Tennessee lawmakers take on education: Key K-12 bills to watch in 2024

Bills dealing with public education and K-12 schools are among the hot topics in Tennessee's current legislative session, which kicked off on Jan. 9.

Lawmakers have introduced legislation on what can be used, promoted or taught in schools, along with gun and school safety measures and bills to increase opportunities for higher education.

Additionally, Gov. Bill Lee's push to expand statewide taxpayer-funded vouchers that families can use toward private schooling was among the most closely watched bills this year. It was one of Lee's most ambitious education initiatives.

The Tennessean will update this story periodically as K-12 bills work their way through the legislative process.

While it's not clear when the legislative session will end, it extend at least late April. Here's a look at how to follow along and some of the most notable bills at play.

How to follow along

Want to follow along with a bill's progress? Head to capitol.tn.gov and type the bill number into the search bar at the top right. That will take you to the bill's page with the latest information on committee hearings, votes and other actions. You can also toggle over to the "video" section on the bill's page to watch previous hearings.

Seeing something that doesn't match up with the bill being discussed? Sometimes the caption of the bill, which is the summary written when it's first proposed, does not match what later amendments show. Click over to the "amendments" tab on the bill's page to read the latest changes. Keep in mind that, as with all measures, committees must approve amendments before they officially become part of the bill.

To find a full schedule of committee hearings and floor sessions, click over to the "schedules and calendars" tab at capitol.tn.gov. The calendar icon will take you to the agenda for each committee. To find livestream videos of the meetings, click the "videos" tab on the Capitol site. If a meeting is live at that time, it will appear there.

Bills must pass the relevant House and Senate committees before advancing to a floor vote in each chamber. Those votes happen when the members of each chamber are gathered for a floor session. If a bill passes floor votes in both chambers — and the version of the bills match and need no further reconciliation — it heads to Lee's desk. If he signs the bill, it becomes law.

However, bills sometimes become law without the governor's signature, too. The governor is allowed 10 days (not counting Sundays) to either approve or veto a bill that is sent to him. If he doesn't take action within that time, the bill will become law without his signature.

School vouchers

The morning of April 22, Lee confirmed the bill supporting his ambitious plan to expand the state's school voucher program was dead for the year. It would have eventually expanded on the state's existing program that gives taxpayer-funded vouchers to students to use toward private schooling.

While the House and Senate both passed companion bills in key committees, they were vastly different. The two chambers did not reach an agreement, leading to the bill's failure.

“I am extremely disappointed for the families who will have to wait yet another year for the freedom to choose the right education for their child, especially when there is broad agreement that now is the time to bring universal school choice to Tennessee," Lee said in a statement. "While we made tremendous progress, unfortunately it has become clear that there is not a pathway for the bill during this legislative session."

'Extremely disappointed': TN school voucher bill dead for the year

Lee sought to offer taxpayer-funded school vouchers to 20,000 Tennessee families in the 2024-25 school year and later expand to universal enrollment. The voucher expansion did not include accountability or testing requirements for students who participate. Lee outlined further details, including a $141.5 million budget, in his State of the State address on Feb. 5.

While the Senate approved a shorter amendment that focused on the voucher program, the House approved a much longer amendment that detailed sweeping changes to the state's public education system. The House amendment included voucher details, along with a plan to shut down the state's Achievement School District by 2026 and an overhaul of the state's standardized testing and teacher accountability measures.

HB1183 was the House version of the bill, while SB503 was the Senate version. House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, was the House sponsor of the bill. Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, was the Senate sponsor of the bill.

What’s already passed

Several K-12 bills have been passed. Here's a look at what made it through the legislature.

Fire alarms outside scheduled drills

SB 1979/HB1644 requires all Tennessee schools — private, public, religious and charter — to develop a procedure to determine the cause of a fire alarm, establish procedures for how students, teachers, staff and volunteers respond depending on the reason for the alarm, and hold annual training for those procedures. The intent is to prepare schools in case a fire alarm is activated due to the presence of an active shooter or threat other than a fire. Schools would have to implement the new policy by Jan. 1, 2025.

The bill unanimously passed the House in a 97-0 vote on Feb. 8. It passed the Senate in a unanimous 32-0 vote on Feb. 26. Gov. Bill Lee signed it into law on March 12.

