Special session to decide on Tennessee voucher bill is underway

Yesterday, various committees of the State House and Senate met to discuss Governor Lee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Act.

The bill got an unexpected boost from President Donald Trump yesterday afternoon. Trump posted on social media “Congratulations to Tennessee Legislators who are working hard to pass School Choice this week, which I totally support. We will very soon be sending Education BACK TO THE STATES, where it belongs. It is our goal to bring Education in the United States to the highest level, one that it has never attained before. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” 

Here is an update of what happened with the bill yesterday in Nashville: 

The House Education Committee met and passed the bill through the committee by a 17-7 vote. 

The House Government Operations Committee passed the bill 17-5.

The House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee passed the legislation 21-6.

Since the bill passed all committee hearings in the House, The House Calendar and Rules Committee placed the Education Freedom Scholarship Act on Thursday's calendar, where it will be voted on by the full House.

In the Senate, the Senate Education Committee passed the bill 8-1. 

The Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee will meet today to consider the bill. If the bill clears the committee, the full Senate could also vote on the bill on Thursday or Friday. 

WCLE will keep you up to date on this story.