The House Higher Education Subcommittee convened Wednesday to hear two bills, both of which TICUA supports and were passed with little discussion. Additionally, a House Joint Resolution (HJR0175) unanimously passed that urges Tennessee universities to adopt principles of institutional neutrality, free expression and civil discourse, and the preservation of a safe and respectful campus.
HB0504/SB0682 makes various positive changes and improvements to the Tennessee Future Teacher Scholarship Act of 2023. TICUA has actively been working with house sponsors, SCORE, and many of our campus education faculty members to make this scholarship more accessible to our students. Since implementation of the pilot program 3 years ago, only 9 students have been able to take advantage of it. Changes include reducing the time commitment for teaching in a target area and/or high demand specialty from four years down to two years; changing the scholarship from last dollar to a flat $5,000 per year for two years, and expanding eligibility to most all Tennessee residents who are enrolled in a teacher preparation program, not only current HOPE recipients.
HB1006/SB0913 As introduced, expands the list of those who are prohibited from serving on a state university board to include those who hold the position of a member of a governing body for another institution of higher education, not just public institutions of higher education. TICUA and other higher education lobbyists have been meeting with committee members and sponsors to understand the intent of this bill, which could force TICUA board members to choose between service on one of our boards and service on a TN public institution board. Chairman Baum was receptive to TICUA’s concerns and questioned the bill’s sponsor, Representative Hawk out of Greene county, during the committee meeting. The bill, however, did pass subcommittee. Since Wednesday, TICUA presidents, board members, and other higher education lobbyist have continued to ask questions about the unintended consequences of this bill, and it appears the bill may slow down and or be amended before moving forward to the full education committee and/or the Senate. TICUA is actively working this bill. We believe Tennessee to be a very collaborative state. Many stakeholders have a vested interest in seeing all institutions across sectors succeed, and we do not see a reason to limit a board member’s engagement across sectors.
Meanwhile, the Senate Education Committee had a full calendar of budget hearings and bills on Wednesday afternoon. The only higher education bill that was voted on and passed was SB0682/HB0504, as explained above, which amends the Tennessee Future Teacher Scholarship Act of 2023. This bill should go to the Calendar Committee next and may be the first higher education bill to make it to a floor vote this session.
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