Legislative Agenda

We are well into this General Assembly, one that has been fraught with budget challenges and fast moving legislation.  There are three main pieces of legislation that we are currently watching very closely.  You may have noticed earlier in the week that a legislative alert was posted in regard to the expansion of textbook funding to include the purchase of technology (in this case laptop computers) for non-public schools.  We do support this legislation.

Additionally, there is legislation that would require a "means" test for families who wish to claim the $250 Tuition Tax Credit.  This legislation currently allows any family that pays tuition to claim a 25% tax credit on the first $1,000 of tuition that is paid.  The change would allow this credit to only be claimed by families who make less than $40,000 annually.  We oppose any changes to this law.  Keep watching for a legislative alert on this item.

Finally, and probably most important, their may be a proposed change in the STO law.  The current tax credit is for $7.5 Million and is a tax credit of 65% on all contributions (and of course is deductible on your Federal Income Taxes).  The Governor's Task Force that was created to review all tax credit programs after the movie credit scandal recommended that the STO credit be reduced to $5 Million and the credit be reduced to 40%.  Our sources tell us that any change to the tax credit will effectively kill the program.  We strongly oppose any changes to this legislation.

Please pay close attention to legislative alerts and if one is sent out, I strongly encourage you to respond by sending a message to our local legislators.  It does make a tremendous difference.  A few years ago, we were able to stop legislation that would have had a negative impact on busing to non-public schools.