IL HB4126

Amends the Invest in Kids Act to establish priority scholarship distribution beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, with first priority given to students who received scholarships in the previous school year.

Establishes secondary priority groups for scholarships: students from households with income at or below 185% of federal poverty level, students in focus districts, and siblings of current scholarship recipients.

Requires scholarship granting organizations to begin accepting applications by February 1 and process priority group applications on a first-come, first-served basis through April 1, after which all eligible students may apply regardless of priority status.

Removes requirement that scholarship organizations carry forward up to 25% of contributions to the following year; for the 2022-2023 school year, all qualified contributions must be expended within the calendar year received.

Allows qualified schools to set lower maximum scholarship amounts for lower-income students while maintaining scholarship caps based on public school average operational expenses or actual school costs, whichever is less.