House Majority Leader William Lambert, R-Portland, introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

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Handguns in private schools

SB1708/HB1631 clarifies an existing Tennessee law to say that private schools serving students from pre-K through 12th grade can adopt a handgun carry policy on school property.

The bill passed the full House in a 74-23 vote on Feb. 26 and the Senate in a 26-5 vote on March 28.

Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, is the sponsor of the Senate bill.

Age-appropriate firearm instruction

SB2923/HB2882 requires districts to provide students with firearm safety instruction that is both age- and grade-appropriate, starting in the 2025-26 school year.

The bill passed the full House on Feb. 29 and the full Senate on April 4. It has not yet been sent to the governor for a signature.

Rep. Chris Todd, R-Madison County, introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Paul Bailey, R-Sparta, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

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Threats of mass violence at schools become felonies

SB2263/HB2198 makes it a Class E felony to threaten to commit an act of mass violence at a school or a school-related activity. Both acts currently carry a Class A misdemeanor penalty.

The bill passed the House on March 25, and passed the Senate on April 11.

Rep. Bo Mitchell, D-Nashville, introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Mark Lundberg, R-Bristol, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

Family leave for public charter school employees

SB2655/HB2697 requires public charter schools to provide employees six work weeks of paid leave after the birth or stillbirth of a child, or the adoption of a newly placed child.

The bill passed the full Senate in a unanimous vote on March 11. It passed the full House in a unanimous vote on April 15.

Sen. Dawn White, R-Murfreesboro, is the Senate sponsor of the bill. Rep. Debra Moody, R-Covington, is the House sponsor of the bill.

School nurse to student ratio reduction

SB2703/HB2158 reduces the school-nurse-to-student-ratio from one nurse per 3,000 students to one nurse per 750 students.

It unanimously passed the full House on April 11. It passed the full Senate 28-1 on April 18.

The bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville. Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

What’s made significant progress

Several K-12 bills have made significant process. Some have cleared committees and await full House or Senate votes. Others have passed one chamber but await a final vote in the other. Here's where those bills stand.

Allowing teachers to carry guns

SB1325/HB1202 would allow school faculty or staff members to carry concealed handguns on school grounds. However, that would only be allowed under certain conditions, including requirements for an enhanced handgun carry permit and the completion of an annual training.

The bill was first introduced (and later tabled) during the 2023 legislative session before being brought back in the current session.

The bill passed the Senate on April 9 amid vocal protests. It is now up to the House to decide on the bill's fate. Since the measure made it through the necessary House committees during the previous session, it only needs a full House vote now to pass. The vote has not yet been scheduled.

Sen. Paul Bailey, R-Sparta, is the Senate sponsor of the bill. Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, is the House sponsor of the bill.

'Shame on you!': Tennessee Senate passes bill allowing teachers to carry guns amid vocal protests

Expanded options for fourth graders

SB2183/HB2326 would provide options for fourth graders at risk of retention under the state’s controversial reading law to move on to fifth grade. It also allows parents and districts to meet to decide on retention. If the child is ultimately promoted to fifth grade, they must be given interventions and academic supports, like tutoring, for English language arts skills.

The House version of the bill allows districts to consider the results of a locally adopted benchmark test separate from the state's standardized test in their decision, along with offering both tutoring and summer school as an option for fourth graders to move forward. However, the Senate version does not appear to include those items. The Senate version also limits the bill to two years, meaning the original version of the bill would go back into effect in the 2025-26 school year.

The bill is headed to a conference committee, where the two chambers will attempt to hammer out the disparities between their versions of the bill.

Sen. Dawn White, R-Murfreesboro, is the Senate sponsor of the bill. Rep. Gary Hicks, R-Rogersville, is the House sponsor of the bill.

Ban on pride and trans flags in schools

SB1722/HB1605 would ban public schools and public charter schools from displaying any flag other than the official U.S. and Tennessee state flags. This would prohibit schools from displaying any other flags, including rainbow pride flags, pride progress flags and transgender rights flags. As written, it could even ban flags such as the POW/MIA flag remembering those who were prisoners of war or missing in action. The bill was a subject of debate at a contentious, standing-room only House K-12 Subcommittee meeting on Jan. 30, which ultimately delayed discussion of the bill.

