Senate committee advances Education Freedom Act establishing scholarship program, facilities fund and teacher bonus

The Tennessee Senate Education Committee voted 8–1 to send Senate Bill 6001, the Education Freedom Act of 2025, to the Finance Committee after a hearing that ran more than two hours and included state education officials, legal counsel and public testimony for and against the proposal.

Leader Johnson, presenting the bill on behalf of Governor Bill Lee, said the measure has three central pieces: a facilities fund for public school maintenance and construction, a $2,000 one‑time bonus for classroom teachers, and an Education Freedom Scholarship program for families to use at participating private schools. "This bill would direct 80% of these dollars to a new fund to be managed by the treasurer of the state to be used by LEAs for the construction and maintenance of public school buildings," Leader Johnson said when explaining the facilities component.

Why it matters: the bill combines an expansion of school choice with targeted state investments in school facilities and a teacher bonus, and it includes provisions intended to stabilize public school funding as scholarships are used. Supporters said the measure expands family options and provides capital money to districts; opponents raised concerns about accountability, special‑education protections and long‑term impacts on local school funding.

Key provisions and funding - Facilities fund: The bill would direct 80% of the state’s privilege tax on sports wagering into a new facilities fund administered by the state treasurer. Fiscal staff projected roughly $77,235,000 available for fiscal year 2025–26; the bill proposes roughly $25 per student in certain prioritized LEAs as a first distribution priority, a 15% set‑aside (of remaining funds) for schools damaged by natural disasters, and a remainder for other capital or maintenance needs as determined by the treasurer. The amendment adopted on the committee floor clarified distribution priorities and allows transfers to protect the HOPE Scholarship program if that program’s revenues decline.

- Teacher bonus: The bill…