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TennesseeSB 1272114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT, to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 50, Part 8; Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 6; Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 9; Title 49, Chapter 10, Part 14; Title 49, Chapter 16, Part 2; Title 49, Chapter 18, Part 1; Title 49, Chapter 2, Part 1; Title 49, Chapter 3, Part 1; Title 49, Chapter 3, Part 3; Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 10; Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 30; Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 31; Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 41; Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 50; Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 2 and Chapter 1005 of the Public Acts of 2024, relative to education.

Sponsored By: Jack Johnson (Republican)

Became Law

Education

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

11 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.

More reliable IEA funds for families

IEA money is paid at least every quarter. The yearly IEA amount equals your LEA’s base funding plus its average special education funds under TISA. If your child got IEA funds in 2024–25, they cannot get less in 2025–26 or later. Your child is still counted in your home LEA’s enrollment, and the state subtracts IEA funds from that LEA’s state payments.

Six-week parental leave rules for educators

To qualify for six workweeks of paid parental leave, you must be full time with the same LEA or public charter for 12 straight months in a licensed job. You must have held a valid license or emergency credential that whole 12 months. Leave must be taken all at once unless your director approves an exception. If taken in parts, you must use at least a full week at a time. You must use the leave within 12 months of the birth, adoption, or stillbirth.

Easier school access for vulnerable students

Schools cannot deny admission to a child in state custody just because shots or records are missing. Schools must follow federal rules that protect these students’ education. The law also adds deafness as a covered condition in state special education law.

Schools can bank 13 makeup days

Schools that add an extra half hour to each day all year can save up to 13 stockpile days. These days can cover time lost to bad weather, major illness outbreaks, disasters, district planning, parent-teacher conferences, or approved teacher training. They can be used in whole, half, or one‑third day blocks. They cannot be used to end the school year early or carried to the next year, and schools must document their use.

Transfer students’ scores won’t skew grades

If a student attends a school or district for under half the year, their test and growth data cannot be used in that school’s or district’s grades or goals. Their data can count for the school or district where they were enrolled for at least half the year.

Tutoring grants to boost learning

The education department can run a grant program to help districts and charter schools provide tutoring. Grants only run if lawmakers provide funding.

TISA funding floor for school districts

A district’s TISA allocation cannot fall by more than 5% from the prior year. If it would, the state adds money so the drop is no more than 5%, unless another law requires different funds. Starting in 2025–26, eligibility for this help uses only funds generated by students in non‑virtual schools.

Remote school days and meal access

Rules that rely on a remote-instruction trigger now use five days instead of two. On remote-instruction days, your district must offer school meals when it is safe and possible. Meals must follow school nutrition program rules.

Clean-up: fixes and repeals in education law

The law corrects cross‑references in a 2024 education act and deletes parts of that act. It also repeals several code sections and subsections in education law. These changes remove or correct prior text; real‑world effects depend on what the deleted parts had required or allowed.

New school reporting to state

If the comptroller asks, districts must report last year’s average daily membership. If the education department asks, districts must report their use of corporal punishment. When a Senate or House education committee asks, the department must report on academic acceleration.

Updates to school finance deadlines and terms

One finance deadline moves from June 1 to July 31. A recurring report moves from July 1 to February 1 each year, starting in 2026. The law replaces old BEP wording with TISA in statute. It also raises a numeric threshold in finance law from 20 to 30.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jack Johnson

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Dawn White

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 357 • No: 90

Senate vote • 4/17/2025

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 2 4/17/2025

Yes: 27 • No: 5

House vote • 4/15/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 2 BY LAMBERTH PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/15/2025

Yes: 74 • No: 21

House vote • 4/15/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/15/2025

Yes: 70 • No: 23

House vote • 4/15/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 2 BY LAMBERTH PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/15/2025

Yes: 77 • No: 19

House vote • 4/14/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/14/2025

Yes: 72 • No: 22

Senate vote • 3/6/2025

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/6/2025

Yes: 28 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/26/2025

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 235

    4/29/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 04/23/2025

    4/29/2025

  3. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/23/2025Senate

  4. Signed by Governor.

    4/23/2025Senate

  5. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/22/2025Senate

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/22/2025Senate

  7. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/22/2025House

  8. Concurred, Ayes 27, Nays 5 (Amendment 2 - HA0435)

    4/17/2025Senate

  9. Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/17/2025

    4/16/2025Senate

  10. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/16/2025Senate

  11. Motion to lift from table adopted.

    4/15/2025House

  12. Motion to reconsider adopted.

    4/15/2025House

  13. Passed H., as am., Ayes 70, Nays 23, PNV 0

    4/15/2025House

  14. H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA0435)

    4/15/2025House

  15. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/14/2025House

  16. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0294)

    4/14/2025House

  17. Passed H., Ayes 72, Nays 22, PNV 0

    4/14/2025House

  18. Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

    3/10/2025House

  19. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0028)

    3/6/2025Senate

  20. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 28, Nays 0

    3/6/2025Senate

  21. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/6/2025Senate

  22. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/6/2025

    3/4/2025Senate

  23. Sponsor(s) Added.

    2/26/2025Senate

  24. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

    2/26/2025Senate

  25. Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 2/26/2025

    2/19/2025Senate

Bill Text

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