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HB0789 • 2026

Lottery, Scholarships and Programs

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 50, Part 1; Title 49, Chapter 7 and Title 49, Chapter 4, relative to higher education.

Education
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Vital, Crowe
Last action
2026-03-18
Official status
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Higher Education Subcommittee of Education Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide information about the fiscal impact beyond the specified amount and does not clarify how the change will affect funding from the Lottery for Education Account.

Lottery Scholarships and Programs Act

This act changes Tennessee's higher education laws by removing a time limit for students with intellectual disabilities to receive the Tennessee STEP UP scholarship.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the requirement that students with documented intellectual disabilities must be admitted to an eligible postsecondary institution within 16 months after finishing high school to qualify for the Tennessee STEP UP scholarship.
  • Amends Title 8, Chapter 50, Part 1; Title 49, Chapter 7 and Title 49, Chapter 4 of the Tennessee Code Annotated.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Students with documented intellectual disabilities who are applying for the Tennessee STEP UP scholarship.
  • Postsecondary institutions in Tennessee that participate in the STEP UP program.

Terms To Know

Tennessee STEP UP Scholarship
A financial aid program in Tennessee designed to help students pay for college or other postsecondary education.
Intellectual Disability
A condition that significantly affects a person's intellectual and adaptive functioning.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act does not specify how the change will affect funding from the Lottery for Education Account.
  • It is unclear if this change will increase or decrease the number of students eligible for the scholarship.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Higher Education Subcommittee of Education Committee

  2. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  3. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on Final cal. of Higher Education Subcommittee

  4. 2026-01-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee - behind budget

  5. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 1/21/2026

  6. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 1/20/2026

  7. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  8. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee to 2nd Calendar of 2026

  9. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Higher Education Subcommittee to First calendar of 2026

  10. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 3/26/2025

  11. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  12. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Higher Education Subcommittee to Lottery Calendar

  14. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/19/2025

  15. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 3/12/2025

  16. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  17. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Higher Education Subcommittee

  18. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  19. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Education Committee

  20. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  21. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  22. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1151
By Crowe

HOUSE BILL 789
By Vital

HB0789
001841
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8,
Chapter 50, Part 1; Title 49, Chapter 7 and Title
49, Chapter 4, relative to higher education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-4-943(b)(4), is amended by
deleting "no later than sixteen (16) months after completing high school".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to scholarships awarded for the 2025-2026 academic year and for each academic year
thereafter.