The bill amends the Arkansas Children's Educational Freedom Account Program by broadening the definition of "qualifying expenses" to include costs related to co-curricular courses in fine arts, music, and STEM fields, as well as transportation and extracurricular activities, with specified limits on fund allocation for these expenses. It also introduces new definitions such as "course," "completed student application," and "school year" to enhance clarity within the program. Additionally, the bill modifies the fund disbursement process to allow for more flexible payment methods and establishes a timeline for application submissions, while outlining conditions for maintaining or closing a student's account, including appeal provisions for account closures due to expulsion or ineligibility.

Moreover, the bill expands student eligibility starting in the 2024-2025 school year to include students from public schools rated D or F, as well as children of veterans, active-duty military, first responders, and law enforcement officers. From the 2025-2026 school year onward, any resident eligible to enroll in a public school will be able to participate without limitations. A new prioritization schedule for account applications is also introduced, focusing on categories such as previous participants and students with disabilities. The responsibilities of the Department of Education and the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education are updated to provide clearer guidelines for the eligibility of private schools and service providers, including conditions for payment disqualification. The bill includes a severability clause and an emergency clause for immediate implementation upon the Governor's approval.

Statutes affected:
Old version SB625 V2 - 4-9-2025 09:06 PM: 6-18-2503(11), 6-18-2503, 6-18-2505(b), 6-18-2505, 6-18-2506, 6-18-202, 6-41-901, 6-20-2305, 04-09-2025, 6-18-2505(f), 6-15-2105, 6-15-2106, 6-15-2913, 6-15-2915, 6-18-2301, 6-18-201, 6-18-2507(a), 6-18-2507(e)
Old version SB625 V3 - 4-15-2025 09:22 AM: 6-18-2503(11), 6-18-2503, 6-18-2505(b), 6-18-2505, 6-18-2506, 6-18-202, 04-15-2025, 6-41-901, 6-20-2305, 6-18-2505(f), 6-15-2105, 6-15-2106, 6-15-2913, 6-15-2915, 6-18-2301, 6-18-201, 6-18-2507(a), 6-18-2507(e)
Old version SB625 Original - 4-3-2025 05:38 PM: 6-18-2503(11), 6-18-2503, 6-18-2505(b), 6-18-2505, 6-18-2506, 6-18-202, 6-41-901, 6-20-2305, 6-18-2505(f), 6-15-2105, 6-15-2106, 6-15-2913, 6-15-2915, 6-18-2301, 6-18-201, 6-18-2507(a), 6-18-2507(e)
SB 625: 6-18-2503(11), 6-18-2503, 6-18-2505(b), 6-18-2505, 6-18-2506, 6-18-202, 6-41-901, 6-20-2305, 6-18-2505(f), 6-15-2105, 6-15-2106, 6-15-2913, 6-15-2915, 6-18-2301, 6-18-201, 6-18-2507(a), 6-18-2507(e)
Act 920: 6-18-2503(11), 6-18-2503, 6-18-2505(b), 6-18-2505, 6-18-2506, 6-18-202, 04-15-2025, 6-41-901, 6-20-2305, 6-18-2505(f), 6-15-2105, 6-15-2106, 6-15-2913, 6-15-2915, 6-18-2301, 6-18-201, 6-18-2507(a), 6-18-2507(e)