House Bill No. 494 amends the Education Code to expand the eligibility criteria for children to enroll in free prekindergarten programs in public schools. The bill introduces a new category of eligibility, allowing children who are the children of full-time school district employees to enroll in these programs. Additionally, it modifies existing provisions to clarify that children who qualify under certain conditions related to military service or employment with the school district maintain their eligibility even if their parent leaves the armed forces or is no longer employed by the school district.

The bill also makes specific deletions to streamline the language regarding eligibility, removing references to certain conditions while retaining others. The changes are set to take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year, and the bill will become effective immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote in both houses; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 29.153 (Education Code 29)