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HB2485 • 2026

Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA)

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 1 and Title 49, Chapter 3, relative to economically disadvantaged students.

Education
Active

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

Sponsor
Haston, Hensley
Last action
2026-05-27
Official status
Effective date(s) 05/21/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA)

Present establishes the Tennessee investment in student achievement formula (TISA) as the system for funding education for K-12 public schools.

What This Bill Does

  • Present establishes the Tennessee investment in student achievement formula (TISA) as the system for funding education for K-12 public schools.
  • As part of TISA, each student generates a funding allocation that includes (i) a base funding amount, (ii) we ighted allocations for which the individual student satisfies certain criteria, and (iii) direct allocations for which the individual student satisfies certain criteria.
  • TISA provides for a 25% weighted allocation for a student who is economically disadv an taged.
  • Present law defines "economically disadvantaged" to mean a homeless, foster, runaway, or migrant student or a student eligible for free or reduced-price school meals or milk through the direct certification eligibility guidelines established in fe deral law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB2485

Plain English: House Finance, Ways, and Means 1 Amendment No.

  • House Finance, Ways, and Means 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to HB2485 Hicks G Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 2385* House Bill No.
  • 2485 HA1193 017942 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting instead: SECTION 1.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2385

Plain English: Senate Finance, Ways, and Means 1 Amendment No.

  • Senate Finance, Ways, and Means 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to SB2385 Watson Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 2385* House Bill No.
  • 2485 SA1076 017942 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting instead: SECTION 1.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 05/21/2026

  2. 2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 1032

  3. 2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1032

  4. 2026-05-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2026-05-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  6. 2026-05-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2026-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  8. 2026-04-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  9. 2026-04-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  10. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  11. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA1076)

  12. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  13. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  14. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  15. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  16. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  17. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 93, Nays 1, PNV 0

  18. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA1193)

  19. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/22/2026

  20. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  21. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 11, Nays 0 PNV 0

  22. 2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026

  23. 2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/20/2026

  24. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/16/2026

  25. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  26. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/15/2026

  27. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  28. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026

  29. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  30. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  31. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  32. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/1/2026

  33. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  34. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  35. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/24/2026

  36. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  37. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Education Committee to 3/24/2026

  38. 2026-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  39. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/17/2026

  40. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  41. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Education Committee

  42. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/10/2026

  43. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  44. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  45. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  46. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c K-12 Subcommittee to 3/10/2026

  47. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  48. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/4/2026

  49. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/3/2026

  50. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Education Committee to 3/4/2026

  51. 2026-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  52. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 2/25/2026

  53. 2026-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  54. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c K-12 Subcommittee

  55. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Education Committee

  56. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  57. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  58. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  59. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  60. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present establishes the Tennessee investment in student achievement formula (TISA) as the system for funding education for K-12 public schools. As part of TISA, each student generates a funding allocation that includes (i) a base funding amount, (ii) we
ighted allocations for which the individual student satisfies certain criteria, and (iii) direct allocations for which the individual student satisfies certain criteria. TISA provides for a 25% weighted allocation for a student who is economically disadv
an
taged. Present law defines "economically disadvantaged" to mean a homeless, foster, runaway, or migrant student or a student eligible for free or reduced-price school meals or milk through the direct certification eligibility guidelines established in fe
deral law.

This bill expands the definition of "economically disadvantaged to include a student who is (i) a medicaid beneficiary or (ii) from a household that receives benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Fam
ilies, or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.

TISA ALLOCATIONS

Beginning with TISA allocations for the 2027-2028 school year, this bill requires the department of education ("department") to allocate additional funds to a local education agency ("LEA") if an LEA's TISA allocation for the current school year is less
than the LEA's TISA allocation for the immediately preceding school year, and the reduction is due to a reduction in the LEA's weighted allocations based on the amount of economically disadvantaged students. Such an additional allocation must be equal to
t
he weighted allocations generated by the LEA for the immediately preceding school year. However, any additional funds provided to a LEA pursuant to this provision must be solely state funded.

