Tennessee Special Session Adjourns: Immigration enforcement, disaster relief and voucher expansion among legislation passed
By State Senator Page Walley
January 31, 2025 – In a special session called by Governor Bill Lee, Tennessee lawmakers passed legislation to expand public funding of private school choice, provide critical relief and support for those impacted by Hurricane Helene, and set up the framework to collaborate with the federal government to enforce federal immigration law and remove criminal aliens from the nation.
Public funding for private school choice is expanded
With our district being overwhelmingly opposed to the expansion of public tax dollars funding private school choice expansion, lawmakers passed Governor Lee’s “Education Freedom Act” to expand what many call the “voucher program.” I voted against the measure consistent with the wishes of our district.
The Education Freedom Act of 2025 includes:
● 20,000 scholarships for Tennessee students starting in the 2025-26 school year
○ 10,000 reserved for students at or below $176,000 of income per family and 10,000 without any income limit. After year one, there would be no income limit.
● Scholarship amounts equal to the per pupil base funds allocated to public school students each year – $7,075 as of the most recent school year
○ Funds will be deposited into an account to be used for tuition, fees and other qualified education expenses
● Claims state funding to school districts will never decrease due to disenrollment
This will cost at least $425 million to implement in year one. There is uncertainty moving forward about future participation in the program and how associated cost escalations would be funded annually. Lastly, as a conservative, I would like to see data on our existing three-county pilot project being affected before we supersize this to all 95 counties. To date, the outcomes in the pilot are not promising.
Major legislation to improve immigration enforcement passes in Tennessee special session
Comprehensive bill strengthens public safety, enhances immigration law enforcement
We also passed a comprehensive immigration enforcement bill in the Tennessee Senate last week as part of a special session called by Governor Bill Lee.
With the passage of this legislation, Tennessee leads the nation in fighting illegal immigration. It puts Tennessee in the best position to work with federal agencies to enforce immigration laws and remove dangerous illegal immigrants from Tennessee communities.
Our local law enforcement officers and agencies are on the front lines every day. This bill provides them with the additional training, equipment, and resources they need to enhance enforcement of federal immigration laws quickly and successfully. It also ensures responsible use of taxpayer dollars and efficient government efforts.
Key provisions of the legislation include:
1. Creation of the Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division (CIED): Establishes a dedicated division within the Department of Safety, led by a Chief Immigration Enforcement Officer (CIEO), appointed by the governor. The CIEO will coordinate directly with the Trump administration to implement federal immigration policies efficiently.
2. Immigration Enforcement Grant Program: Provides grants to local governments participating in the federal 287(g) program, which assists in the enforcement, detention, and removal of illegal immigrants. These grants will help fund training, operational costs, and local law enforcement initiatives.
3. Enhanced State-Issued ID Standards: Prevents misuse of state-issued IDs for voting by incorporating distinct markers on state-issued IDs for non-U.S. citizens. The legislation restricts permanent state-issued IDs to U.S. citizens while allowing temporary IDs for legal residents. This change ensures that only individuals with permanent IDs are eligible to vote in Tennessee elections.
4. Strengthened Sanctuary City Ban Enforcement: Imposes a Class E felony charge on local officials who adopt or maintain sanctuary city policies in violation of state law. Additionally, the Tennessee Attorney General is empowered to initiate removal proceedings against officials found guilty of violating these provisions.
Hurricane Helene Relief
In September 2024 Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc in nine counties across Northeast Tennessee, claiming 18 lives. The storm destroyed 500 homes, damaged another 538 and displaced thousands. More than 13,000 Tennesseans have registered for individual assistance, including 5,207 affected households. In addition, Unicoi County Hospital and Hampton High School were torn apart by the storm.
To provide much-needed relief to victims of Hurricane Helene and aid local governments of impacted counties, the General Assembly passed important legislation and funding in the special session.
In total, lawmakers approved $470 million for recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene and future emergencies. Senate Bill 6005 allocates:
● $110 million to Hurricane Helene Interest Payment Fund
● $100 million to the Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund
● $240 million to TEMA to reduce political subdivisions’ cost share obligations of the non-federal portion of disaster recovery costs
● $20 million for the reconstruction of Hampton High School in Carter County
In just a few hours, natural disasters can unleash devastation that can take a lifetime to overcome. Sadly, this is the reality many in Upper East Tennessee are facing in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. I am grateful that in this special session we are able to provide critical relief and support to those affected and strengthen our preparedness for future disasters.
Recovery funds for Hurricane Helene and future emergencies
The General Assembly also passed Senate Bill 6003 which creates two disaster relief funds to support ongoing recovery efforts and allow for proactive preparation for future emergencies. It establishes the Hurricane Helene Interest Payment Fund which allocates $110 million to help local governments manage loan interest for recovery costs by covering interest costs at 5% per year for three years on loans for recovery expenses. It also creates the Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund which provides $100 million for a new program inspired by the HEAL Program that will provide flexible financial resources for future emergencies, including agricultural recovery, unemployment assistance, and business recovery efforts.
The regular session of our General Assembly will begin this coming week. It’s an honor to serve you. Please reach out to me at sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov or 615-741-2368.
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