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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the formation of a public education scholarship |
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program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 29.202. |
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SUBCHAPTER G. PUBLIC EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
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Sec. 29.202. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Eligible child" or "child eligible to receive a |
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public education scholarship" means a child who |
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(A) is eligible to attend school under Section |
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25.001, |
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(B) meets the requirements in 29.202 of the |
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Education Code, |
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(C) was enrolled in a public school in the |
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preceding year or is enrolling in prekindergarten, kindergarten, or |
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first grade for the first time in 2025. |
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(2) A school district shall annually notify the |
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parent, guardian, or custodian of each eligible child of the |
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child's eligibility for scholarship as provided by this subchapter |
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no later than 30 days before the beginning of the school year. |
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Sec. 29.203. FINANCING. (a) A child's public education |
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scholarship is equal to the amount of maintenance and operations |
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property tax paid for the child's primary residence to the |
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corresponding public school district or the full amount of the |
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basic allotment, whichever is less. In the event there is more than |
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one eligible child residing at the residence, the amount of the |
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scholarship for each child shall be a pro-rata share of the total |
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amount. A scholarship for one child cannot be used for another |
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child in the same home. |
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(b) In the event the child lives in a single-family home or a |
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multi-family dwelling owned by an unaffiliated entity and the |
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parent or guardian rents, the child is eligible for the amount of |
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maintenance and operations property tax paid that corresponds to |
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the pro-rata share of the dwelling rented. |
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(c) A child's public education scholarship is the |
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entitlement of the child, under the supervision of the child's |
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parent, guardian, or custodian, and is not an entitlement of any |
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school of any kind. |
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(d) In order to receive the amount of the scholarship, a |
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parent must present proof of enrollment at an educational |
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institution, other than the public school to which the student is |
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zoned, to the county tax office. This proof must be renewed |
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annually on or before January 1 of each year. |
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(e) The parent shall be issued a property tax refund via an |
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electronic payment or paper check in the amount of the scholarship |
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within 30 days of presenting the proof to the county tax office. |
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(f) Upon graduation or withdrawal of the eligible student, |
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the parent will no longer be allowed to receive the property tax |
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refund allowed under this section. |
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(g) If a child enrolls in a public school after receiving a |
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scholarship under this section, the parent shall pay a pro-rata |
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share of the scholarship back to the county that issued the refund |
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initially. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |