Education - As enacted, revises the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 12; Title 48; Title 49 and Title 67. Companion bill has…
What it does: ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1. SENATE BILL 1585, AS AMENDED, FAILED TO RECEIVE A CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to revise the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. Present law requires, as a condition of participating in the ESA program, participating students in grades three through 11 must be annually administered the TCAP tests for math and English language arts, or successor tests authorized by the state board of education for math and English language arts. (official summary)
Question before the chamber: as Amended Third Consideration
The tally
Yes 22 · No 11 · Not voting 0
Bar: green = yes, brown = no, striped = not voting.
| Party | Yes | No | Not voting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Republicans | 22 | 5 | 0 |
Most Democrats voted no; most Republicans voted yes. 5 members voted against their party’s majority.
Voted against their party’s majority
- Bobby HarshbargerR4No
- Page WalleyR26No
- Richard BriggsR7No
- Steve SoutherlandR9No
- Tom HatcherR2No
The full roll (33)
Yes 22
- Adam LoweR1
- Becky MasseyR6
- Bill PowersR22
- Bo WatsonR11
- Brent TaylorR31
- Dawn WhiteR13
- Ed JacksonR25
- Ferrell HaileR18
- Jack JohnsonR27
- Janice BowlingR16
- Jessie SealR8
- Joey HensleyR28
- John StevensR24
- Ken YagerR12
- Kerry RobertsR23
- Mark PodyR17
- Paul BaileyR15
- Paul RoseR32
- Randy McNallyR5
- Rusty CroweR3
- Shane ReevesR14
- Todd GardenhireR10
“Not voting” is a recorded non-vote, not a reason for the absence. Parties come from public rosters; how we count.