The Tennessee Senate agreed to increase the Education Freedom Scholarships by 5,000 less than second-term Republican Gov. Bill Lee proposed, by just four votes, with eight Republicans voting against it.
House Bill 2532 adds 10,000 scholarships to the 5,000 already approved by the 2025 law that enacted school choice, bringing the total number to 35,000 for the 2026-27 school year.
Lee proposed adding 15,000 scholarships, doubling the current 20,000 to 40,000, at a price tag of $304 million. The money would come from the general fund and not the public school funding formula.
Nashville Democrat Charlane Oliver called the bill "irresponsible."
