Senate reconsiders controversial bill to repeal voucher accountability measures
9:30 a.m. - Senate Regular Calendar - SB 1585 *Johnson
- In a dramatic moment yesterday, a private school voucher bill sponsored by the Senate majority leader only received 16 votes – one shy of the 17-vote majority needed to pass the upper chamber.
But, as long as a bill avoids a majority of nay votes, Senate rules allow a sponsor to bring the bill back for another try. Sen. Jack Johnson is exercising that option today. Here’s where we stand:
- The Senate version would repeal a slew of private school accountability measures required by the 2019 Education Savings Account voucher law. The most significant change would exempt ESA voucher recipients from having to take the state’s end-of-year student assessment known as TCAP.
- Earlier this year, state education researchers issued a scathing audit highlighting failures of the ESA voucher program. Private school students who received an ESA voucher almost universally underperformed their public school peers and state education officials have yet to develop any accountability measures for private schools that are failing taxpayer-funded students.
- The House version, which is also up for a vote today, would expand Gov. Bill Lee’s ESA voucher program dramatically. ESA vouchers, unlike Gov. Lee’s statewide “scholarship” vouchers, are only available in Davidson, Hamilton and Shelby counties. The House bill adds Knox County.
- Republicans limited the reach of the program because of the scheme’s controversial funding mechanism. ESA vouchers, worth nearly $10,000 each, are funded through the state’s student funding formula — a combination of local taxpayer dollars and state funds. That means ESA voucher recipients divert funding directly from neighborhood schools to subsidize tuition costs for families enrolled in private schools, a scheme local taxpayers had no control over.
- Unlike the “scholarship” voucher scheme, applications for the ESA program have been muted, likely due to the family income eligibility cap. This bill raises the family income limit from 200% to 400% of the federal income limit for free lunch – about $244,000 for a family of four under the 2026-2027 guidelines.
- With an income cap that allows nearly all families to participate, a swell in ESA voucher enrollment could have drastic funding consequences for neighborhood public schools in affected counties.
Senate to vote on bill targeting community bail funds
9:30 a.m. - Senate Regular Calendar - SB1708 by Taylor
- The Tennessee Senate is expected to vote on Sen Brent Taylor’s legislation targeting nonprofit Just City, which operates a community bail fund. The Senate bill would cap nonprofit and community bail organizations at just three bonds per year — gutting their ability to help low-income Tennesseans secure pretrial release — while exposing anyone who posts bail outside a narrow family exemption to unlimited civil liability if a defendant reoffends.
- Senate Bill 1708, by Sen. Brent Taylor, mirrors Georgia's Senate Bill 63, which a federal judge blocked in 2024 after finding similar provisions likely unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds — including violations of free speech, free association and religious liberty.
- The watered down House version allows bail organizations to post one bond, per defendant per year.
Bill requires counties to participate in federal immigration enforcement
9:30 a.m. - Senate Regular Calendar - SB 2223 *Johnson
- Every county sheriff would be required to enter into a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — or risk losing state funding under a Republican bill up for a Senate vote.
- The legislation requires the sheriff of each county to complete the contract for federal immigration enforcement by Jan. 1, 2027 regardless of whether these local governments can afford to implement the program.
- Even with grant funding available, the fiscal note says only 53 out of 95 sheriff offices have signed an agreement with ICE. Only 11 sheriff offices have opted to launch a 287(g) program allowing jails to detain undocumented individuals.
- Clearly this program is not as popular with sheriffs as the GOP thinks it is. Probably because endless incarceration is expensive and it leaves local taxpayers with all the liability if something goes wrong with a detainee.
