Author: Annelise Reinwald
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An overview of the rules, agency documents, and notices published in the Federal Register in the third quarter of 2026
The federal government added 22,454 pages to the Federal Register in the third quarter of 2026, spanning from July 1 to Sept. 30. This is more than in all other quarters during the second Trump administration, except the second quarter of 2026, during which the government added 23,692 pages. The next highest was the third…
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Internal Revenue Service issues regulations for Education Freedom Tax Credit
On Oct. 2, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued regulations that determine how the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) will run and, in turn, how many states participate. The EFTC — also known as the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC), or IRS Section 25F — will allow individuals to receive federal tax credits for donations…
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Forty states have appropriated funds for new SNAP administrative cost share
Forty states have partially or fully appropriated funds for their increased share of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) administrative costs under federal law. Beginning on Oct. 1, states are responsible for funding 75% of the administrative costs of running the program in their state, while the federal government covers the remaining 25%. Previously, states split…
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Education groups urge the U.S. Treasury to adopt policies reducing what they called barriers to SGO participation
As of Aug. 25, no state has certified eligible scholarship-granting organizations (SGOs) for the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC), which begins on Jan. 1, 2027. SGOs are the organizations that distribute EFTC scholarships to students, but the federal guidance determining their operating rules and the distribution of funds is still forthcoming from the Department of…
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Laws in 12 states provide school boards with differing authority and powers depending on the type of district they represent
Most states either have only one type of school district or do not distinguish between powers and duties for different types of school boards. However, 12 states have different types of school districts with distinct powers and duties under state law. Boards with different authorities may have unique control over district taxing or financing, and…
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Eleven states have passed laws related to the Education Freedom Tax Credit in 2026
Eleven states have passed laws in 2026 related to the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC), which goes into effect in 2027. These bills take various actions that shape how or if a state will participate in the program. Of the 31 total states that have indicated they will participate in the EFTC, legislatures in eight…
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Rhode Island enacts three-year charter school moratorium
On June 18, 2026, Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee (D) signed identical bills (S 2787 and H7415) to prohibit the state's Council on Elementary and Secondary Education from approving the creation or expansion of any district charter schools through the 2028-2029 school year. The bill also reduced the allowed number of charter schools in the…
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North Carolina General Assembly overrides veto to prohibit what bill defines as divisive concepts, discriminatory practices, DEI offices and positions in public schools
On June 24, 2026, the North Carolina General Assembly overrode Gov. Josh Stein (D)'s veto of Senate Bill 227, which prohibits what the bill defines as discriminatory practices, divisive concepts, and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in public schools. Among other changes, the bill also amends the powers and duties of local school boards to…
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Vermont enacts bill to limit how scholarships under Education Freedom Tax Credit can be used
On June 18, 2026, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) signed H.933, limiting the use of scholarship funds under the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) so they may benefit only public school students or students attending independent (or nonpublic) schools eligible to receive public funds, among other EFTC and unrelated tax policies. As of June 30,…
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South Carolina adopts REINS-style state law, prohibits judicial deference
On June 30, 2026, Gov. Henry McMaster (R) signed H 3021, making South Carolina the third state this year to enact a REINS-style law, and the fifth to prohibit judicial deference. The bill included other provisions related to executive agency procedure and oversight. H 3021 requires legislative approval for all executive agency regulations with estimated…