The 2026 Legislative Session: What Advocates Need to Know
As EdTrust-Tennessee reflects on the 2026 legislative session, the last year of the 114th General Assembly, here are some of the pressing education policies advocates should know about.
Threats to Education Access in Tennessee: Student Impact and Fiscal Considerations
The Tennessee General Assembly is considering multiple bills that [...]
HB 1711/SB 2108 Legislative Threat to Education for All
Introduced in 2026, HB 1711/SB 2108 threatens undocumented students’ [...]
HB 1710/SB 1915 Legislative Threat to Education for All
Introduced in 2026, HB 1710/SB 1915 threatens access to [...]
HB 2532/SB 2247 Seeks to Expand Vouchers and Opt Tennessee into the Federal Voucher Program
This administration bill, sponsored by Rep. Lamberth and Sen. [...]
Public Dollars, Public Accountability: Why Tennessee’s Voucher Program Can’t Be Exempt from Transparency
The Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) program is entirely funded by state dollars, which are public funds. It should have to adhere to the same degree of accountability and transparency as other public services that receive public funds.
Status Update: HB793/SB836
Introduced in 2025, this bill was openly discussed by both sponsors as a vehicle to overturn the Plyler v. Doe precedent, which guarantees all children living in the United States access to free public education regardless of immigration status. Advocacy by thousands of Tennesseans halted the bill’s progress in 2025, but sponsors are bringing it back in 2026. The version passed by the Senate and the version debated in the House differ from one another in significant ways, and the two chambers will have to agree on one version of the bill for it to pass. The bill must also be signed into law by Governor Lee.
Latest Developments in Protecting Undocumented Student Access to K-12 Public School
In the 114th General Assembly, Tennessee lawmakers have filed two bills designed to challenge a constitutional and long-standing legal precedent that guarantees all children living in the United States access to free public school, regardless of documentation status.
