NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As the 114th General Assembly reconvened on Tuesday for the first day of its legislative session, lawmakers focused on setting the stage for the year ahead, while advocacy groups took the opportunity to make their voices heard on key issues.
One of the first bills filed ahead of the session centers around the creation of a universal school voucher program, which would allow taxpayer money to fund private school tuition for children whose parents choose that option. Tori Venable, state director for Americans for Prosperity, expressed strong support for the initiative, arguing that “educational freedom can change a child’s life” and advocating for universal access to such programs for all families.
In addition to the school voucher proposal, Americans for Prosperity is also pushing for a constitutional amendment to repeal the statewide property tax and supporting the REINS Act, which would limit government regulations. This measure mirrors initiatives from the Trump administration aimed at reducing regulatory burdens.
Meanwhile, groups advocating for LGBTQ+ rights were also present at the state Capitol, voicing their concerns about potential legislation that could affect the community. The Tennessee Equality Project, Tennessee Pride Chamber, and the Human Rights Campaign united to oppose a bill that would require residential educational programs serving minors to separate bathrooms, showers, and changing areas based on biological sex.
Chris Sanders, executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project, expressed frustration, stating that Tennessee tends to propose more anti-LGBTQ+ bills than other states, putting their efforts on defense. Stephanie Mahnke, executive director of the Tennessee Pride Chamber, emphasized the economic implications of such legislation, noting that many businesses are reconsidering relocating or expanding in the state due to its increasingly hostile stance toward the LGBTQ+ community. “We just want to make it a more hospitable state,” Mahnke said, highlighting concerns over losing talent and tourism dollars.
Another prominent group, Voices for a Safer Tennessee, formed in the wake of the Covenant School shooting, is pushing for measures to increase community safety while respecting Second Amendment rights. The group advocates for expanding background checks on private gun sales, promoting secure firearm storage through education and affordable options, and enacting temporary transfer policies to limit access to firearms for individuals at risk of harming themselves or others. Jessica Jaglois, the group’s director of communications, emphasized that many of these goals could be achieved without new laws, instead focusing on incentives and reinforcing existing legislation.
As advocacy groups made their presence known, the General Assembly also debated new rule proposals for the session. One of the most contentious is a proposed House rule that would limit each lawmaker to introducing just 10 bills this session. A vote on the new rules is expected later this week.
With multiple high-stakes issues already on the table, it’s clear that the 2025 legislative session in Tennessee will be one of significant debate and advocacy.