It passed the House on Feb. 26. It passed a Senate committee and is awaiting a full Senate vote on April 23.

Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

Learn more: Tennessee House passes bill along party lines to ban pride flags in public schools

Therapy dogs in schools

SB1867/HB1908 would establish a one-year pilot program to place therapy dogs in five public schools in the 2024-25 school year.

The bill passed is set for a full Senate vote on April 15. It is expected to be taken up by the House for a floor vote on April 22.

Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

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Forgiveness of snow days

HJR0857, a House joint resolution, asks Tennessee Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds to forgive any snow days that public schools used during the week of Jan. 15, 2024. Many schools across Tennessee logged around six missed days of school, putting some districts critically low on allotted inclement weather days for the school year.

The House Education Administration Committee approved the measure on March 13. It is still awaiting a full House vote.

Rep. Michael Hale, R-Smithville, introduced the resolution in the House.

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What’s still pending

Here’s a look at the bills that are still working their way through committees or are still waiting to be taken up by House and Senate committees.

Retired officers, veterans as school resource officers

SB2025/HB1899 would allow retired law enforcement officers from federal, state or local agencies and honorably discharged U.S. veterans to serve as school resource officers.

It passed the full House 69-21 on April 16. It is still awaiting Senate action.

Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro, introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Shane Reeves, R-Murfreesboro, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

A similar measure, SB2291/HB2491, would expand what is allowed to be considered in deciding whether to hold back fourth graders affected by the state’s reading and retention law. At present, students who opted for yearlong fourth grade tutoring to avoid repeating third grade must show adequate growth on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program test or be held back. The bill proposes adding a parent-teacher conference to the mix to decide if fourth graders who fall short on their TCAP should receive more interventions or be retained.

Both the House and Senate version of the bill are still awaiting further committee action.

Sen. Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City, is the Senate sponsor of the bill. Rep Chris Hurt, R-Halls, is the House sponsor of the bill.

Districts given money equal to school vouchers

SB1924/HB2049 would require the state to give money back to districts if one of their students is given a state-funded scholarship to attend a private K-12 school. The amount given to the district would be equivalent to that of the scholarship if the student were enrolled at the district before leaving to attend the private school.

Neither chamber has taken up the bill yet.

Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, is the Senate sponsor of the bill. Rep. Johnny Shaw, D-Bolivar, is the House sponsor.

Expanding a Common Core materials ban

SB1696/HB1724 would ban any textbooks and instructional materials aligned to, associated with or derived from Common Core State Standards. Currently, materials that were created exclusively to align with Common Core are prohibited in Tennessee public schools. The bill would expand that list.

Neither chamber has taken up the bill yet.

Rep. Ron Gant, R-Piperton, introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Page Walley, R-Savannah, is the Senate sponsor for the bill.

Free school lunches

SB1896/HB1860, SB2389/HB2498 and SB2465/HB2652 all seek to establish free breakfast and lunch programs for all public school students in Tennessee. All were proposed by Democratic lawmakers. None of the bills have been taken up by the House or Senate yet.

Scholarships for children with a parent in Tennessee

SB2473/HB2756 would extend the Tennessee HOPE academic scholarship program to out-of-state high schoolers who have at least one parent who has resided in Tennessee for at least 10 years. It would also require those students to be considered for admission to state schools.

The bill is still awaiting action in the House and Senate.

Rep. Sam McKenzie, R-Knoxville, introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

Family leave for public charter school employees

SB2830/HB2923 would require public charter schools to provide employees six work weeks of paid leave after the birth or stillbirth of a child, or the adoption of a newly placed child.

Neither chamber has taken up the bill yet.

Rep. William Slater, R-Gallatin, introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

What’s failed, stalled out or been withdrawn

Bills can reach an impasse in a variety of ways in the Tennessee legislature. Sometimes lawmakers withdraw them, meaning they do not intend to pursue further action on the bill. Sometimes they fail to pass committees, meaning they won't make it to a full House or Senate vote. Other times they get relegated to a summer study, typically a death knell for legislation. Some never get taken up at all.

Here's a look at the bills that have failed, stalled or been withdrawn.

