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TennesseeSB6001indirectBecame Law

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 8 and Title 49, relative to the Education Freedom Act of 2025.

  1. Introduced
  2. Passed Senate
  3. Passed House
  4. To Governor
  5. Became Law

Overview

Tennessee's Education Freedom Scholarship Act creates a scholarship program that allows individuals and businesses to receive tax credits for donations to scholarship-granting organizations. Homeschooling families may be eligible to use these scholarships for education expenses, depending on program rules.

Why it matters: This legislation could expand educational funding options available to homeschoolers by making private education costs (including homeschool materials, tutoring, and courses) potentially eligible for tax-credit-funded scholarships, though the exact scope depends on how the program is implemented.

Topic: esa_voucher_taxcredit · classifier confidence 85%

What this changes

Creates a new law or program

Law today: The bill does not spell out the prior law in the summary provided, though it references amendments to multiple titles of Tennessee Code Annotated governing education and related matters.

If passed: This bill establishes the 'Education Freedom Scholarship Act,' which appears to create a scholarship or funding mechanism related to education freedom. Without the full text, the specific impact on homeschooling families—whether scholarships would be available to homeschoolers, what conditions apply, or how it relates to parental choice—cannot be determined from the title and summary alone.

AI-generated from the bill text — verify against the official text.

Likely supporters & opponents

Likely support

  • school-choice advocates — Education freedom scholarship programs expand parental options and provide funding flexibility for families seeking alternatives to traditional public schools.
  • homeschool families seeking funding access — If scholarships are available to homeschoolers, such programs reduce the financial burden of home education.

Likely opposition

  • public-school funding advocates — Scholarships that direct state education funding away from public schools reduce resources available to public education systems.

AI-inferred typical positions based on the bill’s substance — general stakeholder categories, not confirmed endorsements.

Should I support this?

Little direct impact

The bill's title and summary do not provide enough detail to assess its actual effect on homeschooling freedom or burdens. If scholarships are available to homeschoolers without new registration or reporting requirements, it could be helpful; if it ties funding to oversight or conditions, it could be mixed. The full text is needed to evaluate fairly.

An AI assessment from a Christian-family perspective — religious freedom, parental rights, and freedom in education — not legal or voting advice.

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Official summary

As enacted, enacts the "Education Freedom Scholarship Act." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 8 and Title 49.

Sponsors

  • Jack Johnson (R)
  • Dawn White (R)
  • John Stevens (R)
  • Shane Reeves (R)

Status timeline

  1. 2025-02-25Comp. became Pub. Ch. 7
  2. 2025-01-30Companion House Bill substitutedS
  3. 2025-01-30Sponsor(s) Added.S
  4. 2025-01-29Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 1/30/2025S
  5. 2025-01-29Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar CommitteeS
  6. 2025-01-28Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 8, Nays 1 PNV 0S
  7. 2025-01-28Passed on Second Consideration, refer to to Senate Education CommitteeS
  8. 2025-01-27Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 1/29/2025S
  9. 2025-01-27Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 1/28/2025S
  10. 2025-01-27Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationS
  11. 2025-01-22Filed for introductionS

H = House · S = Senate · A = Assembly