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HB 841

Lottery, Scholarships and Programs - As introduced, establishes the promising futures early learning scholarship program and a fund to provide scholarships for high-quality early learning programs from excess lottery revenues. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 51; Title 37, Chapter 5, Part 5; Title 49 and Title 71, Chapter 3.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Kirk Haston

Tennessee bill establishes early learning scholarships funded by excess lottery revenue to expand access to quality pre-K programs.

Assigned to s/c K-12 Subcommittee
#lottery #scholarshipsandprograms
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Bill Summary · HB 841

Legislative bill overview

HB 841 establishes the Promising Futures Early Learning Scholarship Program in Tennessee, which would fund scholarships for high-quality early learning programs using excess lottery revenues. The bill modifies multiple sections of Tennessee Code to create this new funding mechanism and scholarship structure for early childhood education.

Why is this important

Early learning programs have documented long-term effects on school readiness, graduation rates, and economic outcomes. This bill would potentially expand access to quality early education by creating a new revenue stream, though it depends on lottery revenue generation and program implementation quality.

Potential points of contention

  • Lottery revenue reliability: Using excess lottery revenues for recurring education programs creates budget uncertainty, as lottery revenues fluctuate and are not guaranteed funding sources
  • Program eligibility and equity: The bill's provisions for determining which families qualify for scholarships and how "high-quality" programs are defined could affect accessibility across income levels and geographic regions
  • Administrative burden: Establishing a new scholarship program requires new bureaucratic infrastructure, oversight mechanisms, and accountability measures that could add state costs and complexity

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

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