Senator Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids) introduced legislation Tuesday that would help Minnesota families cover the costs of their children’s education expenses. The bill, S.F. 560, would alter the eligibility requirements for the K-12 Education Tax Credit restoring eligibility to families the program was intended to serve.

“I’m proud to be caring this legislation that has broad support from families and communities across the state,” Said Senator Eichorn. “For more than two decades the Education Tax Credit has been income capped at levels that have cut many needy families out. That was not the intent of the legislation, so with this reform, we are restoring that eligibility and giving families the opportunity to pursue education outlets for their kids that might otherwise have been unattainable.”

Under the current law, the household income limit to claim the maximum credit of $1,000 per child is $33,500 regardless of household size. That limit was established back in 1997 and has not been updated since that time.

Senator Eichorn’s legislation would benchmark the household income limit to eligibility for free and reduced lunch. The benchmark would essentially make families the state had already determined in need of assistance eligible for the credit when paying for afterschool programs.

As is, the Education Tax Credit already has statewide in scope and reach. In the most recent year when public data was available it was claimed in all 87 counties, with 44% of the amount claimed coming from communities outside the seven-county metro area, demonstrating the support that Senator Eichorn’s legislation will provide to families in all types of communities across the state.