Image Credit: Office of Gov. Bill Lee
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
On Friday, May 5th, 2023 Governor Bill Lee signed legislation that gives families in Hamilton County the opportunity to choose the best school for their child.
Through Tennessee’s Education Savings Account (ESA) program, hundreds of students across Nashville and Memphis can attend the school of their choice.
“Thanks to the partnership of the General Assembly, families in the Chattanooga area can now take advantage of this life-changing opportunity,” Gov. Lee said in a press release.
The Senate version of the bill sponsored by Senator Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga-District 10), SB0012, passed in the Senate on February 16th with “Nay” votes coming from Democrat Senators Akbari, Campbell, Kyle, Lamar, Oliver, and Yarbro.
Following, the House version of the bill sponsored by Representative Mark White (R-Memphis-District 83), HB0433, was amended to add Knox County to the ESA program. The amended version of the bill was passed in the House with a 57-35 vote in favor with Republican Representatives John Crawford, Kirk Haston, Brock Martin, and Jerome Moon abstaining from the vote.
The 35 nay votes were maintained by Representatives Beck, Camper, Carr, Chism, Clemmons, Darby, Dixie, Freeman, Gant, Glynn, Hakeem, Hardaway, Harris, Hawk, Hemmer, Hicks G, Holsclaw, Jernigan, Johnson G, Jones, Keisling, Love, McKenzie, Miller, Mitchell, Parkinson, Pearson, Powell, Raper, Shaw, Thompson, Towns, Warner, Whitson, and Speaker Sexton.
However, toward the end of the session, the Senate refused to concur with the House amendment that added Knox County to the ESA program.
To get the bill across the finish line, the House removed the amendment, defaulting the bill to its original form and another vote followed.
The bill passed the House 57 to 27 with 5 Republicans present but not voting.
Representatives Rush Bricken (R-Tullahoma-District 47), John Crawford (R-Bristol/Kingsport-District 1), Tandy Darby (R-Greenfield-District 76), Jerome Moon (R-Maryville-District 8) and Kevin Raper (R-Cleveland-District 24) declined to cast a vote on the matter.
Republicans voting against expanding school choice to Hamilton County were Dale Carr (R-Sevierville-District 12), David Hawk (R-Greeneville-District 5), Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill-District 92), Sam Whitson (R-Franklin-District 65) and Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville-District 25).
In a press release, Gov. Lee thanked Sen. Todd Gardenhire, Rep. Mark White and the General Assembly for their work to pass legislation that provides educational choice for more students and families.
Eligible families across Memphis, Nashville and Chattanooga are invited to apply for the 2023-2024 school year here.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
