WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott announced his co-sponsorship of the Student Empowerment Act to allow all students – including public, private, religious, and homeschool students – to use tax-exempt distributions from qualified tuition programs (known as 529 plans) to cover eligible educational expenses, including books, tutoring, and testing fees.

Senator Rick Scott said, “During my time as Governor of Florida, I worked to make Florida a national leader in school choice options for all students, with hundreds of thousands of families taking advantage of these opportunities. The Student Empowerment Act builds on our efforts by expanding access to 529 savings accounts so that all Florida families have the opportunity for the best education for their children.”

The Student Empowerment Act:

• Allows all students, including public, private, and religious school students, to use 529 savings accounts to cover eligible educational expenses, such as tutoring, standardized testing fees, books and other instructional materials, and educational therapies for students with disabilities, among other educational expenses.
• Reincorporates homeschool students as equally eligible to use a 529 savings account for educational expenses.
• Ensures all families are able to use these tax-advantaged accounts to pay for their child’s elementary and secondary education.

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