Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Education tax-credit bill stalls in committee after divided vote
Summary
The committee considered House Bill 922 to create a $250 per-child nonrefundable tax credit for families with children in nonpublic schools and to increase the public-school innovative education tax-credit cap; members cited fiscal concerns and the bill failed a roll-call in committee (4–11).
Representative Ranon Gregg presented House Bill 922 as a modest, nonrefundable $250-per-child tax credit for families choosing nonpublic schools, paired with a carryforward provision and an indexed increase in the innovative education tax-credit aggregate limit to preserve parity for public schools.
Lance Melton, speaking for the Coalition of Advocates for Montana's Public Schools, described that the bill includes a corresponding increase in the innovative education tax-credit aggregate limit so public schools would receive an offsetting benefit; the coalition suggested the aggregate limits should be balanced if new nonpublic credits are allowed. Department of Revenue staff explained the credit is nonrefundable and reported on reporting/administration processes.
Several committee members raised fiscal concerns and equity questions; Representative Gregg acknowledged the limits but emphasized the nonrefundable design. On the roll-call vote the committee recorded 4 for and 11 against, and the bill was effectively tabled from further action in this committee.
