Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A bill that would have required illegal immigrants to pay tuition at local public schools for their children’s education failed in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.
Sponsored by Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16), Senate Bill 1044 (SB1044) failed to garner enough votes to pass out of committee, likely because of similarities to a bill sponsored by Senator Bo Watson which passed in the same committee on March 5th.
The nine-member committee, composed of 8 Republicans and 1 Democrat on Wednesday, voted 5 to 3 to kill the legislation. 2nd Vice-Chair Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis-District 29) was not present for the proceedings.
The legislators voting against the bill were Senators Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin-District 18), Adam Lowe (R-Calhoun-District 1), Mark Pody (R-Lebanon-District 17), Bill Powers (R-Clarksville-District 22), and Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield-District 23).
Watson’s bill (SB0836), instead of making tuition a requirement, would give public school districts the option to charge tuition if parents cannot prove that they are legally in the state and country.
If HB0793/SB0836 becomes law, all public schools and public charter schools in the state would have to verify a student’s legal status during enrollment. If legal status cannot be verified through documentation, LEAs and public charter schools could choose to charge an amount for tuition that could not be less than the TISA-based funding amount for the year.
Should a school choose to charge tuition, and the parents of a student fail to pay, enrollment could be denied. The bill would also create an appeals process, to be overseen by the Tennessee Department of Education, for students who may have a lawful presence in the United States.
As amended, Watson’s bill (SB0836) has been scheduled for the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for Tuesday, March 25th, 2025.
Contact Information for the members of the committee can be found below.
Sen.bo.watson@capitol.tn.gov, sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov, sen.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov, sen.ferrell.haile@capitol.tn.gov, sen.jack.johnson@capitol.tn.gov, sen.london.lamar@capitol.tn.gov, sen.bill.powers@capitol.tn.gov, sen.paul.rose@capitol.tn.gov, sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov, sen.ken.yager@capitol.tn.gov, sen.jeff.yarbro@capitol.tn.gov
Representative William Lamberth is carrying the House version of the bill (HB0793). It has been scheduled to be heard in the House Education Committee on March 26th, 2025.
Contact Information for the members of the committee can be found below.
Rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kevin.raper@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jody.barrett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov, rep.scott.cepicky@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ronnie.glynn@capitol.tn.gov, rep.yusuf.hakeem@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.chris.hurt@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.renea.jones@capitol.tn.gov, rep.aron.maberry@capitol.tn.gov, rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jay.reedy@capitol.tn.gov, rep.lee.reeves@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.william.slater@capitol.tn.gov, rep.robert.stevens@capitol.tn.gov
HB0793/SB0836 Summary: As introduced, authorizes LEAs and public charter schools to refuse to enroll students who are unlawfully present in the United States.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
5 Responses
This awesome Senator that always fights for the people of Tennessee has been a target for several years because she dares speak out and defy the Governor. It was more likely the bill failed because she is a target of leadership (and I use that title lightly) for several years. Time to do a MAJOR clean out of incumbents in both the House and Senate in 2026. It is time they understand it is the voter they need to fear not the Governor or leadership.
Agree 100%!
Got open primaries plus WAAY too many uninformed who vote only on the name they’ve saw/heard most for much to change. We’ve got SERIOUSLY flawed gubmint.
Thanx! Emailed them, ‘YES!!”, posted, “Tennesseans! Y’all help!!” to X.
Do you “Copy/Clip” all your replies??? This is the second time I’ve read the SAME words submitted by you……. Hmmm suspicious it is……….