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S 3949 116th Congress Senate Taxation Academic performance and assessments Bank accounts, deposits, capital Books and print media Cardiovascular and respiratory health Elementary and secondary education Emergency medical services and trauma care Employee benefits and pensions Higher education Income tax deferral Income tax exclusion Infectious and parasitic diseases Special education Student aid and college costs Teaching, teachers, curricula

Helping Parents Educate Children During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Introduced: June 11, 2020 Introduced by: Cruz, Ted Republican · Texas See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 11, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2936)
Jun 11, 2020
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Helping Parents Educate Children During the Coronavirus Pandemic

This bill expands the types of educational expenses that may be paid from a qualified tuition program (commonly known as a 529 plan) for students enrolled at or attending an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school. It also permits payments of certain education expenses for home schooling during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period beginning on March 13, 2020, and ending on the date the emergency period has ended.

The bill also permits penalty free distributions from tax-preferred retirement plans for the period after February 29, 2020, and before January 1, 2021, if contributed to a 529 plan.

What's happening now June 11, 2020

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2936)

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 3949: Helping Parents Educate Children During the Coronavirus Pandemic. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3949/
MLA
"S. 3949: Helping Parents Educate Children During the Coronavirus Pandemic." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3949/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 3949, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3949/.
Markdown link
[S. 3949: Helping Parents Educate Children During the Coronavirus Pandemic](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3949/)
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