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H.R. 817In committee

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against tax for charitable donations to nonprofit organizations providing education scholarships to qualified elementary and secondary students.

Introduced: Jan 28, 2025

Latest action date: Jan 28, 2025

Latest development

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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Congress
119th Congress
Introduced
Jan 28, 2025
Recorded roll calls
0

Status detail: The most advanced recorded stage is committee consideration.

Plain-language overview

What this bill does

Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025

This bill establishes a nonrefundable tax credit for contributions (cash or stock) made by an individual to a tax-exempt organization that provides scholarships for qualified elementary and secondary school expenses to eligible students (scholarship granting organization), subject to limitations.

Under the bill, the tax credit is limited to the greater of $5,000 or 10% of adjusted gross income.

Further, the bill establishes a $5 billion annual volume cap (for 2025-2028) for the tax credit (which may be increased under certain circumstances). The volume cap is allocated by the Department of the Treasury for the tax credit on a first-come, first-serve basis (based on the contribution date). However, under the bill, 10% of the volume cap must be divided evenly among states for allocation to individuals residing in those states.

The bill allows any portion of the tax credit that exceeds the individual’s tax liability (less certain other tax credits) to be carried forward for up to five tax years.

The bill also

  • establishes specific requirements for a scholarship granting organization,
  • requires a scholarship granting organization to distribute all contributions within a specific timeframe (exceptions apply), and
  • excludes from gross income scholarships received by an individual from a scholarship granting organization.

Finally, the bill prohibits federal, state, and local government entities, officers, and employees from imposing requirements that prevent the use of scholarship funds for private or religious elementary or secondary education expenses or discouraging the use of scholarship funds at such education institutions.

Civixly topics

What this legislation is about

Civixly topics make federal and state legislation comparable. They are derived from the official CRS policy area and legislative subjects.

Official CRS policy area

Taxation

Committee activity

Committees and subcommittees that received, reviewed, marked up, or reported this legislation.

Amendments

Proposed changes to this measure, with their latest official outcome or action from Congress.gov.

No amendments are listed for this measure.

Checked against Congress.gov Sep 13, 2026.

Action timeline

Newest action first. Action language comes from the official Congress.gov record.

View full action timeline3 actions
  1. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    IntroReferralHouse floor actions
  2. Introduced in House

    IntroReferralLibrary of Congress
  3. Introduced in House

    IntroReferralLibrary of Congress

Roll-call votes

Recorded House and Senate votes connected to this bill. Your representatives appear first when available.

No connected roll-call votes are currently available for this bill.

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Sources: Congress.gov and official House and Senate vote records.

View data freshness details

Base metadata check pending · Summary check pending · Action timeline checked Sep 13, 2026 · Complete sponsorship check pending · Topics checked Sep 13, 2026 · Committees checked Sep 13, 2026 · Status checked Sep 13, 2026 · Related bills checked Sep 13, 2026.