MADISON – A bill authored by Representative Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek) and Senator Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk) passed the State Senate today.
Assembly Bill 602 (AB 602) would opt Wisconsin-based scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) into the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC) program. The FSTC creates a non-refundable federal income tax credit for donations made to SGOs, which are nonprofit organizations that award scholarships to students in any educational setting.
“If the Evers Administration chooses against opting Wisconsin in, our taxpayers could still donate to qualifying SGOs in other states to claim the federal tax credit – but not a single Wisconsin student would benefit from that,” claimed Rodriguez.
“This is a chance for Wisconsin donors to support Wisconsin students,” continued Rodriguez. “This opportunity will bring more resources to our kids, whether they go to a public, private, or charter school, or are homeschooled. Scholarships could be established for really creative purposes, like supporting underprivileged eighth graders for their class field trip to Washington, D.C.”
While support for this program is not unanimous, it certainly is bipartisan. Colorado Governor Jared Polis and North Carolina Governor Josh Stein (both Democrats) have stated their intentions to opt their respective states into the federal program. Colorado Governor Polis even said he “would be crazy not to” opt-in.
Having already passed in the State Assembly, AB 602 now heads to Governor Tony Evers’ desk for his consideration. “We urge Governor Evers to reconsider his opposition to this bill and opt Wisconsin into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit so that Wisconsin’s kids aren’t left behind in this federal opportunity,” concluded Rep. Rodriguez.
