Tennessee Votes

HB1979 Childcare Spending (Passed 73 to 8 on 4/22/2026). Creates new state-funded childcare-assistance programs.

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.

HB1271 Biological Sex (Passed 72 to 16 on 3/30/2026). Requires Tennessee state and local governments to define sex and gender as male or female based on anatomy and genetics at birth.

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.

Would remove the provision of state law that declares "it is the responsibility" of each parent to ensure that their child receive the vaccines "recommended" by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Prevents the Department of Children's Services from denying a parent's ability to foster or adopt based upon the parent's religious or moral beliefs regarding "sexual orientation or gender identity."

Specifies that a court may order "reasonable visitation" to grandparents when it is in the "best interests of the child" if such visitation is opposed by the child's custodial parent(s).

Would require the Department of Human Services to actively seek and apply for federal grants and other available federal funds for the purpose of alleviating "childhood hunger.

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.

Prohibits healthcare providers from performing certain medical procedures on minors or administering specific treatments if the purpose is to help the minor identify with or live as an identity that is claimed but inconsistent with the minor's biological or assigned sex at birth.

Permits a cause of action for wrongful death against someone who kills a mother and her unborn child regardless of gestational age.

Permits a cause of action for wrongful death against someone who kills a mother and her unborn child regardless of gestational age.

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.