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TennesseeHB 2177114th General Assembly (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9; Title 49, Chapter 13; Title 49, Chapter 2; Title 49, Chapter 3 and Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 3, relative to public education.

Sponsored By: William Slater, William (Republican)

Became Law

Education

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Automatic renewal for top charters

Beginning July 1, 2026, authorizers must publish renewal policies aligned to their performance framework and tell each charter every year if it is on‑track or off‑track. A high‑performing charter that, for three years, meets at least 75% of indicators in each section, earns a TVAAS composite of above or significantly above expectations each year, and has no major audit findings gets automatic renewal. The authorizer must report that approval within 10 days and note it used the high‑performing rules. Routine renewals follow these high‑performing rules.

Cap on commission authorizer fees

Beginning July 1, 2026, when the commission authorizes a charter school, it charges an annual fee of up to 3% of the school’s per‑pupil state and local funding or $463,000, whichever is less. This reduces money the school keeps for operations.

Faster path to replicate charters

Beginning July 1, 2026, an operator with a charter running at least three full years can use the state replication form to apply locally. Commission‑authorized operators can apply directly to the commission to replicate in the same district. The commission must decide in 90 days or the application is approved; after a denial, the sponsor gets 30 days to amend and the commission has 60 days to decide or it is approved. The commission’s decision is final and cannot be appealed. If the commission approves, it becomes the school’s authorizer and LEA, and it may set rules under the state rulemaking process.

Stronger district budget and audit rules

Beginning July 1, 2026, school districts must send a full, signed budget to the state within 30 days of the fiscal year start and a signed annual financial report by October 1. When a district receives its audit, it must send a copy to the commissioner within 10 days. Records sent to the commissioner are available to the state comptroller on request. Local governments must share school funding collection records with the district or any funded charter school that asks. The state withholds education money from districts that do not provide all required reports.

Charter per‑student funding protected

Beginning July 1, 2026, any change a district makes to its financial report after December 1 cannot cut per‑pupil funding for charter schools in that district. This keeps charter students’ funding stable after that date.

Choose the student board member

Beginning July 1, 2026, the state board’s student member is chosen each year from nominees sent by local school boards or by charter governing bodies to the charter commission. Only juniors or seniors can be nominated. The commission may forward only one nominee, and only one nominee may come from each school system. A local board may nominate a student from a charter school it authorizes.

District services for charter students

Beginning July 1, 2026, the charter commission can require a district to contract to serve commission‑authorized charter students in that district. Services can include special education, placements, alternative schools, and eligibility assessments. The district does not have to create new programs to do this. The commission reimburses the district for the actual costs.

Small school funds skip audits

Beginning July 1, 2026, schools do not need separate audits of the internal school fund and the student activity fund if the two together total under $50,000. Those dollars can still be reviewed as part of the school’s general audit.

New lottery order at charters

Effective upon enactment, if a charter uses a lottery, its governing‑body‑approved policy must set the preference order. The policy ranks groups that include the school’s own pre‑K students first, then (if used) economically disadvantaged students, students from a partner charter with an articulation agreement, siblings, in‑district students who attended another public school last year, and out‑of‑district students last. Your child’s odds can go up or down based on these priorities.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • William Slater, William

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Scott Cepicky, Scott

    Republican • House

  • Aron Maberry, Aron

    Republican • House

  • Dawn White, Dawn

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 210 • No: 61

House vote • 4/22/2026

FLOOR VOTE: MESSAGE CALENDAR 3 CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENT # 2 4/22/2026

Yes: 60 • No: 22

Senate vote • 4/22/2026

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/22/2026

Yes: 26 • No: 4

House vote • 4/21/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026

Yes: 62 • No: 29

House vote • 4/20/2026

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 4/15/2026

HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE

Yes: 24 • No: 0

House vote • 4/15/2026

HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 12 • No: 0

House vote • 4/6/2026

HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE

Yes: 8 • No: 2

House vote • 3/31/2026

HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Yes: 13 • No: 3

House vote • 3/25/2026

HOUSE K-12 SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 5 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 1012

    5/26/2026

  2. Effective date(s) 05/19/2026, 07/01/2026

    5/26/2026

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/19/2026

  4. Transmitted to Governor for his action.

    5/7/2026House

  5. Signed by Senate Speaker

    5/5/2026Senate

  6. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/30/2026House

  7. Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

    4/28/2026House

  8. Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

    4/22/2026Senate

  9. Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

    4/22/2026Senate

  10. Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0790)

    4/22/2026Senate

  11. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 2 - SA1101)

    4/22/2026Senate

  12. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 26, Nays 4, PNV 2

    4/22/2026Senate

  13. H. Placed on Message Calendar 3 for 4/22/2026

    4/22/2026House

  14. H. concurred in S. am. no. 2 Ayes 60, Nays 22 PNV 8

    4/22/2026House

  15. H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0903)

    4/21/2026House

  16. Passed H., as am., Ayes 62, Nays 29, PNV 2

    4/21/2026House

  17. Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

    4/21/2026House

  18. H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026

    4/16/2026House

  19. Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/15/2026

    4/15/2026House

  20. Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

    4/15/2026House

  21. Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/15/2026

    4/15/2026House

  22. Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

    4/15/2026House

  23. Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/16/2026

    4/15/2026House

  24. Placed behind the budget

    4/8/2026House

  25. Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

    4/8/2026House

Bill Text

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