NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The 114th Tennessee General Assembly gavels in at noon Tuesday, Jan. 14, and all 132 of Tennessee’s state lawmakers will begin the process of passing new laws that will shape the Volunteer State for the future.
While thousands of bills will be filed, several of them will center around a few specific legislative priorities for the next two years.
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Here are some of the topics state lawmakers are set to tackle over the next two years.
Education
Education Freedom Act of 2025
The biggest push this year will be the passage of Gov. Bill Lee’s “Education Freedom Act of 2025,” which would expand the use of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs)—also known as vouchers—statewide rather than in four counties.
The governor worked with Republican lawmakers to expand the ESA program statewide during the 113th General Assembly in 2023-2024, but the plan ultimately failed after Republicans in the state House and Senate couldn’t come to an agreement on the details of the plan.
Cellphone use in schools
Multiple lawmakers agree that the use of cellphones in schools are causing problems, hence the filing of HB0013/SB0010. This bill would require all school districts in Tennessee to come up with protocols that prohibit the use of cellphones in schools during instructional time. Certain exemptions are carved out in the bill, including those for students with 504 plans or individualized education programs (IEPs) that make them necessary.
Rep. Dan Howell (R-Cleveland) and Sen. Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga) have also filed a bill that would require school districts to adopt a policy that prohibits cellphone use in schools during instructional time.
School lunch
Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) has filed a bill that would make free breakfast and lunch at schools required at all schools. The bill does not yet have a senate sponsor.
Teacher resources
Another Democratic lawmaker, Chattanooga’s Yusuf Hakeem, has filed a bill that would increase the amount given to teachers for classroom supplies. His bill would increase the amount from $200 to $500. As of publication, the bill does not have a Senate sponsor.
Locker room usage
This bill would require all “residential educational programs” in the state to segregate all restrooms, changing areas and showers by “immutable biological sex” if they allow minors to use their facilities at all.
“Say Yes to Recess”
A bill filed by Rep. Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) would increase the amount of physical activity that would be required for Tennessee students. Fans of the bill have dubbed it the “Say Yes to Recess” bill, though the legislation does not carry that moniker currently. The bill would require 60 minutes of physical activity per day for elementary school students and 90 minutes per week for middle and high school students.
Immigration
Voter eligibility
This bill, filed by House Majority Leader Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland), would require all elections coordinators to create a portal to verify someone’s eligibility to vote based on their immigration status and whether or not they have prior convictions. It would also require the Tennessee Department of Safety to issue “legal permanent residents” a separate, temporary driver’s license as an aid in determining their voter eligibility.
Abortion
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will also look to make further changes to abortion law in Tennessee. Democrats have filed two bills outlining protections for contraceptives and reestablishing the right to abortion in the state, while Republicans have a bill that would make providing any “abortion-inducing drug” through the mail a crime in the state.
“Unborn Child Protection Act of 2025”
This bill, filed by Brentwood Republican Rep. Gino Bulso, would penalize anyone who provides abortion pills in the mail to the tune of $5 million in damages if the medication results in the abortion of a pregnancy.
“Reproductive Freedom Act”
On the other side of the aisle, Nashville Democrat Rep. Aftyn Behn has filed the “Reproductive Freedom Act” in the Tennessee House of Representatives. The bill would reestablish the right to abortion in Tennessee and prohibit the state, a department or agency, or any city from prohibiting the right to abortion or criminalizing someone who receives one.
Protections for contraceptives
This bill, filed by Democratic lawmakers Rep. Harold Love (D-Nashville) and Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis), would clarify the definition of “abortion” in Tennessee by protecting the use of contraceptives in the state.
The definition of “abortion” would not include “any device, medication, biological product, or procedure that is generally intended for use in the prevention of pregnancy.” It would also make clear the disposal of embryos resulting from fertility treatments is not included in the legal definition of abortion in Tennessee.
