Tennessee · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026) · Bill
SB 494: Education - As introduced, enacts the "Family Right to Educational Emancipation (FREE) Act," which creates a new category of independent home schools that are not subject to the data collection, reporting, or assessment requirements applicable to existing independent home school programs and that exempts such home school students and parents from compulsory school attendance requirements; prohibits the department of safety from conditioning the issuance of a driver license or learner's permit on a school-aged applicant's attendance record or enrollment status. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 49; Title 50 and Title 55.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 494 is a bill introduced in the Tennessee Senate on January 29, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Education - As introduced, enacts the "Family Right to Educational Emancipation (FREE) Act," which creates a new category of independent home schools that are not subject to the data collection, reporting, or assessment requirements applicable to existing independent home school programs and that exempts such home school students and parents from compulsory school attendance requirements; prohibits the department of safety from conditioning the issuance of a driver license or learner's permit on a school-aged applicant's attendance record or enrollment status. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 49; Title 50 and Title 55. Primary sponsor: Janice Bowling (Republican). Most recent recorded action (April 11, 2025): Sponsor(s) Added.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janice Bowling | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 16 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Sponsor(s) Added.
- Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee
- Action deferred in Senate Education Committee to 3/12/2025
- Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/12/2025
- Sponsor(s) Added.
- Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/5/2025
- Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
- Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
- Sponsor(s) Added.
- Filed for introduction