Ohio House Bill HB643

Ohio 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/12/26

Caption

To amend section 3310.032 of the Revised Code to limit the EdChoice expansion scholarship to families with a federal adjusted gross income of $500,000 or less.

Summary

HB643 would amend Ohio’s EdChoice expansion scholarship law to add a new income cap for eligibility. Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, students would be ineligible for the scholarship if their family’s federal adjusted gross income in the prior tax year is $500,000 or more, with that threshold adjusted annually for inflation. The bill keeps the existing structure of the program otherwise intact, including eligibility for students in grades K-12 in nonparticipating districts and the ability to certify income through affidavits or other documentation accepted by the Department of Education and Workforce. The bill also preserves the current “grandfathering” rule for students who already receive a scholarship: once awarded, a student may continue receiving the scholarship in later years through grade 12 even if the family’s income later rises above the threshold, so long as the student remains enrolled in a chartered nonpublic school. The legislation repeals the existing version of section 3310.032 and replaces it with the amended eligibility standard, while leaving the scholarship program’s funding limits and award structure otherwise unchanged.

Impact

HB643 would narrow the pool of families eligible for Ohio’s EdChoice expansion scholarship by excluding only the highest-income households, while preserving access for all other qualifying students. It would amend Revised Code section 3310.032, affecting the Department of Education and Workforce’s administration of scholarship eligibility and income verification, and it would apply prospectively starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill would not change the underlying scholarship program for current recipients, who would retain eligibility under the existing continuation rules.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be a targeted policy adjustment rather than a broad overhaul of school choice law. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no direct evidence of support or opposition in the available materials. The bill’s framing suggests an intent to limit public scholarship dollars to families below a very high income threshold while maintaining continuity for students already enrolled in the program.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely to be whether the EdChoice expansion scholarship should be available to families with very high incomes at all, and whether a $500,000 federal adjusted gross income cap is the appropriate cutoff. Supporters may view the bill as a way to focus state resources on families with greater need, while opponents may argue that any new income restriction could complicate administration or limit parental choice. Another possible issue is the inflation adjustment, which could gradually raise the cap over time and affect the long-term scope of the restriction.