WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 2617

Labor and Workforce Development, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the governor to approve all eligible workforce training programs for the purposes of federal workforce Pell grants and coordinate approval of eligible workforce training programs with other state and federal workforce programs to avoid duplicative payments for the same student costs that are covered by federal workforce Pell grants. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 14.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Timothy Hill

Bill requires Tennessee governor to approve workforce training programs for federal Pell grants and prevent duplicate funding across state and federal workforce initiatives.

Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways and Means Committee
#dept.of #laborandworkforcedevelopment
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2617

Legislative bill overview

HB 2617 requires Tennessee's governor to approve all eligible workforce training programs for federal workforce Pell grants and mandates coordination between state and federal workforce agencies to prevent students from receiving duplicate funding for the same training costs. The bill amends state law to streamline how workforce training programs interface with federal Pell grant funding mechanisms.

Why is this important

Workforce Pell grants provide federal funding for short-term training programs, and without proper state coordination, students or institutions could theoretically receive overlapping payments for identical costs, wasting public funds. This bill addresses administrative efficiency in workforce development by clarifying approval authority and preventing duplicate subsidization of the same training expenses.

Potential points of contention

  • Executive power expansion: Centralizing approval authority with the governor may limit input from local workforce boards, training providers, and other stakeholders who currently have a role in program decisions
  • Implementation complexity: Coordinating across multiple state agencies and federal programs requires significant administrative infrastructure and data-sharing agreements that may be costly or administratively burdensome
  • Program accessibility concerns: Stricter approval requirements could reduce the number of eligible programs available to workers, particularly in rural areas or for niche industries with smaller training cohorts

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.