Finance Committee advances expansion of Education Freedom Accounts after heated debate, 14-11

The Finance Committee voted 14 to 11 to advance Senate Bill 295 as amended, a measure that alters enrollment rules for Education Freedom Accounts and creates a rolling cap mechanism for growth.

The committee considered a replace-all amendment (No. 2271) that the sponsor said clarifies the bill’s mechanics. Under the amended bill, the EFA program would cap total enrollment at 10,000 students for the 2025–26 school year and allow the cap to increase by 25% in a subsequent year only if prior-year enrollment exceeded 90% of that year’s cap. The amendment also stipulates that current EFA students, siblings of current students, students with disabilities and students from households at or below 350% of the federal poverty guideline would be exempt from the cap and always eligible for enrollment.

Supporters argued the amendment…