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SB1151 • 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
Crowe, Vital
Last action
2026-04-14
Official status
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on other changes to Tennessee Code or limitations on the use of funds from the Lottery for Education Account.

Lottery Scholarships and Programs Act

This act removes a time limit requirement for students with intellectual disabilities to receive Tennessee STEP UP scholarships.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the requirement that a student with an intellectual disability must be admitted to and enrolled in college within 16 months after finishing high school to get a Tennessee STEP UP scholarship.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Students with intellectual disabilities who want to receive Tennessee STEP UP scholarships.
  • The state of Tennessee's higher education funding programs.

Terms To Know

Lottery for Education Account
A fund created from lottery earnings used to support educational scholarships and programs in Tennessee.
Tennessee STEP UP scholarship
An award given by the state of Tennessee to help students pay for college tuition.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much money will be saved or spent as a result of these changes.
  • It is unclear if this change will affect other scholarship requirements for students with disabilities.
  • The exact impact on the Lottery for Education Account and Tennessee Promise Scholarship Special Reserve Account remains uncertain.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  2. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  3. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  4. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on Final cal. of Higher Education Subcommittee

  5. 2026-01-20 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  6. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  7. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  8. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  9. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  10. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  11. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  12. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  13. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  14. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  16. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  17. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  18. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  19. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Higher Education Subcommittee

  20. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  21. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Education Committee

  22. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  23. 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 
HOUSE BILL 789
By Vital

SENATE BILL 1151
By Crowe

SB1151
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.