Regular Calendar: Other bills of interest
MATERNAL JUSTICE: Sen. Lamar's bill allows families to sue for $1M when pregnant mothers die to medical negligence // SB 2621 *Lamar
PRISON REFORM. Bill gives families of state prisoners a new way to seek answers, engage the system // SB 2531 *Hatcher
Message Calendar: Bills either become law or go to Senate, House negotiations
POLL POTTY. Bill allows local election officials to designate polling location bathrooms for campaign workers // SB 0232 *Akbari
TEACHER DORMS? Bill authorizes local governments to build housing for teachers and police // SB 1849 *Crowe
COURT FEE INCREASE. GOP bill increases a court free from $45 to $125 // SB 2085 *Jackson
PREDICTION MARKET GAMBLING. Bill expands state ban on gambling – despite legal sports betting // SB 2136 *Haile
PUBLIC SCHOOL PRAYER TIME. House bill requires K-12 schools to designate a ‘period of prayer’ // SB 2403 *White
Stayin’ alive: Bills sent back to the House or a conference committee…
HEALTHCARE INTERFERENCE. Bill creates $1M penalty for distributing abortion-inducing medication // SB 0419 *Hensley
UTILITY OVERREACH. GOP bill takes Nashville Electric Service board appointments from Nashville // SB 2102 *Taylor
PURITY COPS. GOP mandates strip club warning signs // SB 2481 *Bowling
STATE OVERREACH. Bill gives state bureaucrats control over tourism districts in Nashville, Memphis, other places // SB 2157 *Watson
AIRPORT OVERREACH. Republicans take control over all commercial airport boards // SB 2473 *Bailey
ADULT CHARTER SCHOOL. Bill for Goodwill Industries creates pathway for a high school for adults // SB 1762 *Haile
ENGLISH ONLY DRIVER’S LICENSE. Senate’s ‘Stephen Miller’ bill requires English-only driver’s license testing after a three-year probationary period. House version is one-year // SB 1889 *Taylor
Full Senate Calendar & Extra Bills Below:
9:30 a.m. Message Calendar - Online Agenda
- If the Senate adopts these bills, the measure becomes law. If the Senate rejects the House version, a conference committee will be appointed to craft a compromise.
1. *SB0232 by Akbari. (HB0659 by Chism.)
Election Laws - Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 7. As introduced, authorizes the county election commission to designate restroom facilities in each building in which the election is held that are for the use of workers or volunteers working for a campaign with certain limitations on access.
2. SB 0821 *Hensley (HB 0902 by *Jones R, Butler, Barrett, Alexander, Maberry, Hicks T, Cepicky, Hawk, Raper, Farmer, Capley)
Education, Curriculum- With amendment, establishes a pilot program that provides grants to local education agencies to advance substance abuse and violence prevention programs. Requires the department of education ("department") to administer the three-year pilot program to provide grants to three LEAs to advance each LEA's substance abuse and violence prevention program to avoid tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use by students. The pilot program begins in the 2026-2027 school year and terminates on July 1, 2029.
3. SB 0855 *Taylor (HB 0794 by *Vaughan)
Utilities, Utility Districts- This bill allows certain Tennessee municipalities that have had long-term moratoriums on new sewer connections outside their city limits to extend sewer service to nearby “adjacency areas” only if property owners or developers pay a housing surcharge.
4. SB 1849 *Crowe (HB 1796 by *Hicks T, Alexander)
County Government- With amendment, Enacts the Essential Governmental Employee Housing Act of 2026 (Act). Authorizes a county, municipality, or metropolitan government (local governments) which meets or exceeds certain bond rating criteria, to, directly, or through the respective local government's housing authority created under the Housing Authorities Law (Law), and by resolution of their local governing bodies (LGBs): (1) acquire, own, develop, lease, operate, and maintain one or more essential housing developments (developments) primarily within its jurisdiction; (2) lease developments from one or more persons, all on such terms approved by the LGB; (3) enter into contracts for the operation and maintenance of such developments; (4) authorize the payment of, and security for, its lease payment obligations related to such developments through a pledge of property tax revenue or other funds of the local government, a pledge of local government revenue collected from the operation of such developments, or an agreement to annually appropriate local government funds; (5) provide for the rental of the development's units to essential employees and to persons other than essential employees during periods in which such units are not needed by essential employees; (6) adopt, implement, and enforce any and all policies, rules, and regulations regarding the operations of such developments; and (7) enter into any ancillary agreements deemed necessary or appropriate by the governing body relating to the developments.
5. SB 2085 *Jackson (HB 2023 by *Martin B)
Victims' Rights- As introduced, increases the victims assistance assessment from $45 to $125, with the first $15 allocated to the court clerk and the remainder directed to county-designated victim assistance programs. - Amends TCA Section 40-24-109.
$1.2 million increase in court fees
6. SB 2136 *Haile (HB 1885 by *Cepicky)
Gambling- As introduced, designates illegal gambling and related activities as a violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act; expands the authority of the sports wagering council to investigate illegal gambling and gaming activity; expands the investigative authority of the attorney general and reporter to investigate unlawful activity within the purview of the attorney general and reporter.
