Committee rejects motion to advance scholarship/donation bill after close roll call

A bill that committee members described as creating a mechanism for donations to scholarship‑granting organizations (House File 3490) failed to advance in the House Education Finance Committee on March 24, 2026.

Republican members supporting the bill argued it would open private philanthropic support for education and expand parental choice. Democratic members and others on the committee raised concerns the proposal would funnel public benefit dollars toward nonpublic schools and that statutory definitions and oversight for scholarship‑granting organizations were not adequate.

Chair Joaquin urged caution about the design and oversight of scholarship‑granting organizations; Bennett and other members debated whether the program would disproportionately benefit nonpublic schools. After a roll‑call request, the committee’s recorded votes produced a tie that left the motion short of the number needed to carry. The chair announced the motion did not prevail and laid the bill over for further consideration.

What’s next: The bill was laid over; committee members flagged the governor’s public comments and fiscal considerations as reasons to evaluate the measure further before it returns to the committee.