Tennessee General Assembly Kicks off 2025 Session; Committee Changes; Updated Rule Package; Special Session Announcement
The much-anticipated 2025 legislative session kicked off on Tuesday January 14th, 2025, as lawmakers convened in Nashville for the swearing in of the 114th Tennessee General Assembly. Highlights included the election of speakers and constitutional officers, the appointment of committees, and the announcement of a special session called by Governor Bill Lee, which commenced on January 27th.
Legislature Elects Leadership and Constitutional Officers
Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) has been re-elected to a fifth term as Speaker of the Senate, with all 27 Republican Senators voting in favor of his reappointment. Meanwhile, the Democratic Senators unanimously voted "present not voting”, declining to support McNally. Senator Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin) has been reappointed as Senate Speaker Pro Tempore. Sen. John Stevens (R-Huntingdon) and Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) have been appointed as Senate Deputy Speakers.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) was re-elected to his fourth term with 75 votes in his favor. The remaining 23 votes went to Democratic Leader Karen Camper (D-Memphis). Representative Pat Marsh (R-Shelbyville) has been re-elected House Speaker Pro Tempore, and Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville) will serve as House Deputy Speaker in place of the retired Rep. Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville).
The House and Senate convened jointly to elect the state’s Constitutional officers. The legislature voted to retain the current officers, with votes that largely followed party lines. Jason Mumpower was re-elected to his second consecutive two-year term as Comptroller; David Lillard was re-elected to his eighth consecutive two-year term as Treasurer; and Tre Hargett was re-elected to his fourth consecutive four-year term as Secretary of State.
Committee Shakeups
In advance of session, intrigue swirled around who would retain their respective chairmanships.
In the House, Speaker Cameron Sexton adjusted both the ranks of committee chairs and the structure of the committees themselves. One of the most significant changes this session is the restructuring of House committees. In previous years, there were multiple committees each for Judiciary, Education, and State and Local Affairs. This year, these have been consolidated into three main committees: one for Judiciary, one for Education, and one for State and Local Government. This restructuring is designed to promote greater efficiency. The reformed Judiciary Committee will be chaired by Rep. Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville) and will have three subcommittees: Civil Justice, Criminal Justice, and Children and Family Affairs. Rep. Mark White (R-Memphis) will chair the Education Committee, which will have four subcommittees: Education Administration (chaired by Rep. William Slater, R-Gallatin), Higher Ed (chaired by Rep. Charlie Baum, R-Murfreesboro), Education Instruction (Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka), and K-12 (Rep. Kirk Haston, R-Lobelville). Finally, Rep. John Crawford (R-Bristol) has been named chairman of the newly combined State and Local Government Committee, with four subcommittees: Department and Agencies, Public Service, Cities and Counties, and Elections and Campaign Finance.
Rep. Gary Hicks (R-Rogersville) will now serve as Chairman of the Finance, Ways, and Means Full Committee, a position previously held by former Rep. Patsy Hazlewood (R-Signal Mountain) who was defeated in last year’s election. Rep. Kevin Vaughan (R- Collierville) has been reappointed to serve as the chair of the Commerce Committee. The Transportation Committee will be chaired by Rep. Dan Howell (R- Cleveland) once again, while the Transportation Subcommittee has newly appointed Rep. David Hawk (R- Greeneville) as chairman.
The Senate experienced significant changes as well. Sen. Shane Reeves (R-Murfreesboro) will take over as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, succeeding Sen. Steve Southerland (R-Morristown). Sen. Ed Jackson (R-Jackson) has been appointed to chair the Government Operations Committee, replacing Sen. Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield). Additionally, following Senator Jon Lundberg's (R-Bristol) electoral defeat, Sen. Dawn White (R-Murfreesboro) has assumed the role of chair of the Education Committee.
Sen. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville) will continue to chair the Transportation Committee. The Commerce and Labor Committee will continue to be chaired by Sen. Paul Bailey (R-Sparta) and Sen. Bo Watson (R-Chattanooga) will remain serving as the chair of the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.
Special Session Recap
Tennessee Legislature Pushes Forward During Special Session
The Tennessee legislature has been in full swing, working late into the evening during the special session that concluded after four days. Lawmakers allocated $908 million in funding to tackle key issues including school choice, immigration enforcement, and disaster relief. Having gaveled out of the special session, the 2025 regular session will get underway this week, with the House convening committees and the Senate waiting a week to give the House a head start.
