Senate education committee advances bill to expand dual-enrollment grant eligibility to sophomores
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Summary
The Senate Education Committee advanced Senate Bill 1409 to allow sophomores to receive dual-enrollment grants previously limited to juniors, seniors and some TCAT students; the committee voted unanimously to send the bill to finance after adopting an amendment delaying the effective date to July 1, 2026. The fiscal note is $553,000 for year one and sponsors said funding would come from lottery proceeds.
The Senate Education Committee on its calendar advanced Senate Bill 1409, a measure to expand eligibility for Tennessee’s dual-enrollment grant program to include high school sophomores, the bill’s sponsor said.
Senator Hensley, the bill sponsor, told the committee the change would add sophomores to the pool of students eligible for grants that currently cover juniors, seniors and students who completed eighth grade and enrolled at a TCAT. She said the only change in the committee amendment was to set the bill’s effective date to July 1, 2026.
The bill’s fiscal note, the committee heard, is $553,000 for the first year. Lou Hanuman of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation told the committee that the funding source for the expansion would come from lottery proceeds and cautioned that the lottery’s long-term fiscal outlook shows possible shortfalls even though the commission expects to remain solvent this fiscal year. Hanuman also noted that dual-enrollment participation has been growing substantially in recent years, which increases pressure on lottery-funded programs.
Senator Pote pressed the sponsor and the commission representative on the lottery’s ability to sustain expansions; Hensley acknowledged the concern and said the bill would require coordination with finance to identify funding. Hensley urged a favorable vote, saying the measure would increase student access to college credit while in high school.
The committee adopted the effective-date amendment by voice vote and then approved the bill by a recorded voice vote; the chair announced nine ayes and the bill was reported to the finance committee.
What’s next: SB 1409 will be considered by the Senate Finance Committee for funding decisions and, if funded, may return to the floor for further action.
Sources and attribution: Quotes and fiscal details are drawn from statements by Senator Hensley and Lou Hanuman during the committee hearing.