Universal voucher legislation returns

Gov. Bill Lee’s universal voucher push is back via newly filed legislation from House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin). The legislation is the first bill filed for Tennessee’s 114th General Assembly, which will begin in January, and an attempt to revitalize the previous session’s unsuccessful attempt to pass similar legislation to allow students across the state to use public dollars to attend private schools. 

Last November, Gov. Lee announced his desire to bring a universal voucher program to Tennessee. Though the legislature passed this year’s state budget with $144 million earmarked for such a program, corresponding legislation was not ultimately voted through — Democrats outright opposed it, and Republicans in the House and Senate couldn’t agree on how to go about it.