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SB0603 • 2026

Education, Higher

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to higher education.

Children Education Labor Taxes
Active

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

Sponsor
Bailey, Butler
Last action
2025-04-21
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details about the impact of the report on understanding the effectiveness of the scholarship program.

Higher Education Scholarship Reporting Act

This bill requires the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation to submit an annual report about scholarship awards and applications by July 31 each year.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation to send a yearly report by July 31st.
  • The report must include details for each of the five most recent academic years, such as how much money was given for scholarships, how many people applied, how many got scholarships, and the average amount awarded.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation
  • Lawmakers who are part of committees that deal with higher education

Terms To Know

Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation
A group in Tennessee that gives out scholarships to help students pay for college.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the consequences if the report is not submitted on time.
  • It's unclear how this new reporting requirement might influence future scholarship programs or funding decisions.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB1147

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to Tennessee law that allows dependent children of killed or injured law enforcement officers or firefighters to receive tuition and fee waivers at public institutions of higher education, subject to certain conditions.

  • Dependent children of law enforcement officers or firefighters who were killed or died due to injuries while on duty are eligible for a waiver of tuition, maintenance fees, student activity fees, and required registration or matriculation fees at public institutions of higher education.
  • The waiver is only available in academic years where the state has appropriated funds sufficient to cover the lost revenue from waived fees.
  • To receive the waiver, dependent children must provide official certification from their parent's employer verifying that they were killed or died due to injuries while on duty.
  • The amendment does not specify how refunds or credits will be handled for those who have already paid tuition and fees before qualifying for the waiver.
  • It is unclear what happens if a dependent child qualifies after turning twenty-three years old but has not yet completed their undergraduate degree.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0603

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to Tennessee law that allows dependent children of killed or injured law enforcement officers or firefighters to receive free tuition and fees at public institutions of higher education.

  • Dependent children of law enforcement officers or firefighters who died in the line of duty are eligible for a waiver of tuition, maintenance fees, student activity fees, and required registration or matriculation fees at Tennessee's public colleges and universities.
  • To qualify, dependent children must provide official certification from their parent’s employer verifying that the officer or firefighter was killed or injured while on duty.
  • The age limit is flexible if the child starts college before turning 23 years old and remains eligible until they earn an undergraduate degree or reach certain credit hour limits.
  • The amendment does not specify how schools will handle refunds for dependent children who have already paid fees before receiving certification of eligibility.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee

  2. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2025

  3. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/15/2025

  4. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/15/2025

  5. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025

  6. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  7. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025

  8. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  9. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  11. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 4/1/2025

  12. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  13. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  14. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

  16. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Higher Education Subcommittee

  17. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Education Committee

  18. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/12/2025

  19. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  20. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  21. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  22. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  23. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  24. 2025-01-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 1147
By Butler

SENATE BILL 603
By Bailey

SB0603
001807
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
relative to higher education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-4-704, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(j) The corporation shall submit an annual report to the education committee of
the senate and the committee of the house of representatives having jurisdiction over
postsecondary education detailing, for each of the five (5) immediately preceding
academic years for which the corporation awarded scholarships pursuant to this section,
the amount appropriated by the general assembly for the scholarship program, the total
number of scholarship applications received by the corporation, the total number of
scholarship recipients, and the average scholarship award amount. The corporation
shall submit the report by July 31, 2025, and by each July 31 thereafter.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.