AL
Alabama House Bill HB129

Alabama 2024 Regular Session

Alabama House Bill HB129

Introduced
2/7/24  
Introduced
2/7/24  
Report Pass
2/22/24  
Refer
2/7/24  
Engrossed
2/28/24  
Report Pass
2/22/24  
Engrossed
2/28/24  
Report Pass
3/5/24  
Refer
2/28/24  
Enrolled
3/6/24  
Report Pass
3/5/24  
Passed
3/8/24  
Enrolled
3/6/24  
Passed
3/8/24  

Caption

Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students’ Education (CHOOSE) Act of 2024, established to provide education savings accounts (ESAs) for parents of children to use in providing education services for those children.

Impact

If enacted, HB 129 would significantly alter the landscape of educational funding within the state. The introduction of ESAs represents a shift towards greater parental control over education funding, allowing for funds that would traditionally be allocated to public schools to be redirected towards private educational institutions or supplementary educational services. This move has the potential to increase competition in the educational sector, causing public schools to adapt in response to the influx of private schooling options available to families.

Summary

House Bill 129, known as the CHOOSE Act of 2024, aims to create Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) for parents of school-aged children. This legislation enables parents to utilize these accounts to fund various educational services, which may include costs associated with private schooling, tutoring, and other educational resources. The bill is intended to provide families with more options regarding their children's education, promoting the idea that parents should have the autonomy to choose how best to educate their children.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 129 appears to be quite polarized. Proponents, including many conservative legislators and educational reform advocates, are celebrating the bill as a victory for parental choice and educational freedom. They believe it empowers parents to tailor educational experiences to the unique needs of their children. Conversely, opponents argue that the bill poses a risk to public education funding and could exacerbate inequalities within the education system, particularly impacting low-income families who may lack the means to navigate a private schooling system.

Contention

Notable points of contention regarding HB 129 revolve around its implications for public school funding. Critics assert that the establishment of ESAs could siphon vital resources away from public schools, leading to diminished educational opportunities for students who remain in the public sector. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the lack of accountability measures in place to ensure that private educational institutions maintain certain standards. The debates surrounding HB 129 exemplify the broader national discourse on school choice and educational equity.

Latest HB129 Activity

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

AL SB61

Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students’ Education (CHOOSE) Act of 2024, established to provide education savings accounts (ESAs) for parents of children to use in providing education services for those children.

AL HB88

True School Choice for Alabama Act, established to provide education savings accounts (ESAs) for parents of children to use in providing education services for those children.

AL SB313

Creates the Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship Program to provide educational savings accounts for parental choice in K-12 education. (gov sig) (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

AL HB295

Relating to education; to establish the Parental Rights in Children's Education (PRICE) Act relating to K-12 education; to secure the fundamental constitutional rights of parents to direct the education of their children; to create the PRICE Program; to establish a three-year phase-in period; to provide definitions; to establish the roles and responsibilities of the Parent Advisory Board, the Commissioner of Revenue, and the Department of Revenue; to create a process for granting education savings accounts; to establish funding mechanisms for the costs of education savings accounts and the administration of the program; to specify qualified expenses; to create requirements for education service providers; to establish an auditing, denial, and appeal mechanism for expenses, parents, participating students, and education service providers; to provide safeguards against any additional state control over or interference with nonpublic schools, their students, and their families; and to provide for legal remedies.

AL SB202

Relating to education; to establish the Parental Rights in Children's Education (PRICE) Act relating to K-12 education; to secure the fundamental constitutional rights of parents to direct the education of their children; to create the PRICE Program; to establish a three-year phase-in period; to provide definitions; to establish the roles and responsibilities of the Parent Advisory Board, the Commissioner of Revenue, and the Department of Revenue; to create a process for granting education savings accounts; to establish funding mechanisms for the costs of education savings accounts and the administration of the program; to specify qualified expenses; to create requirements for education service providers; to establish an auditing, denial, and appeal mechanism for expenses, parents, participating students, and education service providers; to provide safeguards against any additional state control over or interference with nonpublic schools, their students, and their families; and to provide for legal remedies.

AL HB9462

Educational Choice for Children Act of 2024

AL SF1007

Education Savings Accounts for Minnesota Students Act (ESA-4-MSA) establishment provision

AL SF1974

Education Savings Accounts for Minnesota Students Act (ESA-4-MSA) establishment provision

AL SF4323

Education Savings Accounts for Minnesota Students (ESA-4-MSA) establishment

AL HB833

Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025

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