Tennessee House Passes Bill Expanding Vouchers to 35,000 Kids

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee House of Representatives passed an amended bill late Monday, April 13, to expand the state's school voucher program by increasing the cap from 25,000 to 35,000 scholarships, marking a significant escalation in Gov. Bill Lee's push for universal school choice.[5] The measure, part of ongoing efforts to enhance the Education Freedom Act signed into law earlier in 2025, provides tax credits for donations to scholarship organizations, targeting low-income families in cities like Memphis and rural counties alike.[2][4] House approval followed intense debate, with the bill now awaiting Senate action before reaching the governor's desk. The expansion arrives on the heels of the 2025 universal voucher launch, which offered 20,000 initial scholarships worth $7,075 each — half prioritized for families earning below $173,000 for a household of four — set to phase out income limits in year two.[2] State analysts project the broader program, including this increase, will cost taxpayers over $1.1 billion in its first five years, with 65% of funds likely benefiting students already in private schools and 35% drawing from public enrollments.[2] Proponents, including Lee, frame it as a 'milestone' for K-12 innovation, while opponents — including Democrats and rural Republicans — cited failed amendments for accountability and disability protections during the 54-44 House vote on the original act.[2] Tennessee's moves align with a national surge, including a federal tax-credit scholarship under President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, offering up to $1,700 per donor to fund private school choices that could stack with state programs.[3] Local impacts loom large: A Memphis family might combine state ESAs with federal aid for tuition or homeschooling, but the Department of Education has yet to detail coordination.[1] The bill also ties into teacher bonuses and public school reimbursements, funded partly by sports betting revenues, underscoring the high stakes for Tennessee's 1 million public school students.