The Kentucky General Assembly has overridden the governor’s veto of House Bill 1, clearing the way for the measure to take effect and potentially unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in federal education funding for students across the commonwealth, according to David Givens.
“Now that House Bill 1 will become law, Kentucky students will have access to potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in federal support to help meet their individual educational needs. That is a significant opportunity, and one we should all be working together to maximize,” Givens said.
Under the new law, public funds will not go directly to specific schools. Instead, contributions will flow to scholarship-granting organizations, which will distribute scholarships to eligible students and families, including those connected to public schools, Givens added.
Following the override, Givens urged the governor to set aside opposition and support efforts to maximize the law’s benefits for students.
“I believe I speak for the majority of the General Assembly, as well as families and educators across the commonwealth, in calling on the Governor to join us in supporting this effort. If we are serious about putting students first, then we should be just as serious about ensuring every available dollar is brought back home to Kentucky,” Givens said.
Givens also encouraged the governor and others to contribute to scholarship-granting organizations, highlighting a $1,700 federal tax credit available for such contributions.
“So I would again encourage the Governor, and anyone who cares about Kentucky’s future, to take part. Write a $1,700 check to a scholarship granting organization of your choice utilizing the $1,700 federal tax credit and help demonstrate that we value investing as many federal dollars in Kentucky students as we can,” Givens said.
Givens ended with a direct appeal to those who previously opposed the legislation.
“This is about expanding opportunity, empowering families and making sure Kentucky is positioned to benefit from every resource available to us. Now is the time to come together and make that happen as successfully as possible. If you were an opponent before, there is time to be a proponent now,” Givens said.
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