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SB0125 • 2026

Education, Higher

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 49 and Title 50, relative to financial aid for individuals pursuing workforce credentials.

Education Labor
Active

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

Sponsor
Haile, Vaughan
Last action
2025-03-19
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide additional details beyond confirming the summary provided in the candidate explanation.

Study on Financial Aid for Workforce Credentials

This bill requires the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to study state-funded financial aid and scholarship programs to see if they can be expanded to help more people get workforce credentials.

What This Bill Does

  • The Tennessee Higher Education Commission must work with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to look at all state-funded financial aid and scholarship programs.
  • They need to find out if these programs can give more money to people who want to earn a workforce credential.
  • The commission also needs to check on private programs offered by employers or other groups that help people get workforce credentials.
  • By January 15, 2026, the commission must tell the relevant committees in both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly about their findings and any suggestions for new laws.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Tennessee Higher Education Commission
  • The Department of Labor and Workforce Development
  • People interested in getting workforce credentials

Terms To Know

Workforce credential
A certificate or other proof that someone has the skills needed for a specific job.
Financial aid
Money given to help people pay for education, like scholarships and grants.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not say how much money will be spent on the study.
  • It is unclear what specific changes might come from the recommendations made by the commission.
  • The bill only requires a report; it does not create new financial aid programs.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee

  2. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  3. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  4. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  5. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Higher Education Subcommittee

  6. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Education Committee

  7. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  8. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  9. 2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  10. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  11. 2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 474
By Vaughan

SENATE BILL 125
By Haile

SB0125
000744
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 49 and Title 50, relative to financial aid for
individuals pursuing workforce credentials.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1.
(a) The Tennessee Higher Education Commission, in consultation with the
Department of Labor and Workforce Development, shall study:
(1) Each state-funded financial aid and scholarship program to determine
whether the respective program may be expanded to provide greater financial aid
opportunities for individuals interested in pursuing a workforce credential; and
(2) The number and scope of each financial aid and scholarship program
independently offered by employers or other private entities or organizations in
this state to increase the number of individuals with a workforce credential.
(b) The Commission shall report its findings and any legislative
recommendations to the committee of the house of representatives having jurisdiction
over higher education and to the education committee of the senate no later than
January 15, 2026.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.