NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee House of Representatives is expected to meet soon to discuss a budget proposal that could decide the fate of Gov. Bill Lee's school voucher expansion bill.
Traditionally, the budget proposal is heard by lawmakers as the General Assembly approaches the end of its legislative session.
This year, that budget proposal could decide on the fate of the governor's plan to offer public funds to pay for nonpublic school costs, otherwise known as universal school vouchers.
Supporters of the plan said it was meant to give families more choices over where their children go to school. Critics said that it effectively diverts funds away from public schools, and said the vouchers likely wouldn't cover the full cost of attending nonpublic schools.
Three competing bills on the voucher program have been proposed this session by the Senate, House and Gov. Lee. The bills each have different scopes and goals — indicating divisions in the legislature's Republican supermajority.
Rep. Jason Zachary (R - Knoxville) said Lee's "Education Freedom Scholarship Act" will likely not pass this legislative session. Zachary joined the ranks of bipartisan lawmakers who have spoken against the program.
Rep. Bryan Richey (R-Maryville) and Rep. Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville) previously voted against the plan when it went through House committees.
The House's version of the school voucher program is estimated to cost $400 million, but only $144 million has been allocated for it in the House's current budget proposal. House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R - Crossville) said representatives would not pass a bill for universal school vouchers until all lawmakers can agree on its cost and what it covers.
That effectively gives lawmakers three options: to find more money for the plan, to move forward with a cheaper plan or to get rid of the plan altogether.
Lawmakers in the House were originally expected to discuss the budget proposal on Wednesday, but Sexton's office said representatives weren't taking the floor that night to give the Finance, Ways and Means Committee more time to work through its calendar.