Present law prohibits an LEA's allocated education funding from decreasing more than 5% from one year to the next year. The department is required to allocate additional funds to such an LEA in an amount to bring the decrease to 5%. Additionally, prese
nt law requires the department to allocate additional funds to an LEA if their TISA allocation is less than the previous school year, and the school has experienced disenrollment. This bill requires the department to allocate additional funds based on a
lo
wer amount of economically disadvantaged students to an LEA before considering whether the LEA is eligible for additional allocations pursuant to this program.

This bill provides that the additional TISA allocation provisions pertaining to economically disadvantaged students, as described above, are repealed on July 1, 2030.

EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS PLAN

No later than January 1, 2027, this bill requires the department to submit a request to the United States department of education to amend this state's Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan to change the definition of the economically disadvantaged subg
roup to include all students who are directly certified to receive free lunch without having to complete the household application and that homeless, runaway, and migrant children and children from households that receive benefits under the Supplemental N
ut
rition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or TennCare, are deemed "categorically eligible" for free school meals and are directly certified.

ON APRIL 21, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2485, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, require the TISA review committee to complete all of the following by November 1, 2026:



Review how economically disadvantaged students have been identified in this state in each of the immediately preceding 10 years.


Review how other states identify and fund economically disadvantaged students in public schools.


Include in its annual report recommendations for how this state may revise the ways in which it identifies economically disadvantaged students to ensure this state is accurately identifying the students in need of additional resources and recommendations for how this state may better support economically disadvantaged students through the TISA.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2385
By Hensley

HOUSE BILL 2485
By Haston
HB2485
012477
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
Chapter 1 and Title 49, Chapter 3, relative to
economically disadvantaged students.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-3-104(10), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting:
(10) "Economically disadvantaged" means:
(A) As defined in Tennessee's Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan
established pursuant to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (20 U.S.C. §
6301 et seq.), a homeless, foster, runaway, or migrant student or a student
eligible for free or reduced-price school meals or milk through the direct
certification eligibility guidelines established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 1751-1769;
and
(B) A student who is:
(i)
(a) A medicaid beneficiary; or
(b) From a household that receives benefits under the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or the Food Distribution
Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR); and
(ii) Eligible for free school meals or milk through the direct
certification eligibility guidelines established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§
1751-1769;

- 2 - 012477

SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-3-108, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(j)
(1) Beginning with TISA allocations for the 2027-2028 school year, if an
LEA's TISA allocation for the current school year is less than the LEA's TISA
allocation for the immediately preceding school year, and the reduction is due to
a reduction in the LEA's weighted allocations generated pursuant to § 49-3-
105(b)(1) based on the amount of economically disadvantaged students, then the
department shall allocate additional funds to the LEA such that the weighted
allocations generated by the LEA pursuant to § 49-3-105(b)(1) for the current
school year is equal to the weighted allocations generated by the LEA pursuant
to § 49-3-105(b)(1) for the immediately preceding school year.
(2) Any additional funds provided to an LEA pursuant to this subsection
(j) must be solely state funded. If an LEA is eligible for additional funds under
this subsection (j) and subsection (c) or subsection (i), then the department shall
award additional funds to the LEA pursuant to this subsection (j) first before any
calculations are made for purposes of subsection (c) or subsection (i).
(3) This subsection (j) is repealed on July 1, 2030.
SECTION 3. The department of education shall, no later than January 1, 2027, submit a
request to the United States department of education to amend this state's Every Student
Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan for purposes of changing the definition of the economically
disadvantaged subgroup to include all students who are directly certified to receive free lunch
without having to complete the household application and that homeless, runaway, and migrant
children and children from households that receive benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Food

- 3 - 012477

Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or the state's Medicaid program, are
deemed "categorically eligible" for free school meals and are directly certified.
SECTION 4. Section 3 of this act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare
requiring it. All other sections of this act take effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.