NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Republican Gov. Bill Lee on Wednesday redoubled his efforts to implement universal school vouchers across Tennessee by ordering the GOP-dominant Statehouse to pause their regular legislative duties and focus on passing a bill that would allow families to use public dollars for private school education.
The announcement comes at a strange time. Tennessee lawmakers began their regular, months-long legislative session this week and are easing their administrative duties. However, instead of going through the typical process of passing legislation, Lee has called for a so-called special session — which limits lawmakers to topics outlined by the governor. The special session begins on January 27.
For years, Lee has tried to expand school vouchers, but with limited success. While Republicans narrowly won a bid in 2019 to create a school voucher program for low-income families in a small number of counties, Lee failed to garner enough support to launch a universal school program last year. Democrats and local school leaders opposed the proposed voucher push.
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It is unclear whether the political landscape has changed enough in the months since Lee conceded defeat in April 2024. With Lee’s support and a financial boost from voucher advocates, a handful of new lawmakers won elections last November, but many were reluctant to say so publicly. make their position known on universal school vouchers.
Still, the governor’s proposal has the support of Tennessee’s top legislative leaders, many of whom issued a joint statement Wednesday declaring that “we believe the state has a responsibility to act quickly on issues that matter most to Tennesseans.” are most important.”
To ease the debate over school vouchers, Lee also directed lawmakers to pass a $450 million relief package for those affected by Hurricane Helene, and to “address public safety measures related to immigration , as the new Trump administration has called on states to prepare for policies. implementation,” according to a press release from Lee’s office. It would take place a week after the inauguration of newly elected President Donald Trump.
Lee’s government provided no further details on what those public safety measures might be, but promised more information in the coming days.
Lee has joined a group of Republican governors and lawmakers who have pledged support for Trump’s pledge to deport millions of people living in the U.S. illegally. Lee told reporters earlier this month that he would be open to using the state’s National Guard to carry out Trump’s vision.
Meanwhile, in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis has called a special session on Trump’s immigration policies and other topics scheduled for the same week as Tennessee’s. But the state’s Trump-supporting Republican legislative leaders have said it is “premature” and “irresponsible” to hold the session and pre-empt any Trump announcements on immigration enforcement plans. Lawmakers don’t start their regular session in Florida until March 4.
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Associated Press writer Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida, contributed to this report.
