educational expenses.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — The bill allows dual enrollment fees to be covered by 529 accounts, potentially easing the transition to higher education costs.
- 1/20/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 8 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
5 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John CurtisRepublican · Utah
Ron JohnsonRepublican · Wisconsin
James LankfordRepublican · Oklahoma
Mike RoundsRepublican · South Dakota
Tim ScottRepublican · South Carolina
Rick ScottRepublican · Florida
Eric SchmittRepublican · Missouri
Tim SheehyRepublican · Montana