Senate Bill 2247, also known as House Bill 2532, amends the Tennessee Code Annotated to enhance educational funding and scholarship provisions. It specifies that students must be enrolled in "any of the grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12) at" the time of application for scholarships and introduces a new subsection (f) in Section 49-6-3504, allowing for a maximum of 35,000 scholarships for eligible students in the 2026-2027 school year, contingent on appropriation. The bill also expresses Tennessee's intent to participate in the federal education tax credit program under The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act, requiring the governor to make this election by December 31, 2026.

Additionally, the bill revises funding allocations for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) experiencing disenrollment, ensuring that additional funds are allocated based on prior year allocations and the average per pupil state funds for disenrolled students. It prioritizes scholarship awards based on previous scholarship status and household income, while prohibiting scholarships for students in private schools that promote foreign laws potentially violating constitutional rights. The bill mandates annual standardized testing for scholarship recipients, specifically the Tennessee comprehensive assessment program (TCAP) tests, with provisions for exemptions for students with disabilities. Overall, the legislation aims to improve funding mechanisms for LEAs and ensure accountability through testing for scholarship recipients.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-6-3502(7), 49-6-3502, 49-6-3504
Amended with HA1065, HA1066, HA1122, HA1123, HA1128 -- 04/13/2026: 49-6-3502(7), 49-6-3502, 49-6-3504, 49-3-108(i), 49-3-108, 49-6-3504(c), 49-6-3508(c), 49-6-3508, 49-6-2606(a)(1), 49-6-2606, 49-6-3507(a)(1), 49-6-3507, 49-10-1403
Amended with HA1065, HA1066, HA1122, HA1123, HA1128, SA1054 -- 04/16/2026: 49-6-3502(7), 49-6-3502, 49-6-3504, 49-3-108(i), 49-3-108, 49-6-3504(c), 49-6-3508(c), 49-6-3508, 49-6-2606(a)(1), 49-6-2606, 49-6-3507(a)(1), 49-6-3507, 49-10-1403