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HB2617 • 2026

Labor and Workforce Development, Dept. of

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 14, relative to federal workforce Pell grants.

Education
Active

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

Sponsor
Hill, Taylor
Last action
2026-04-14
Official status
Sponsor(s) Added.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not specify details about preventing duplicate payments, only that coordination is required to avoid them.

Tennessee Workforce Pell Grant Act

This bill requires the governor to approve eligible workforce training programs for federal workforce Pell grants and coordinate with other state and federal programs to avoid duplicate payments.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the governor to approve all eligible workforce training programs that meet federal requirements for federal workforce Pell grants.
  • Directs the governor to work with the state's workforce development board to ensure coordination between different state and federal workforce programs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Governor of Tennessee
  • State agencies involved in workforce training programs
  • Students participating in eligible workforce training programs

Terms To Know

Federal Workforce Pell Grants
Grants provided by the federal government to help cover costs for students enrolled in approved workforce training programs.
Eligible Workforce Training Programs
Training programs that meet specific requirements set by federal law and can receive funding through Pell grants.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact fiscal impact of the bill cannot be predicted due to uncertainties in grant timing and extent.
  • It is unclear how many new positions will be required beyond those already mentioned in the summary.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  2. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  3. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  4. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  6. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 4/7/2026

  7. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  8. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Commerce Committee for 3/25/2026

  9. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  11. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee to 3/18/2026

  12. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Commerce and Labor Committee to 3/17/2026

  13. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  14. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/10/2026

  15. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Commerce and Labor Committee to 3/10/2026

  16. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  17. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/3/2026

  18. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee

  19. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Commerce Committee

  20. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

  21. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  22. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  23. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  24. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2193
By Taylor

HOUSE BILL 2617
By Hill
HB2617
012214
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
Chapter 3, Part 14, relative to federal workforce
Pell grants.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 14, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
4-3-1416. Federal Workforce Pell Grants – Approval – Implementation.
(a) For purposes of this section, "eligible workforce training programs" means
programs that meet applicable requirements in Section 83002 of Pub. L. No. 119-21.
(b) The governor shall, in consultation with the state workforce development
board:
(1) Approve all eligible workforce training programs for the purposes of
federal workforce Pell grants; and
(2) Coordinate approval of eligible workforce training programs with other
state and federal workforce programs to avoid duplicative payments for the same
student costs that are covered by federal workforce Pell grants.
(c) The board shall establish an internal procedure to determine that a program
meets the applicable federal requirements to be an eligible workforce training program.
(d) A department, agency, or board of state government does not have authority
to promulgate a rule to implement this section.
SECTION 2. The heading in this act is for reference purposes only and does not
constitute a part of the law enacted by this act. However, the Tennessee Code Commission is
requested to include the heading in any compilation or publication containing this act.

- 2 - 012214

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming law, the public welfare requiring it.