FREEDOM for Gao Zhisheng and All Political Prisoners Act

House Bill

H.R. 5303

119th Congress

FREEDOM for Gao Zhisheng and All Political Prisoners Act

In Committee

Introduced:Sep 11, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Christopher H. Smith

Representative

Republican

NJ-4

Cosponsors

1

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Education

Summary

This bill would prohibit elementary and secondary schools from receiving federal funding if they violate state laws related to materials that are harmful to minors. It also allows parents to use 529 education savings accounts to cover additional educational expenses like curriculum, books, and testing fees for enrolling their children in homeschooling or private schools.

Latest Action

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

SponsorChristopher H. Smith (R-NJ)

Introduced9/11/2025

StatusReferred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Fi

ChamberHouse

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

FREEDOM for Gao Zhisheng and All Political Prisoners Act

This bill would prohibit elementary and secondary schools from receiving federal funding if they violate state laws related to materials that are harmful to minors. It also allows parents to use 529 education savings accounts to cover additional educational ex

Community Breakdown

Pass

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Fail

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0 predictions

This bill would prohibit elementary and secondary schools from receiving federal funding if they violate state laws related to materials that are harmful to minors. It also allows parents to use 529 education savings accounts to cover additional educational expenses like curriculum, books, and testing fees for enrolling their children in homeschooling or private schools.

Bill Number: 5303
Sponsor: Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ)
Introduced: 9/11/2025
Status: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Fi
Policy Area: Education

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: FREEDOM for Gao Zhisheng and All Political Prisoners Act
Bill Number: 5303
Sponsor: Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ)
Status: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Fi
Introduced: 9/11/2025
Summary: This bill would prohibit elementary and secondary schools from receiving federal funding if they violate state laws related to materials that are harmful to minors. It also allows parents to use 529 education savings accounts to cover additional educational expenses like curriculum, books, and testi

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill would prohibit elementary and secondary schools from receiving federal funding if they violate state laws related to materials that are harmful to minors. It also allows parents to use 529 education savings accounts to cover additional educational expenses like curriculum, books, and testing fees for enrolling their children in homeschooling or private schools.

Last updated: 12/29/2025

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

No Obscene Teaching in Our Schools Act of 2023 or the NOT in Our Schools Act of 2023 This bill prohibits an elementary or secondary school from receiving federal funds if the school is in violation of any law of the state in which the school is located that is related to materials that are harmful to minors. Further, the bill requires a state educational agency to either (1) return the federal funds that were dedicated to the school in violation of such state law; or (2) create and carry out, at the request of parents or legal guardians of eligible children, a 529 education savings plan account program (also known as a qualified tuition program). The bill allows tax-exempt distributions from these 529 plans to be used for additional educational expenses (e.g., curriculum, books, and testing fees) in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary school. Distributions may also be used for tuition and additional expenses in connection with a homeschool (whether treated as a homeschool or a private school under state law).

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Prohibits federal funding for schools that violate state laws on materials harmful to minors
Requires states to either return federal funds to schools in violation or create 529 education savings accounts for affected students
Allows 529 account funds to be used for homeschooling and private school expenses beyond just tuition

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill would primarily affect public schools and the families of students attending those schools. If a school is found in violation of state laws, it could lose federal funding, potentially forcing changes to curriculum and materials used. Families would have the option to use 529 accounts to cover costs of homeschooling or private school as an alternative.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Education

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

5303, 119th Congress (2025). "FREEDOM for Gao Zhisheng and All Political Prisoners Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-5303