Tennessee Votes

SB1713 DEI Restrictions (Passed 26 to 5 on 4/22/2026). Strengthens enforcement of Tennessee's restrictions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in government and public higher education.

HB2532 Education Scholarships (Passed 18 to 14 on 4/16/2026). Expands Tennessee's Education Freedom Scholarship program by increasing the maximum number of scholarships available for the 2026-27 school year.

Authorizes Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools to refuse to enroll students who are unlawfully present in the United States.

Exempts fully online, self-paced private schools from certain regulations. The State Board of Education can no longer mandate these schools adhere to rules on class size, school calendar, vaccination requirements, or student assessments to qualify as Category III nonpublic schools.

Creates a state-funded scholarship program offering up to 20,000 K-12 vouchers for private-school tuition and related expenses.

Authorizes a faculty or staff member of a school to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds.

Requires the Department of Human Services to identify any federal regulations or state law or rules that inhibit its ability to deliver benefits for the food assistance program.

Would prohibit the display of any flag other than the United States flag and the official Tennessee state flag in public schools.

Eliminates the obligation for parents or teachers of homeschooled students to provide proof of immunizations and health services to the local education agency.

Broadens the eligibility for education savings accounts (ESAs) to include students who were not enrolled in a Tennessee public school for the full year before receiving an ESA but were enrolled in and attended a Tennessee public school.

Requires an LEA or public charter school to notify a student's parent or guardian prior to commencing instruction of a "sexual orientation or gender identity" curriculum.

Requires an LEA or public charter school to notify a student's parent or guardian prior to commencing instruction of a "sexual orientation or gender identity" curriculum.