Education has been Sen. Rachel Zenzinger’s top priority since she took her seat in the state Senate over nine years ago. Wednesday is Zenzinger’s last legislative session day, as she is term limited.

Zenzinger, D-Arvada, was first chosen to represent the 19th Senate district in December 2013. She replaced a Democratic senator who resigned after efforts to recall her were unsuccessful because she voted in favor of gun control bills.

Zenzinger’s final bill after nine years of service is a bipartisan measure focused on education.

House Bill 1340 is sponsored by Zenzinger, Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, JBC Chair Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, and Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, her Joint Budget Committee colleagues.

The bill creates a refundable tax credit, tapping the TABOR surplus for about $18 million in its first year and $36 million in succeeding years through 2034. The tax credit is intended to encourage Colorado high school graduates to enroll in Colorado’s public colleges and universities, technical schools, or local district colleges.

Students must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher in college or technical school.

Initially, the tax credit goes to families of students with gross incomes of $90,000 per year. However, Bird told Colorado Politics that she’s hoping to eventually extend it to families with incomes of up to $150,000. That will help middle-income students who often don’t qualify for the need-based financial aid available to low-income college students.

The benefit to students: the credit is intended to pay for up to 65 credit hours or more than half the total required for a standard four-year baccalaureate degree. At the community or local district college or technical education level, the credit is enough to pay for all of it.

That’s a big deal. The cost of tuition at some of Colorado’s public colleges and universities is higher than at colleges in many of its neighboring states. Some Colorado students attend college at out-of-state institutions with cheaper tuition despite being charged out-of-state tuition rates.

Credits earned through the state’s concurrent enrollment program, advanced placement, or international baccalaureate program, all available through high school, are not eligible for the credit, nor are military credits or other credits earned before enrolling at a state higher education institution.

HB 1340 won a 46-14 vote from the House on May 4 and a 28-5 vote in the Senate on Wednesday.

Zenzinger’s days in public service may not be over, however. She announced that she is running for a seat on the Jefferson County Commission in November.