Image Credit: Gov. Bill Lee / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
After hinting about a special session earlier this week, Governor Bill Lee has announced a date for the end of this month for lawmakers to convene and focus on his school voucher bill.
Passing the Education Freedom Act of 2025 is Lee’s legislative priority this year, and he appears eager to get lawmakers to buckle down and get his pet project passed.
A joint statement from Lee, Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, and House Majority Leader William Lamberth states that they believe the General Assembly “has a responsibility to act quickly on issues that matter most to Tennesseans.” Citing “widespread” support among lawmakers and the general public for a special session to deal with “the most pressing legislative priorities” with vouchers at the top of the list, the date has been set for Monday, January 27th.
Along with the voucher bill, lawmakers will look at further relief for Hurricane Helene, and contemplate recovery needs for future natural disasters by investing in a $450 million disaster relief plan.
Lawmakers are also set to address public safety measures with regard to immigration in light of the incoming Trump Administration’s call to states to prepare for policy implementation.
While the joint statement says that the majority of Tennesseans, and not just Republicans, are for school choice, Tennesseans gathered all across the state on Tuesday at rallies to protest Lee’s plan.
Not all lawmakers are on board with the plan, and some who are on the fence or generally supportive appear to be uneducated on what the specifics of the bill include.
To avoid a repeat of last year when the House and Senate ran differing bills, legislative leadership introduced a pair of matching bills two months before the 114th General Assembly convened.
In addition to establishing the Education Freedom Scholarships, the legislation throws a bone to teachers in the way of a bonus, and increases facilities funding for K-12 public schools. Hundreds of millions of dollars is also promised to be invested in the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) formula and in raising the pay of new teachers.
An official call for the special session, along with more details, are expected in the next few days.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