Kalshi and “prediction markets”
7. SB 2025 *Lowe (HB 2251 by *Grills)
Judges and Chancellors- As introduced, creates a pilot project to provide for criminal magistrates in the 10 counties in which the criminal courts experience the highest judicial caseload, if authorized by the legislative body of an eligible county; authorizes the judges of the county with criminal jurisdiction to appoint the criminal magistrate, who shall serve at the pleasure of the majority of the judges of the county with criminal jurisdiction. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 17 and Title 40.
8. SB 2403 *White (HB 2277 by *Cepicky)
Education- As introduced, requires public schools to annually submit to the department of education a list of all local assessments administered by the school each year and the administration schedule for each such local assessment; removes the option for a local education agency or public charter school to administer to students a universal screener that is not the universal screener provided by the state; creates the assessment review board composed of nine classroom teachers to review the Tennessee comprehensive assessment program tests administered to students in the most recent school year. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 49.
House Amendment #3 requires public schools to provide students and employees with an opportunity to participate in a designated period of prayer.
Regular Calendar - Online Agenda
1. SB 2410 *Powers (HB 2509 by *Sexton)
Housing- As introduced, establishes the community workforce housing innovation pilot program to be administered by the Tennessee housing development agency; authorizes the agency to provide loans to an applicant for construction or rehabilitation of workforce housing in each of the three grand divisions; requires the housing to be affordable to natural persons or families whose total annual household income does not exceed 150 percent of area median income; prioritizes projects that set aside at least 80 percent of units for workforce housing. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 53; Title 13; Title 48, Chapter 101, Part 3; Title 56 and Title 67.
2. SB 2442 *Powers (HB 2258 by *Lankford)
Regional Authorities and Special Districts- With amendment, authorizes counties to establish central business improvement districts under the Central Business Improvement District Act of 1990.
3. SB 2462 *Bailey (HB 2466 by *Rudder)
District Attorneys- As introduced, revises the data that district attorneys general are required to include in the annual report submitted to various officials and the public; requires the clerk of every court having jurisdiction over misdemeanor and felony cases to provide the district attorneys general conference direct and unlimited access to the clerk's case management or reporting system for the purposes of complying with the district attorneys general conference's and district attorneys general's statutory reporting requirements. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 8.
Micromanagement of the clerks
4. SB 2465 *Bailey (HB 2253 by *Williams)
Criminal Offenses- As introduced, prohibits a juvenile adjudicated delinquent for conduct that, if committed by an adult, would constitute the offense of threatening to commit an act of mass violence from purchasing or possessing a firearm until the juvenile reaches 25; prohibits a person appropriately licensed by the federal government from selling a firearm to a person who is ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to any court order or under any law of this state; increases penalties for sexual exploitation of a minor offenses. - Amends TCA Title 37 and Title 39.
5. SB 2531 *Hatcher, Rose (HB 2111 by *Boyd)
Correctional Programs- As introduced, creates the family advisory board within the department of correction for the purposes of assisting the families of incarcerated individuals. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 41.
6. SB 2533 *Haile (HB 1816 by *Williams)
Mental Illness- As introduced, enacts "The Isbill Act," which requires the POST commission and Tennessee corrections institute to adopt guidelines and materials instructing law enforcement officers and correctional personnel on the criteria for emergency and nonemergency involuntary admissions to inpatient treatment and requires law enforcement officers and correctional personnel to undergo annual training on those guidelines and materials. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 38 and Title 41.
7. SB 2566 *Bowling (HB 2317 by *Barrett, Fritts)
Sexual Offenses- As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Anti-Grooming Act," which creates the criminal offense of grooming a minor or mentally compromised individual. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.
8. SB 2633 *Seal (HB 2496 by *Farmer)
Taxes- As introduced, adds to the definition of a "qualified public use facility" as used in the Local Tourism Development Zone Business Tax Act a mixed-use development containing a performance venue with a seating capacity of at least 2,500; authorizes a municipality or public authority that has financed a qualified public use facility within a tourism development zone and that qualifies for an allocation of sales tax revenue from within that zone under the Convention Center and Tourism Development Financing Act of 1998 and under other provisions of sales tax law to use the revenue for purposes authorized in the act or other law. - Amends TCA Title 7 and Title 67.