Education Freedom Act: A Landmark Step for School Choice
Governor Bill Lee accomplished one of his landmark legislative achievements when the General Assembly passed his Education Freedom Act, a groundbreaking proposal allowing families across the state to use public funds for private school tuition. The Lee Administration drafted and pushed a similar bill last year only to see the Senate and House reach a stalemate at the end of the 2024 session, with neither side willing to budge on its respective version. The initiative remained Governor Lee’s top offseason priority, and legislative leadership – and House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) in particular – worked extensively to build legislative support. Once the Governor formally called for a special session in early January, it became widely believed that the new version of the bill had adequate support in both chambers to pass. In the end, the bill (SB6005/HB6004) passed the House with a vote of 54-44-1 and was approved by the Senate at 20-13, marking the culmination of Governor Lee's six-year effort to create a statewide private school scholarship program, and cementing one of the cornerstones of his legacy.
While the bill saw strong support from Republicans, it also faced significant opposition from both sides of the aisle and various groups. Critics argue the program will divert funding from public schools, while proponents believe it empowers parents and expands educational options for students. The debate was intense -- 27 amendments were filed in the House and the House spent over four hours discussing the bill before it moved to the Senate for more lengthy debate.
The Education Freedom Act will provide 20,000 scholarships worth $7,075 each year to help families offset private school tuition costs. Eligibility will depend on income, academic performance, and attendance. If demand exceeds 75% of the program's capacity, an additional 5,000 scholarships will be added the following year. The bill also includes $198 million for a one-time $2,000 bonus for teachers.
The initiative will cost the state an estimated $350 million in its first year, funded through the state’s general fund. Additionally, $77.2 million will be allocated for K-12 infrastructure projects, funded by existing sports wagering and lottery tax revenues, to address potential financial concerns regarding public education.
The pro-voucher effort was also buoyed by support from President Trump, who publicly endorsed the Education Freedom Act on social media, commending Tennessee lawmakers for their work on expanding school choice.
New Measure Aimed at Immigration Enforcement
Immigration enforcement was another major topic during the special session. The legislature passed SB6002/HB6002, which introduces new measures aimed at strengthening the enforcement of federal immigration laws in Tennessee. Among the key provisions, the legislation creates a centralized immigration enforcement division within the Tennessee Department of Safety to coordinate with federal authorities. It also offers financial incentives for local law enforcement agencies that actively enforce federal immigration laws and establishes penalties, including removal from office, for state and local officials who adopt sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with immigration enforcement.
Another major change in the bill requires the Tennessee Department of Safety to issue temporary driver’s licenses to non-citizens, rather than standard licenses. This provision aims to streamline voter eligibility checks and ensure compliance with state voting laws.
The bill passed the Senate 26-7 and the House 72-22. With Governor Lee's support, the measure is expected to be signed into law soon, signaling a significant policy shift in Tennessee’s approach to immigration enforcement.
Disaster Relief for Hurricane Helene: A $450 Million Commitment
The remaining aspect of the special session focused on providing disaster relief in response to the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Helene in Northeast Tennessee in September 2024. Lawmakers passed a series of disaster relief bills—SB6004/HB6002, SB6003/HB6003, and SB6007/HB6007—with strong bipartisan support. These measures provide more than $450 million in direct relief and funding for future disaster preparedness.
Testimony from county officials representing Carter, Greene, Johnson, and Unicoi Counties emphasized the financial strain on local governments and the urgent need for quicker assistance to aid rebuilding efforts.
The bills provided for the following relief:
- SB6004/HB6002 passed unanimously and grants TEMA legal authority to assist local governments with public property recovery. It also suspends certain unemployment eligibility requirements for those affected by the disaster.
- SB6003/HB6003 establishes two disaster relief funding sources totaling $210 million. The $110 million Hurricane Helene Interest Payment Fund will help local governments manage interest on loans for disaster recovery. Additionally, the Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund, totaling $100 million, will support agricultural recovery, business assistance, and unemployment aid for disaster-impacted individuals.
- SB6007/HB6007 also passed unanimously and authorizes the state Comptroller to issue immediate payments to property owners in FEMA-declared counties for homes and businesses damaged between September 26-30, 2024. Property owners will receive 130% of their 2024 property tax bill as relief.
Looking Ahead
The special session wrapped up on Thursday, January 30, and House members are set to return to Nashville on February 3rd to commence the regular session. As noted, the Senate will wait for the following week to get underway. While no bills will be heard over the next week, the clerks’ offices will be a hive of activity as lawmakers scurry to file legislation before the February 6 bill filing deadline.