Conclusions and Discussions from the Tennessee Legislative Session

The Tennessee Legislative Session has ended this week on Tuesday, April 22nd, bringing an end to months long discussions. The results from the meeting included; limits on diversity initiatives in college admissions decisions, safeguards against misgendering transgender students, and limitations on THC-A sales. Discussions also included prohibiting synthetic food dye, Red 40, from Tennessee’s school nutrition programs and the passing a balanced budget of $59.8 billion for the fiscal year 2025-2026. When lawmakers gathered in Nashville earlier this year, Republican Governor Bill Lee promptly called a special session to discuss universal school choice proposals, further President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda, and finance Hurricane Helene assistance. That special session’s ideas all passed, and after it was over, the regular session resumed. Legislators started putting forward and debating laws on a variety of subjects, advancing them through committees and ultimately bringing them to a full vote. Republicans in the legislature suggested letting schools in the state turn away students on the basis of their immigrant status. This proposal did pass the Tennessee Senate after an emotional vote. The Tennessee legislature enacted a bill protecting teachers who misgender transgender students, transgender employees, or anyone else in their school district. Additionally, if schools utilize kids’ preferred names or pronouns, they may be sued, therefore forcing teachers to misgender transgender students. The House and Senate chambers passed a balanced budget of $59.8 billion for the fiscal year 2025–2026, marking the completion of their constitutional obligation. The General Assembly’s dedication to cautious budgeting is reaffirmed in this year’s spending plan, which prioritizes the needs of Tennessee residents throughout the state while acknowledging a 2 percent growth rate. The state’s initiatives to enhance public safety, make infrastructural investments, promote education, assist rural health care, and boost disaster relief money for Hurricane Helene recovery are all furthered by the balanced budget. Lastly, the General Assembly approved legislation to ban Red 40, a synthetic food dye, from Tennessee’s school nutrition programs. In particular, food and beverage products containing Allura Red 40, also referred to as Red 40, are prohibited from being sold or given to students through the nutrition programs of all public and charter schools under House Bill 134.