9. SB 2669 *Akbari (HB 2343 by *Harris)
Teachers, Principals and School Personnel- As introduced, increases from one to two, the number of days of personal and professional leave a teacher accumulates for each one-half year employed. - Amends TCA Title 49.
10. SB 2458 *Bailey (HB 2175 by *Travis)
Motor Vehicles- As amended, requires gig economy apps that hire drivers to deliver goods to ensure that drivers carry automobile liability insurance.
11. SB 2621 *Lamar (HB 2585 by *Chism)
Damages- As introduced, states that the amount of damages awarded as noneconomic damages must not exceed $1 million in a health care liability action arising from obstetric or maternity negligence resulting in the death or permanent injury of a pregnant or postpartum woman. - Amends TCA Section 29-39-102.
12. SB 1493 *Massey (HB 1455 by *Littleton, Reneau, Russell, Williams)
Criminal Offenses- As introduced, creates a Class A felony offense of knowingly training artificial intelligence to encourage the act of suicide or criminal homicide, or act in specific manners, including developing an emotional relationship with an individual or simulating a human being, including in appearance, voice, or other mannerisms. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 33; Title 39 and Title 47.
13. SB 1921 *Massey, Watson, Harshbarger, Haile, Crowe, Lamar, Jackson, Oliver, Campbell (HB 2358 by *Hawk, White, Alexander, Glynn)
Human Resources, Department of- As introduced, directs the department to annually transfer a portion of the TANF rainy-day fund to the child care and development fund in an amount sufficient to fund participation in the smart steps program for a family that meets certain listed criteria; requires the department to annually publish on the department's website a report on certain listed expenditures and balances. - Amends TCA Title 71.
14. SB 1150 *Crowe (HB 0846 by *Reneau, Lafferty, Hardaway, Bricken)
Architects, Engineers and Designers- As introduced, requires the state board of examiners for architects and engineers to publish the time and place at which examinations to receive an engineer intern certificate or to register as a professional engineer are held and the acceptable grade necessary for passage of the examinations on the board's website. - Amends TCA Title 49; Title 62 and Title 63.
15. SB 1585 *Johnson (HB 1881 by *Slater)
Education- With amendment, repeals academic performance accountability measures required of private schools participating in the Education Savings Account voucher program.
16. SB1708 by Taylor. (*HB1450 by Baum.)
Bail, Bail Bonds - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40. As introduced, prohibits an entity other than a defendant, a member of defendant's family, the defendant's legal guardian, the defendant's employer, or a professional bondsman from posting security for more than three defendants in any calendar year, or for a single defendant more than one time per calendar year; makes various other changes related to entities seeking to secure the release of a defendant.
17. SB 1877 *Johnson (HB 1614 *Lamberth)
Transportation, Dept. of - As amended, removes the procurement deadline for the motor vehicle portal required by the Modernization of Towing, Immobilization, and Oversight Normalization Act of 2025. Extends the deadline for the Department of Revenue (DOR) to implement the motor vehicle portal. Requires the DOR to charge users a fee for entering information or sending notifications through the portal. Authorizes the portal to send notices by standard mail.
Expands the definition of "utility," under the Subterranean Transportation Infrastructure Coordination Act, to include certain rail carriers, and further, establishes authorizations and prohibitions applicable to the Subterranean Transportation Infrastructure Coordination Authority with regards to rail carriers.
18. SB 2223 *Johnson (HB 2219 by *Garrett, Sexton)
Immigration- With amendment, requires each county sheriff who is POST-certified to enter into an agreement under an available federal 287(g) program with the appropriate federal official to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration law by January 1, 2027.
Unfunded mandate.
19. SB 2634 *Roberts, Massey (HB 2167 by *Barrett)
Election Laws- With amendment, requires each public college and university to implement reasonable measures on the date of a statewide or federal general election to promote civic engagement and facilitate student participation in the election process. This includes providing information about voting locations, encouraging volunteerism and community service related to civic engagement, and removing unnecessary barriers for students' participation in the electoral process.
20. SB2729 *Taylor (HB 2666 by Vaughan)
Shelby County - Amends Chapter 131 of the Private Acts of 1969; as amended. Subject to local approval, changes the conditions under which the occupancy tax will no longer be levied; changes the allocation of the revenue from the occupancy tax if the tenant of the indoor sports facility no longer occupies such facility.
