Governor Lee announces special session on vouchers for January 27

Governor Bill Lee (Photo by Governor Lee’s office)

After weeks of speculation, Governor Bill Lee officially announced his decision Wednesday morning to call for a special session on January 27 to address his Education Freedom Scholarship Act of 2025 (frequently called vouchers), Hurricane Helene relief for East Tennessee, and illegal immigration.

Lawmakers convened the legislative session on Monday, but are planning to pause activities next week so that members can attend the inauguration of President-elect Trump.

“We believe the state has a responsibility to act quickly on issues that matter most to Tennesseans, and there is widespread support in the General Assembly and across Tennessee for a special session on the most pressing legislative priorities: the unified Education Freedom Act and a comprehensive relief package for Hurricane Helene and other disaster recovery efforts,” said Governor Lee in a joint statement with Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge; House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville; Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin; and House Majority Leader William Lamberth R-Portland. “The majority of Tennesseans, regardless of political affiliation, have made it clear that they support empowering parents with school choice, and the best thing we can do for Tennessee students is deliver choices and public school resources without delay. Additionally, Hurricane Helene was an unprecedented disaster across rural, at-risk, and distressed communities that cannot shoulder the local cost share of federal relief funds on their own. The state has an opportunity and obligation to partner with these impacted counties and develop innovative solutions for natural disasters going forward. Finally, the American people elected President Trump with a mandate to enforce immigration laws and protect our communities, and Tennessee must have the resources ready to support the Administration on Day One.”

If passed during the special session, the Education Freedom Scholarship Act of 2025 would allow families to use taxpayer money to send their children to private school. The program would begin in the 2025/26 school year with a maximum of 20,000 participants who would be able to use the Education Freedom Scholarships for private school tuition, books, fees, and other expenses.

At least 10 thousand scholarships would be reserved for students with an economic need, those participating in the existing Education Savings Account program, and students with an identified disability including autism, deaf-blindness, or an intellectual disability.

Democrats have united in opposition to the Education Freedom Scholarship plan, arguing it would take needed money away from public schools. Wednesday, the chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party issued a statement, blasting the Governor’s decision to tie the special session on to Hurricane Helene relief.

“Governor Lee is exploiting the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene to advance his partisan agenda, forcing legislators to choose between helping disaster victims and undermining our public education system. Holding disaster relief hostage to push school vouchers is political opportunism at its worst, said Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Hendrell Remus.

Governor Lee previously utilized a special session in 2021 to focus on solutions to the COVID learning loss students were experiencing following the pandemic.