Lafayette Reporter

Senator John Kennedy, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, has introduced the Support Our Educators Act of 2024. The proposed legislation aims to reduce the income tax burden on teachers and eligible home educators by amending the Internal Revenue Code.

The bill seeks to increase income tax deductions for certain expenses incurred by elementary and secondary school teachers. It also proposes an identical expense deduction for eligible home educators.

"Louisiana’s educators often spend their own money on supplies to help our kids learn. The Support Our Educators Act would make sure that classroom teachers and homeschool families pay less in taxes when they take on more expenses to teach the next generation," said Kennedy.

Eligible purchases for educator expense deductions include classroom supplies and resources such as books, computers, and software. Under this act, the educator expense deduction would rise from $300 to $600 for individuals and from $600 to $1,200 for married couples filing jointly if each spouse qualifies as an educator or home educator. Additionally, it would establish a home educator expense deduction of $600 for individuals and $1,200 for married couples filing jointly under similar conditions.

Kennedy's proposal ensures that both traditional classroom educators and those teaching at home receive appropriate tax relief.

Full text of the bill is available here.