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Committee weighs whether Vermont should opt into federal scholarship tax‑credit program; experts warn of cost and accountability risks
Summary
Lawmakers heard testimony on S161, which would position Vermont to participate in the new federal Education Choice tax‑credit program; witnesses and agency counsel urged caution pending Treasury/IRS rulemaking, citing fiscal risks, potential diversion of funds from public schools and unclear federal limits on state control.
Senate Finance devoted significant time to S161, a bill that would enable Vermont to participate in the new federal scholarship tax‑credit program (created in the 2025 federal budget). Committee counsel and witnesses outlined tradeoffs between acting quickly so local scholarship‑granting organizations (SGOs) can accept donations for afterschool and summer learning in tax year 2027, and waiting for Treasury/IRS rulemaking that could limit state discretion.
Legislative counsel and Agency of Education counsel described the federal framework: donors receive a federal dollar‑for‑dollar tax credit for contributions to qualifying SGOs, which in…
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