A bill filed for school vouchers for Tennessee students has transitioned for a special session, finally mapping out the funding for how the initiative would even work.

On Thursday, Jan. 30, the Tennessee House and Senate passed the proposed school choice program, a disaster relief package for those affected by Hurricane Helene and an immigration bill. Now, all three are headed to Lee’s desk for a final signature.

The Tennessee House attached an amendment to the proposal requiring local school boards to approve the program in order to access $2,000 bonuses for teachers.

The Senate sponsor defended the voucher proposal against critics who said it favors affluent families: “It shouldn’t be based on income. It should be universal.”

The Tennessee state Congress passed Governor Bill Lee's heavily pushed school voucher bill Thursday, on what is expected to be the final day of the special session the governor called to vote on this initiative and several others.

Republican Governor Bill Lee also called the special session to pass bills related to recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene. Those bills also passed.

Gov. Lee called for a special session for his proposed school choice program, a disaster relief package for those affected by Hurricane Helene, and prepare the state for President Trump’s new immigration policies.

The bill would effectively allow public money to be used by families across the state to pay for private education costs. It will now head to Gov. Bill Lee's desk.

The legislature’s Republican supermajority left little room for debate, pushing through millions of dollars and sprawling policy changes in a special session that lasted just four days.

The Tennessee House on Thursday approved Gov. Bill Lee’s universal private school voucher bill, while the Senate was to take up the matter later in the day.

Gov. Bill Lee’s bill to expand school vouchers statewide has sailed through two House committees, setting up a final floor vote as early as Wednesday.