21. SB 0354 by Bailey (HB 0338 by Crawford)
State Government - Authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), with the approval of the State Building Commission (SBC), to enter into agreements for the private development, redevelopment, construction, and operation of facilities in Cumberland Mountain State Park. Authorizes TDEC to supervise the construction and establishes that such agreements may include provisions for the sale, lease, or other conveyance of state-owned real property, subject to the approval of the Commissioner and SBC.
Other bills between chambers that are still alive
SB 0419 *Hensley (HB 0005 by *Bulso)
Remedies and Special Proceedings- expands the state’s definition of wrongful death to include an unborn child at any stage of gestation in utero when an abortion-inducing drug is sent directly to a patient by a defendant via courier, delivery, or mail service. The maximum civil damage would be $1 million.
Anti abortion.
SB 2102 *Taylor (HB 2592 by *Boyd, Sexton, Vaughan)
Public Utility Commission- With amendment, stacks municipality-owned utility boards with outside representation under some circumstances.
Bill targeting NES board membership
SB 2283 *Briggs (HB 2119 by *Crawford)
Tourism- With amendment, authorizes a “destination marketing organization” to be used under some circumstances.
SB 2481 *Bowling (HB 2314 by *Fritts)
Obscenity and Pornography- With amendment, prohibits any Adult-Oriented Establishment Board (Board), or massage registration board (MRB), as applicable, from issuing a license to applicants unless signs are appropriately posted, which read: "Attention: By engaging in this type of entertainment, you may be contributing to an increase in domestic assault, rape or sexual assault, and human trafficking."
SB 2157 *Watson (HB 2366 by *Hawk)
Planning, Public- With amendment, prohibits a local government blocking streets or other rights-of-ways within a tourist development zone (TDZ) in a manner which disrupts the operation of businesses. It establishes that the Tennessee Highway Patrol has concurrent law enforcement authority with local law enforcement, including the power to arrest, carry a firearm, and investigate crime within a TDZ.
SB 2367 *Rose (HB 2328 by *Lankford, Moody)
Tipton County- With amendment, authorizes Tipton County and Montgomery County to participate in the Tennessee Land Bank Program. Places Tipton County and Montgomery County under the Neighborhood Preservation Act.
Authorizes the county legislative bodies of Davidson and Shelby counties to adopt a budget that reduces the budget for their respective county mayor's office below the budgeted amount for the previous fiscal year for office personnel salaries and benefits, office supplies, communication expenses, postal charges, duplicating services, professional development training, and membership dues and fees.
SB 2473 *Bailey (HB 2507 by *Sexton, Garrett)
Regional Authorities and Special Districts- With amendment, enables a state takeover of the boards governing all public airport authorities.
SB 1762 *Haile (HB 1759 by *Slater, Sexton)
Education, Dept. of- With amendment, create a charter school pathway for adult high schools, but adult public charter schools will not open prior to the 2029-2030 school year. These schools may be authorized by either a local LEA or the charter commission. A sponsor is permitted to apply directly to the commission for authorization, if they so choose. These schools would be permitted to enroll students statewide, and are not permitted to charge tuition.
Isn’t this what GED programs do? This school would be publicly funded through the state-local shared student funding formula.
SB 1889 *Taylor (HB 1708 by *Capley, Sexton)
Motor Vehicles- As introduced, requires an applicant for a driver license who cannot speak and read English sufficiently to be issued a restricted license for one year and to re-take the written driver license examination in English to be issued a driver license thereafter; requires evidence of U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residence, or temporary lawful resident status prior to registering vehicles. - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 4; Title 55, Chapter 50 and Title 65, Chapter 15.
SB 1907 *Stevens, Walley, Campbell (HB 1464 by *Powers, Martin B, Hurt, Carringer, Sparks, Hawk, Atchley, Reeves, Gant, Butler, Helton-Haynes, Eldridge, Wright, Shaw, Darby, Kumar)
Salaries and Benefits- As introduced, entitles the estate of an electrical lineman who was employed by or contracted with a local government to service electrical transmission and power distribution systems to an annual annuity of $50,000 for five years upon the death of the lineman in the line of duty. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7, Chapter 51; Title 8 and Title 50.
SB 2317 *Watson (HB 2422 by *Martin G)
Education- With amendment, creates a pilot program to assess whether giving students fewer state mandated assessments would result in higher levels of academic achievement.