This bill proposes significant changes to the eligibility criteria for education freedom accounts (EFAs) by repealing the existing priority guidelines and the enrollment cap. Specifically, it amends RSA 194-F:3, I to allow the scholarship organization to accept and approve applications for EFAs on a rolling basis without the constraints of an enrollment cap or priority guidelines. The bill also includes new language that mandates the scholarship organization to establish procedures for expeditious application approval, ensuring a more streamlined process for parents seeking to enroll their children in EFAs.

Additionally, the bill repeals several sections of current law, including definitions related to priority guidelines and enrollment caps, as well as provisions for enrollment prioritization. The specific deletions include RSA 194-F:1, XIII and XIV, and RSA 194-F:1-b, among others. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, although the fiscal impact of these changes is still pending as the Office of Legislative Budget Assistant awaits further information from the Department of Education.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 194-F:3
SB581 text: 194-F:3