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News & Press: Policy Update

TICUA Policy Update: Lottery Calendar Created, Future Teacher Scholarship Proposed, & More

Friday, February 3, 2023  
Posted by: TICUA

113th General Assembly
Policy Update

February 2, 2023

House Subcommittee Creates Lottery Calendar

The House Education Administration Higher Education Subcommittee heard its first bill this week. SB74/HB27 allows unused portions of the Hope Scholarship to be used in pursuit of an advanced degree. The initiative is being sponsored by Sen. Bo Watson and Rep. William Lamberth. The bill was amended to include students attending graduate programs at TICUA member institutions.

The hearing of the bill triggered the subcommittee to create a lottery calendar to be considered during the final days of the session. This allows the subcommittee to consider all bills impacting lottery funding at one time. The bill expanding lottery eligibility to Western Governors University is slated to be considered on Monday of next week, but it, too, will be deferred to the lottery calendar.

Future Teacher Scholarship Pilot Proposed

SB1220/HB432 proposes the creation of the Future Teacher Scholarship Act of 2023. The scholarship is proposed to cover tuition and mandatory fees at a public university. To be eligible, students must graduate from high school with at least a 3.0 GPA, obtain a 21 on any single ACT test, be admitted to an approved teacher preparation program, complete the FAFSA, maintain a 2.75 college GPA, and agree to teach in a targeted setting for four years. If the student fails to teach in the targeted setting for a full four years, the student will need to repay the scholarship for each year short of the commitment.

The sponsors of the measure are Sen. Dawn White and Rep. Mark White. TICUA is working with the sponsors to amend the bill to expand eligibility to students attending a TICUA campus with an approved teacher preparation program. If amended, it is likely the scholarship amount will be capped at the average public university tuition and mandatory fee rate.

Bill Seeks a Pathway for DACA Students

SB297/HB1294, sponsored by Sen. Todd Gardenhire and Rep. Yusuf Hakeem, requires the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) to administer a tuition loan program for students who are not otherwise eligible to receive the in-state tuition at a public university. To be eligible, the student must be enrolled in an approved teacher preparation program and agree to teach in a public school upon graduation for a period of no less than five years.

The bill is designed to provide in-state tuition at public colleges and universities for those who live in the state but are not eligible for in-state tuition. This will impact non-residents who are legally in the United States. Several TICUA member institutions provide deep tuition discounts for students in similar situations.

 Measures Introduced to Prohibit DEI

and Implicit Bias Training

To date, there have been two measures introduced to eliminate DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) and implicit bias training among public institutions. The first bill is SB603/HB571, sponsored by Sen. Joey Hensley and Rep. Michele Carringer. The measure would ensure that all medical providers and medical institutions of higher education certify that they do not, and will not, require their employees, contractors, volunteers, vendors, or agents to ascribe to, study, or be instructed with DEI material with respect to state funds.

The second bill is SB102/HB158, introduced by Sen. Todd Gardenhire and Rep. Jason Zachary. It prohibits a local education agency (LEA), public charter school, public college or university, the State Board of Education, and the Tennessee Department of Education from requiring an educator or employee of a public institution to participate in implicit bias training.

Firearm Legislation Filed

SB827/HB977, introduced by Sen. Joey Hensley and Rep. Todd Warner, expands the right of lawful firearm owners to possess weapons on public and private higher education grounds and in parks. Specifically, the bill reads, “The possession or carrying of a firearm by an adult who is not prohibited from carrying a firearm is not prohibited by this section on the property of any university, college campus, or other public or private non-K-12 educational institution.”

TICUA intends to visit with the sponsors to clarify their intent and express concerns on how the drafting of the bill seems to remove the autonomy of private colleges and universities to self-determine campus firearm policies.

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