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School Voucher Program Passes in Tennessee

The Tennessee 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.

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 bill also includes a one-time $2,000 bonus for all teachers employed in K-12 schools in Tennessee. Critics of the bill pointed out that the 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; otherwise, they would not receive it.