This bill amends several sections of the Idaho Code related to the Empowering Parents Grant Program, which provides education grants for eligible students. Key changes include the definition of "eligible education expenses," which now explicitly includes tuition and fees for participating prekindergarten providers and schools until July 1, 2030, as well as a cap on grant awards increased from $1,000 to $5,000 per student, with a household cap of $15,000. The bill also introduces new definitions for "participating prekindergarten" and "participating school," outlining specific criteria these institutions must meet to qualify for the program.

Additionally, the bill establishes a parent advisory panel to provide recommendations on the program's implementation and improvement, and it modifies the funding structure of the Empowering Parents Grant Program Fund to ensure it does not exceed $50 million in a given tax year. The provisions of the act are declared severable, and it is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 33-1030, 33-1031, 33-1032, 33-1034, 33-1401, 33-1402, 33-1409
Engrossment 1: 33-1030, 33-1031, 33-1032, 33-1034