September 17, 2026
Mr. Kennedy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the deduction for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers and to allow an equivalent deduction for home educators.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Support Our Educators Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Deduction for certain expenses of eligible educators
(a) Increase in limitation for eligible educators
(1) In general
Section 62(a)(2)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—
(A)
by striking elementary and secondary school teachers
in the heading and inserting eligible educators
, and
(B)
by striking $250
and inserting $600
.
(2) Conforming amendments
Section 62(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—
(A)
by striking 2015
and inserting 2026
,
(B)
by striking $250
and inserting $600
, and
(C)
by striking calendar year 2014
and inserting calendar year 2025
.
(b) Application to home educators
(1) Deduction allowed
(A) In general
Part VII of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by redesignating section 226 as section 227 and by inserting after section 225 the following new section:
226. Deduction for certain expenses of home educators
(a) In general
In the case of an eligible home educator, there shall be allowed as a deduction an amount equal to the expenses paid or incurred by the eligible home educator—
(1)
by reason of the participation of the eligible home educator in courses related to—
(A)
the curriculum in which the eligible home educator provides instruction, or
(B)
such eligible educator's children, and
(2)
in connection with books, supplies (other than nonathletic supplies for courses of instruction in health or physical education), computer equipment (including related software and services) and other equipment, and supplementary materials used by the eligible home educator at the location where the educator teaches such individual's children.
(b) Limitation
The amount allowed as a deduction under this section for any taxable year shall not exceed the amount in effect under section 62(a)(2)(D).
(c) Eligible home educator
For purposes of this section, the term eligible home educator means any individual who teaches such individual's children at a home school which—
(1)
provides elementary or secondary education (kindergarten through grade 12), as determined under State law, and
(2)
is treated as a home school or a private school under State law.
(B) Clerical amendment
The table of sections for part VII of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by redesignating the item relating to section 226 as relating to section 227 and by inserting after the item relating to section 225 the following new item:
(2) Deduction allowed in computing adjusted gross income
Section 62(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after paragraph (21) the following new paragraph:
(22) Expenses of home educators
The deduction allowed by section 226.
(c) Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.