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House floor rejects broad education voucher bill after extensive debate
Summary
After hours of floor debate, the House declined to approve House Bill 148, a proposal to fund K–12 tuition vouchers up to $3,000 (scaled by income) using general fund dollars; supporters framed the bill as expanding choice for families, while opponents raised concerns about accountability, constitutional issues and long-term fiscal costs.
Representative Steven Urquhart presented House Bill 148, a proposal to provide K–12 tuition assistance for qualifying families, with vouchers scaling from up to $3,000 for those who fully qualify for free and reduced-price lunch down to $500 at the top of the scale. He described the program as financed from the general fund, neutral in application, and designed to meet federal and state constitutional standards by establishing neutral eligibility criteria for participating private schools.
The floor then engaged in an extended debate with many speakers taking positions for or against the bill. Supporters argued the bill offered parents…
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