Education - As enacted, enacts the "Better Spending, Better Schools Act of 2026." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 49 and Title 67.
HB 2121, the "Better Spending, Better Schools Act of 2026," requires Tennessee local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools to annually submit detailed spending reports to the state comptroller's office and the Department of Education by August 1. The reports must break down expenditures into specific categories like classroom instruction, student support services, administrative costs, and facility operations. The Department of Education must then publicly post these reports on the state’s school report card, alongside total state funding and local contributions for each school. This bill directly affects all Tennessee public schools and charter schools by mandating transparency in how education funds are spent.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 4, 2026
Signed May 19, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
35
Key actions
16
Committee
14
Amendments
1
May 19, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
May 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Apr 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 22, 2026
Introduced
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
lower
Apr 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, Ayes 25, Nays 6
upper
Apr 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0636)
lower
Apr 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed H., as am., Ayes 86, Nays 4, PNV 0
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/15/2026
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/15/2026
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/16/2026
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Committee
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/10/2026
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Committee
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Education Committee
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/3/2026
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
Ref. to Education Committee
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
Assigned to s/c K-12 Subcommittee
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Ryan Williams
RRepublican
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