NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Both the Senate and House of Representatives have passed Gov. Bill Lee’s statewide expansion of school vouchers, otherwise known as the “Tennessee Education Freedom Act of 2025.”
The legislation was passed after hours of debate on both sides of the issue during a speedy four-day special session on vouchers, disaster relief and immigration enforcement.
The bill provides around $7,000 in “scholarships” in public taxpayer money for parents in Tennessee to use at private schools if they so choose.
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The votes saw multiple defections from Republicans in both chambers, though both versions of the bill ultimately passed with the required constitutional majority. The House approved the measure 54-45, with one abstention. The Senate approved the bill by a 20-13 vote.
The issue has been hotly debated for years, with the Tennessee legislature first passing an “education savings account” program for Davidson and Shelby counties first, then expanding the pilot program to include Hamilton County.
Last session, Gov. Bill Lee attempted to expand the ESA program statewide, but concerns from lawmakers in both parties ultimately saw the issue stall in the 113th General Assembly.
This time, however, the issue was able to get past the finish line, though by slim margins in both chambers.
Democrats loudly opposed the bill in both legislative bodies, saying during the floor debate Thursday it would “blow a hole” in the budgets of both the state and local education agencies (LEAs), as well as risk the future of funding for the Tennessee Education Lottery System, and serve as “welfare for the wealthy.”
Proponents of the bill say it will offer parents more control over their children’s education and will not take funding away from public education systems. Additionally, one provision of the bill is designed specifically to improve facilities in public school districts, Republicans said during debate.
According to the terms of the bill, there will be 20,000 total “scholarships” available, half of which will be reserved for families meeting a certain income threshold. That threshold is a household income of not more than 300% of the amount required for the student to qualify for free or reduced lunch, per the text of the bill.
While the first year of the program is limited to 20,000 students, the bill stipulates the number can increase if the total number of applications for the vouchers exceeds 75% of those available. Then the state can increase the voucher numbers by no more than 5,000.
Also included in the bill is a one-time $2,000 bonus to all teachers employed in K-12 schools in Tennessee, though critics of the bill pointed out that bonus would only be given to teachers if their local school district adopted a resolution stating it would like to participate in that provision of the law by June 1, or else they would not receive it.
The governor lauded the passage of the bill, thanking the leaders of both chambers for the “partnership in empowering parents & delivering opportunity for all.”
“I’ve long believed we can have the best public schools and give parents a choice in their child’s education, regardless of income or zip code,” he said in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter). “Today is a milestone in advancing education in TN.”
During a press conference following the passage of the bill, the governor said the day was “momentous” for all parents in the state.
“Universal school choice is now a reality for Tennessee families. I have said all along that we should, and could, have the best public schools in America and provide parents with choice. We’ve done that,” he said. “It is, in fact, a momentous day for students and for teachers and for parents across Tennessee. I’m grateful to the parents and the teachers who have advocated here at the Capitol, not just at the Capitol but all across the state to make sure that Tennesseans had this opportunity.”
“The education scholarship bill gives the freedom of parents to choose which education system best fits their children. At the same time, holds harmless local systems and indeed helps teachers with a bonus,” said Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge).
“Now, Tennessee’s in a place where every single family now has the hope and opportunity to make the best decision for their child,” House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) said in the presser. “It doesn’t matter if you live in urban, suburban or rural areas — you also have the same opportunity if your kid has a special need or unique disability. You have the same opportunity.”
