The Oklahoma House advanced legislation to expand the state’s Parental Choice Tax Credit program.
House Bill 3705 increases the annual cap on the program from $250 million to $275 million. The measure passed the House 70-19 and now moves to the Senate.
House Speaker Kyle Hilbert said the bill is about giving families more control over education decisions.
“The government shouldn’t tell other parents what is the best school for their children,” Hilbert said. “This legislation simply allows parents to take some of their tax dollars to a school of their choice.”
The tax credit, created in 2023, provides up to $7,500 per student for private school tuition based on income, along with a $1,000 credit for homeschooling expenses.
House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson criticized the expansion, arguing it shifts public funding away from public schools.
“We are effectively appropriating $275M in public tax dollars toward private schools while our public schools lack critical investments and remain the lowest ranked in the nation,” Munson said.
The bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
