The father of a tuition tax credit program wants to nearly double the state money available for it.

Rep. Earl Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs, has introduced House Bill 759, which would increase the pool available for tax credits to $100 million, from $58 million.

The tax-credit program was started in 2008. Taxpayers can qualify for the credit through donations to student scholarship organizations that help public school students afford the switch to private school.

Not everyone is as enamored with the program. Last year, Gov. Nathan Deal supported Senate Bill 243, which capped the fund at $50 million and required scholarship recipients to attend a public school for at least six weeks before they can transfer to a private school and be eligible for a scholarship through the tax-credit program. Critics of the program say it's been abused, with some students receiving scholarship aid who never attended a public school.

SB 243 passed the Senate unanimously, but never got a vote in the House.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Ja'Quon Stembridge — pictured speaking at the monthly Henry County Republican Party meeting in July — was elected over the summer as the assistant secretary of the Georgia GOP. (Jenni Girtman for the AJC)

Credit: Jenni Girtman

Featured

Austin Walters died from an overdose in 2021 after taking a Xanax pill laced with fentanyl, his father said. A new law named after Austin and aimed at preventing deaths from fentanyl has resulted in its first convictions in Georgia, prosecutors said. (Family photo)

Credit: Family photo