HB 1627 (2022)

Creates an Education Freedom Account administrator position within the Department of Education to coordinate and provide technical assistance to guide students, parents, and the scholarship organizations responsible for dispensing the Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs).

The House amended the bill to also require the Department of Education to seek participation in the Medicaid direct certification methodology for school meals program. According to Rep. Mary Heath, writing on behalf of the majority of the House Finance committee, "Medicaid Direct Certification means that children already receiving Medicaid and whose family’s income is below 130% of the federal poverty level (free meals) and 185% (reduced meals) would be directly certified through electronic matching for free and reduced meals at school, without their families needing to submit an application."

The Senate then removed this new part of the bill about the Medicaid direct certification methodology for school meals program.