The House E-12 Policy Committee approved two bills last week that would both increase the individual E-12 education tax deductions and credits. The bills now will go before the tax committee.
CREDIT PER STUDENT
HF387, sponsored by Rep. Jim Knoblach (R-St. Cloud), would increase the maximum E-12 education tax deduction by $925 to $2,600 for each child in grades K-6, and by $500 to $3,000 for each in grades 7-12.
It would also raise the E-12 education tax credit by $500 to $1,500 per child and increase the family income level at which the credit will phase out from $33,500 to $47,500. All thresholds would be annually adjusted for inflation.
The credits are currently not available for use toward non-public education tuition. That would change under the proposal effective in tax year 2017.
CREDITS FOR EXPENSES
HF255, sponsored by Rep. Sarah Anderson (R-Plymouth), would change the threshold of tax credits for education-expenses for grades E-12 from $1,000 per child with a family income greater than $35,000, to $1,500 per child with a family income greater than $50,000.
It would also make the income threshold for the credits adjusted for inflation beginning in tax year 2018. The maximum possible credit would be reduced to $1 for each $4 over the income threshold. It was approved on a 16-0 roll-call vote.
MORE CREDITS & COMMENTS
The House and Senate education committees held hearings on tax credit bills that would give parents incentives to send their students to private schools. HF386/SF256 would create up to $35 million in scholarships for low-income students to attend non-public schools. Learn more bout these tax credits.
Supporters of these bills say these give families a choice. “We need to support parents and kids, and that has many different forms,” Rep. Barb Haley (R-Red Wing) said. “I don’t see it as any way denigrating our public school systems.”
