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House rejects $500 homeschooling tax credit after extended debate
Summary
A proposal (HB77) to create a $500 nonrefundable state tax credit for families who filed homeschool waivers failed in the House amid debate over fiscal cost, precedent and whether homeschooled students use public resources.
Representative Lifferth sponsored House Bill 77 to provide a $500 nonrefundable state income-tax credit for families that have filed the homeschool waiver with the State Board of Education. Lifferth said the credit recognizes the educational contributions of homeschooling families and, even after the credit, remains a net savings to the state because homeschooled children do not generate a Weighted Pupil Unit (WPU) allocation.
Opponents including Representatives Arendt, Polson and Moss argued the measure sets a troubling precedent by diverting funds earmarked for public education and said the fiscal note (as originally drafted) estimated a multi‑million-dollar cost; Lifferth responded that amendments narrowed the scope to $500 per family (not per student) and that the sponsor expected an updated fiscal note to show a reduced cost.
Other members said homeschoolers already benefit from state resources (online courses, extracurricular activities) and that exemptions exist elsewhere in state tax policy. After the previous-question motion curtailed further debate and the sponsor's summation, the House recorded 32 yes votes and 37 no votes, and HB77 failed on the floor.
