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TennesseeHB6004indirectBecame 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 House
  3. Passed Senate
  4. To Governor
  5. Became Law

Overview

This bill establishes Tennessee's Education Freedom Scholarship Act, which provides tax credits and scholarships that help families pay for education options including private schools and homeschooling services.

Why it matters: Homeschooling families may become eligible to use these education scholarships to fund curriculum, tutoring, testing, or other educational services, making homeschooling more affordable for some families.

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.

If passed: The bill creates the 'Education Freedom Scholarship Act,' which amends multiple sections of Tennessee law relating to education funding and administration. Without the full bill text, the specific mechanics—such as whether scholarships fund private school tuition, homeschool expenses, education savings accounts, or other education costs—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 Scholarships expand parental choice by directing public education funds to families to select their preferred educational path, including homeschooling.
  • homeschool advocacy organizations — If the scholarship program includes homeschooling expenses, it reduces financial barriers for families choosing to homeschool.

Likely opposition

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

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

Should I support this?

Little direct impact

The title and summary indicate a scholarship or education-choice program, which could be helpful to homeschoolers if it funds homeschool expenses, but without the full bill text, the actual scope and mechanics—including whether homeschoolers qualify, what expenses are covered, and what conditions apply—cannot be assessed. A complete analysis requires the detailed statutory language.

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

💬 Chat about this bill ↗Official bill text ↗View on LegiScan ↗

Official summary

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

Sponsors

  • William Lamberth (R)
  • Mark White (R)
  • Scott Cepicky (R)
  • William Slater (R)
  • Tim Hicks (R)
  • Aron Maberry (R)
  • Chris Todd (R)
  • Lee Reeves (R)
  • Jake McCalmon (R)
  • Mike Sparks (R)

Status timeline

  1. 2025-02-25Effective date(s) 02/12/2025, 07/01/2025
  2. 2025-02-25Pub. Ch. 7
  3. 2025-02-12Signed by Governor.
  4. 2025-02-11Transmitted to Governor for his action.H
  5. 2025-02-10Signed by Senate SpeakerS
  6. 2025-02-03Signed by H. SpeakerH
  7. 2025-01-31Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.H
  8. 2025-01-30Passed Senate, Ayes 20, Nays 13S
  9. 2025-01-30Amendment tabled (Amendment 3 - SA6014)S
  10. 2025-01-30Amendment tabled (Amendment 2 - SA6013)S
  11. 2025-01-30Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA6002)S
  12. 2025-01-30Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.S
  13. 2025-01-30Received from House, Passed on First ConsiderationS
  14. 2025-01-30Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.H
  15. 2025-01-30Passed H., as am., Ayes 54, Nays 44, PNV 1H
  16. 2025-01-30Sponsor(s) Added.H
  17. 2025-01-30H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA6001)H
  18. 2025-01-30Failed to adopt H. am no. 22, Ayes 37, Nays 54, PNV 5H
  19. 2025-01-30Am. tabled. (Amendment 21 - HA6026)H
  20. 2025-01-30Am. tabled. (Amendment 20 - HA6025)H
  21. 2025-01-30Am. tabled. (Amendment 19 - HA6024)H
  22. 2025-01-30Am. tabled. (Amendment 18 - HA6023)H
  23. 2025-01-30Am. tabled. (Amendment 17 - HA6022)H
  24. 2025-01-30Am. tabled. (Amendment 16 - HA6021)H
  25. 2025-01-30Am. tabled. (Amendment 15 - HA6020)H
  26. 2025-01-30Am. tabled. (Amendment 14 - HA6019)H
  27. 2025-01-30Am. tabled. (Amendment 13 - HA6018)H
  28. 2025-01-30Am. tabled. (Amendment 12 - HA6017)H
  29. 2025-01-30Am. tabled. (Amendment 11 - HA6016)H
  30. 2025-01-30Am. tabled. (Amendment 10 - HA6015)H
  31. 2025-01-30Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 9 - HA6014)H
  32. 2025-01-30Am. tabled. (Amendment 8 - HA6013)H
  33. 2025-01-30Am. tabled. (Amendment 7 - HA6012)H
  34. 2025-01-30Am. tabled. (Amendment 6 - HA6011)H
  35. 2025-01-30Am. tabled. (Amendment 5 - HA6010)H
  36. 2025-01-30Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 4 - HA6009)H
  37. 2025-01-30Am. tabled. (Amendment 3 - HA6008)H
  38. 2025-01-30Failed to adopt, (Amendment 2 - HA6007) Ayes 17, Nays 75, PNV 0H
  39. 2025-01-29Sponsor(s) Added.H
  40. 2025-01-28H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 1/30/25H
  41. 2025-01-28Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee of 1st Extraordinary Session for 1/28/2025H
  42. 2025-01-28Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee of 1st Extraordinary SessionH
  43. 2025-01-28Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee of 1st Extraordinary Session for 1/28/2025H
  44. 2025-01-28Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee of 1st Extraordinary SessionH
  45. 2025-01-28Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee of 1st Extraordinary Session for 1/28/2025H
  46. 2025-01-28Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee of 1st Extraordinary SessionH
  47. 2025-01-28Placed on cal. Education Committee of Extraordinary Session for 1/28/2025H
  48. 2025-01-28P2C, ref. to Education Committe--Government Operations for reviewH
  49. 2025-01-27Sponsor(s) Added.H
  50. 2025-01-27Intro., P1C.H
  51. 2025-01-22Filed for introductionH

H = House · S = Senate · A = Assembly