The U.S. Senate late last week voted 51-49 to pass its version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1.)
The Senate and House bills will now move to a House-Senate conference committee, to resolve differences in the measures.
Two items to note in the Senate bill are an amendment from Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) to authorize an expansion of 529 education savings accounts for tuition tax credits/vouchers (similar to the House bill) and an amendment from Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) to allow taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 in property tax payments. The property tax amendment is also similar to a provision in the House bill.
The National School Boards Association, which had encouraged local school boards to urge their representatives to oppose the bill, this week issued an update that included a roll call of Senate votes.
Both New Jersey senators, Sen. Cory Booker and Sen. Robert Menendez, voted against the bill.