Expanding who can carry handguns on school property

SB2788/HB2883 would allow the following people to carry handguns, concealed or open, onto school property and school buses: on- and off-duty law enforcement officers, active duty and retired U.S. military members, and — except in "certain circumstances" — enhanced handgun carry permit holders.

The House version of bill was taken off notice on April 2. Typically, taking a bill off notice is an indicator it likely won't succeed. It is still awaiting Senate action.

Rep. Chris Todd, R-Madison County, introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

Metal detectors in schools

SB2765/HB2344 would establish funding for walk-through metal detectors for school districts.

The bill was taken off notice in the House on April 17. It is awaiting further Senate action.

Rep. Rush Bricken, R-Tullahoma, introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Janice Bowling, R-Tullahoma, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

Repealing the Education Savings Account program

HB0741/SB1024 would repeal the state’s Education Savings Account pilot program. The program provides taxpayer-funded vouchers that can be applied toward K-12 private school costs.

Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville, first introduced the Senate version of the bill during the 2023 regular legislative session before it was deferred to the current session. The bill failed in the House K-12 Subcommittee after it was not seconded on Feb. 13. The Senate Education Committee deferred the bill to a later date on March 22. No new date has been set for it to be heard.

Rep. Bo Mitchell, D-Nashville, is the House sponsor of the bill. Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

Testing, payback plan for private schools that accept vouchers

SB2273/HB2450 would require private schools that accept publicly funded vouchers toward student tuition to administer the same state-required testing as public schools. It also requires those schools to pay back a pro-rated amount of the scholarship if the student leaves the private school before the end of the school year.

The Senate version of the bill was sent to the General Subcommittee on March 20. The bill was sent to summer study in the House on March 26.

Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville, is the Senate sponsor of the bill. Rep. Yusuf Hakeem, D-Chattanooga, is the House sponsor.

Expanding who can challenge books in schools

SB1858/HB1632 allows parents to sue a local public school or public charter school to challenge books that violate the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022. Parents of children who attend or are eligible to attend those schools can file suit for books and other materials deemed "harmful to minors" under the existing law. Currently, the law allows employees, students and parents of students enrolled in a public school district to challenge materials used in the classroom — but it does not mention lawsuits.

The bill passed the Senate on March 28. The bill was taken off notice in the House on April 17.

Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

Removing ‘sexually explicit material’ from school libraries

SB2107/HB2457 would require the removal of “sexually explicit material” from libraries in public schools, and also establish a process to evaluate library materials for such content.

The Senate deferred the bill to summer study. The House bill is still awaiting action.

Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, introduced the bill in the Senate. Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mount Juliet, is the House sponsor of the bill.

Complaints on 'prohibited concepts'

SB1141/HB1377 would establish a process for "certain individuals" to file complaints against a public school district or public charter school for teaching or promoting "prohibited concepts" detailed under a controversial state law first passed in 2021. The state's prohibited concepts law bans instruction of a number of concepts, including that the United States is inherently racist or that "an individual, by virtue of the individual’s race or sex, is inherently privileged, racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or subconsciously."

The current bill was first filed in March 2023 in the House and Senate before being deferred. Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, is the sponsor of the House bill, which was taken back up in January. Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, sponsored the original Senate bill.

It was taken off notice in the House on Jan. 24. It failed to advance in a Senate committee last year, and the Senate has taken no further action on it this session.

SB1790/HB1844 would require districts to offer free school breakfasts and lunches to every student enrolled. It would also require the state to reimburse schools for the costs of the meals not covered by federal funds through existing lunch and breakfast programs or other federal programs.

The House version of the bill failed after it was not seconded in the House K-12 Subcommittee on March 12. It is still awaiting further action in the Senate.

House Democratic Caucus Chair John Clemmons of Nashville introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Sara Kyle, D-Memphis, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

Protecting student pedestrians

SB1996/HB2175 would establish a grant for local governments to design, construct and repair sidewalk infrastructure around public schools.

The bill was taken off notice in the House on April 17. It is still awaiting Senate action.

The bill was introduced in the House by Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville. Sen. Sara Kyle, D-Memphis, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

Free school lunches

SB2455/HB2335 seeks to establish free breakfast and lunch programs for all public school students in Tennessee.

