Tennessee House Bill HB1544

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/13/26
• Refer: 1/15/26
• Failed: 3/17/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to reporting for the education freedom scholarship program.

Impact

The bill specifically mandates the reporting of key demographic and financial data, such as recipients' county of residence, schools attended at the time of application, and the private schools receiving the scholarship funds. This will allow legislators and the public to better understand the reach of the scholarship program and assess its effectiveness. By establishing a structured reporting timeline, with the first report due by June 1, 2026, HB1544 aims to provide a consistent and transparent overview of the program's impacts over the years.

Summary

House Bill 1544 is proposed legislation aimed at amending Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, concerning the education freedom scholarship program. The bill sets forth new requirements for annual reporting by the department overseeing the program to the general assembly. The intent is to promote transparency and accountability in the administration of the scholarship program by issuing updates on various metrics, including the number of scholarships awarded, the income levels of recipients, and associated costs.

Contention

While the bill emphasizes the importance of accountability, some concerns may arise regarding the privacy of scholarship recipients. Although the bill stipulates that personally identifiable information must not be included in the reports, there may be debates over whether the level of detail required could inadvertently expose sensitive information about students and their families. Opponents might argue that the push for transparency should not compromise the privacy rights of individuals involved in the program.