Senate Bill 1144 Summary

• Establishes an empowering parents grant program providing $1,000 micro grants for eligible education expenses (technology, textbooks, therapies, transportation, assessments) to kindergarten through grade 12 students, prioritized by household income with caps of $3,000 per family.

• Creates a tuition grant program providing $6,000 annual awards for nonpublic school academic instruction or certified teacher retention, limited to 2,000 eligible students per year and prioritized by lowest household income levels.

• Prohibits students receiving tuition grants from receiving other grants in the same year; students with incomes under $60,000 receive priority for micro grants, followed by those under $75,000, then first-come basis for remaining students.

• Establishes a seven-member parent advisory panel appointed by the governor, senate president pro tempore, and house speaker to recommend improvements to the program and define eligible education expenses.

• Requires annual reporting to the legislature on appropriations, applicants, grants awarded, and fund usage; mandates third-party program evaluation by June 30, 2029, then every two years thereafter; effective dates July 1, 2023 (initial provisions) and July 1, 2029 (replacement provisions).