The House version of the bill failed after it was not seconded in the House K-12 subcommittee on March 26. The bill has not yet been taken up in the Senate.

Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, is the House sponsor of the bill. Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

Grants for wearable emergency alert systems

SB1589/HB1627 would create a school safety grant for all schools — public, charter, private and religious — to purchase a wearable emergency alert system for all teachers and substitute teachers. The Tennessee Department of Education would award the grants, be required to study and collect data on them and report findings annually to the state House and Senate.

The House bill was withdrawn on Jan. 29. It is still awaiting Senate action.

Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, and Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet, are the sponsors of the legislation.

Voluntary Pre-K programs

SB2754/HB2769 would establish up to 1,200 voluntary pre-K programs for the 2024-25 school year, subject to appropriation.

The bill failed in the House K-12 Subcommittee of Education Administration on March 19. It is still awaiting Senate action.

Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, is the Senate sponsor of the bill. Rep. Dwayne Thompson, D-Cordova, is the House sponsor.

Reimbursing teachers for child care costs

SB1718/HB1709 proposes reimbursing full-time public school teachers for 66% of their monthly child care expenses. The child care would need to come from a program that is certified by the state Department of Education or licensed by the Department of Human Services. The state would partially reimburse districts and public charter schools for the costs.

The House bill was withdrawn on Jan. 22. It is still awaiting Senate action.

Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, is sponsoring the bill in the House. Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

Tuition discounts for full-time teachers

SB2930/HB2488 would give a 25% tuition discount to full-time, certified public school teachers who wish to take courses relevant to their job at a public college or university.

The House version of the bill was taken off notice on March 27. It is still awaiting Senate action.

Rep. Chris Hurt, R-Halls, introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Bill Powers, R-Clarksville, is the Senate sponsor for the bill.

Student loan repayment for school nurses

SB2294/HB2596 would create a grant program to repay student loans for advanced practice registered nurses to incentivize them to work in areas with health resource shortages.

The bill was taken off notice in the House on March 18. The Senate version of the bill is still awaiting action.

Sen. Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City, is the Senate sponsor for the bill. Rep. Iris Rudder, R-Winchester, is the House sponsor of the bill.

Tuition discounts for children of public school employees

SB2856/HB2705 would give a 25% tuition discount to children of full-time public school employees who have worked in a position, other than teaching, for at least seven consecutive years.

The bill failed in the Senate Education Committee on March 13 and was taken off notice in the House on March 27.

Rep. Iris Rudder, R-Winchester, introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

Tuition discounts for children of Tennessee Air, Army National Guard members

SB 1647/HB1929 would give a 25% tuition discount at state institutions of higher learning to children of active or retired Tennessee Army National Guard or Tennessee Air National Guard members.

The bill passed the Senate Education Committee on Feb. 7 and is still awaiting further committee action. The House bill was taken off notice on March 27.

Sen. Becky Massey, R-Knoxville, introduced the bill in the Senate. Rep. Dave Wright, R-Corryton, is the House sponsor of the bill.

State scholarships for cosmetology, barber, other trade schools

SB1752/HB1809 would make it so full-time students in private, for-profit schools for cosmetology, esthiology and barbering qualify for state-funded Tennessee Promise scholarships. The schools must be approved by the state's Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners to operate in Tennessee for at least 10 consecutive years. The schools must also be accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences Inc. and authorized by the state's higher education commission to offer diploma programs in cosmetology, esthiology and master barbering.

The bill was taken off notice in the House on March 27. It is still awaiting Senate action.

Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Becky Massey, R-Knoxville, is the Senate sponsor of the bill.

A lower Tennessee Reconnect Grant age requirement

SB1672/HB213 would lower the age requirement for the Tennessee Reconnect Grant to 21. The current minimum age requirement for the grant, which provides adults opportunities to earn an associate degree or technical certificate tuition-free, is 23.

The House version of the bill was taken off notice on March 27. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee on Feb. 7 and is awaiting further committee action.

Sen. Becky Massey, R-Knoxville, introduced the bill in the Senate. Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro, is the House sponsor of the bill.

Reach children's reporter Rachel Wegner at RAwegner@tennessean.com or follow her on Twitter, Threads and Bluesky @RachelAnnWegner.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee legislative session: Public education bills to watch