Require the State Treasurer to establish an educational savings account for students enrolled in kindergarten through grade twelve at an approved or accredited public, private, denominational, or parochial school

Brief

What this bill does

If it passes, what actually changes?

This creates a new state-funded account program for K-12 students in Nebraska. Families would apply each year and spend the money on approved school costs.

• Creates the Student Savings Account Support Fund, run by the State Treasurer or a supervised third-party manager.
• Requires a separate account for each applying enrolled student beginning July 1, 2026.
• Puts $1,500 per fiscal year in each account, available by July 15 or 30 days after applying.
• Covers tuition, fees, textbooks, software, tutoring, and disability supports; bars transportation, food, clothing, disposable supplies.
• Makes the State Board of Education publish the qualified-expense list and hear applicant appeals.
• Directs the Treasurer to run random audits and refer suspected fraud to the Nebraska State Patrol.

What it says it is for

Does it do what it claims?

The title matches the heart of the bill. One promise in the enacting clause is thinner than it sounds.

• Match: the Treasurer must open accounts for K-12 students at approved or accredited public, private, denominational, or parochial schools.
• Match: withdrawals are limited to qualified educational expenses, with tuition and fees paid first.
• Divergence: the act promises a fraud penalty but creates none, deferring to existing Nebraska offenses.
• Divergence: "savings account" is loose, since leftover money reverts to the General Fund at graduation.
• Gap: the title never mentions the new fund, and the bill names no money source for it.

Where Scripture bears on it

What does the Bible say about this?

This bill raises the question of who bears responsibility for a child's schooling and what a public grant is finally answerable for — the fruit it produces or the mere fact of its distribution. Scripture speaks to minors living under appointed guardians and to gifts weighed by what they yield, though it addresses households and churches rather than state treasuries.

• "But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father." Galatians 4:2
• "Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account." Philippians 4:17

These verses are thematic rather than direct: they say nothing about whether a state should fund private, denominational, or parochial tuition, what the sum should be, or how audits and fraud referrals ought to be structured.

The case each way

What is the strongest argument for, and against?

The disagreement is over whether state money should follow students into private and religious schools, and who pays for it.

• For: every K-12 student at an approved or accredited school qualifies, public and private alike.
• For: allowed costs are real ones — tuition, textbooks, tutoring, and paraprofessionals for students with disabilities.
• For: receipts, random audits, and a ban on school rebates are written in to limit misuse.
• Against: the bill creates a fund but names no appropriation or revenue source to fill it.
• Against: $1,500 covers little private tuition while directing public money outside public schools.
• Against: the Treasurer absorbs year-round account administration for potentially every enrolled student statewide.

What is unsettled

What should I be careful about?

This reading covers only what the bill text says. Several things that decide the real effect are not in it.

• No appropriation, tax source, or total price tag is stated for the Student Savings Account Support Fund.
• The text does not say how many students would qualify or what statewide spending would be.
• "Approved or accredited" is not defined here, and homeschooled students are not addressed at all.
• The State Board of Education sets the expense list, so coverage can change without another bill.
• Whether unspent money rolls over year to year is hinted by "retained" but never stated.
• The actual punishment depends on whatever "appropriate offense under Nebraska law" a prosecutor selects.

Text (1)

• Introduced (application/pdf)

Each link opens the Legislature's own document. The text itself is not in our database yet (fetched lazily); when it lands these pages will carry it verbatim.

All Actions (5)

Votes (0)

There have been no roll call votes on this bill.

Sponsors (1)

• Sen. Bob Andersen [District 49] — primary sponsor

Amendments (0)

There are no amendments to this bill.

Fiscal Notes & Statements (2)

• Fiscal Note — Fiscal Note
• Statement of Intent — Statement of Intent

The Legislature's own companion documents; each link opens the official copy.

Committees (1)

Related Bills (0)

No related bill information was received for LB427.