HB 6004 creates the "Education Freedom Scholarship Act," allowing eligible Tennessee students to use public funds for private school tuition starting in the 2025-2026 school year. It directly affects Tennessee residents in grades K-12 who attend public schools (excluding homeschool or church-related school students), prioritizing lower-income families with household income under 300% of the free/reduced lunch threshold. The program allocates up to 20,000 scholarships annually, with 10,000 reserved for qualifying low-income students and 10,000 available to all eligible applicants, using income-based criteria for allocation. Scholarships are funded through state appropriations and administered by the Tennessee Department of Education.
HB 6005 is a state budget bill that allocates funds for Tennessee's 2024-2025 fiscal years, covering state operations and specific programs. It provides $225.8 million annually for Education Freedom Scholarships, $210 million for Hurricane Helene disaster recovery funds (split between interest payments and emergency response), and $20 million to rebuild Hampton High School in Carter County. Additional funds include $240 million for military and disaster relief cost-sharing, $17 million for high-performing schools, and $6.2 million to cover expenses for the 114th General Assembly's extraordinary session. The bill directs state agencies to manage these funds for designated purposes without policy changes.
