Panel advances bill that would bar admissions and scholarship decisions based solely on race, ethnicity or national origin

The House Education Committee voted 15-4 to advance House Bill 377, which would prohibit Tennessee higher-education institutions from considering an applicant’s race, color, ethnicity or national origin when determining admission or scholarship eligibility.

Representative Zachary, the bill sponsor, told the committee the language is intended to codify current Supreme Court precedent after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (June 2023). He said the bill would require admissions and award decisions to be based on academic achievement, community service, leadership and character, and that the language was developed collaboratively with the University of Tennessee, Tennessee Board of Regents, Vanderbilt University and other institutions.

Committee discussion centered on how the bill would affect donor‑designated scholarship funds and long-standing endowments. An attorney for the committee explained the bill’s text would not require universities to return historic donor funds; rather, it would constrain future awards by prohibiting scholarships that are awarded solely on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin. The committee’s legal advisor also said the bill includes a private right of action allowing individuals who believe a violation has occurred to seek injunctive or declaratory relief.

Supporters argued the measure enforces individual merit-based review in light of federal court rulings. Opponents said the bill could upend long-standing private scholarships targeted at underrepresented groups and asked universities to clarify how they would handle legacy endowments and designated funds.

After extended questioning, committee members called the question; the clerk reported 15 ayes and 4 nays and the bill moved to the calendar and rules committee.