HB 1889 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

School Vouchers - As introduced, establishes various audit and reporting requirements for the department of education and private schools that enroll recipients of an education freedom scholarship; limits eligibility for the scholarship program to students who are members of a family with an annual household income that does not exceed 300 percent of the amount required for a student to qualify for free or reduced lunch; requires scholarship recipients to be administered the same TCAP tests administered to public school students enrolled in the same grade level or course subject. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29; Title 8, Chapter 44; Title 10, Chapter 7 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

HB 1889 would limit Tennessee's education freedom scholarship program (vouchers) to families with annual incomes under 300% of the threshold for free or reduced-price lunch. It requires scholarship students to take the same state standardized tests as public school peers and mandates private schools receiving vouchers to undergo annual audits, disclose financial data, and publish test results. The bill also requires the education department to report annually on program participation, test outcomes, and scholarship spending to the legislature. These changes apply directly to low-income families seeking vouchers and private schools enrolling scholarship students. The program would expire on July 1, 2030.
Bill status failed 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Last action Mar 17, 2026
Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
3
Committee
5
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/17/2026
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action Def. in s/c K-12 Subcommittee to 3/17/2026
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/10/2026
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
P2C, ref. to Education Committee
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
Assigned to s/c K-12 Subcommittee
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Caleb Hemmer
Caleb Hemmer
DDemocratic
TN
59