Bill to Increase Transparency of Voucher Program Fails in Tennessee

Proposed legislation to require annual reporting on private school voucher recipients dies in committee vote

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A bill that would have required the Tennessee Comptroller's Office to provide the state legislature with an annual report on the number of private school voucher recipients previously enrolled in public schools has failed in a subcommittee vote. The bill, HB1052, aimed to increase transparency around the state's Education Freedom Scholarship program, which provides around $7,300 in funding to 20,000 recipients, half of whom must be from low-income households.

Why it matters

The lack of data on voucher recipients' prior public school enrollment makes it difficult to determine if the program is truly providing "school choice" to public school students who wouldn't otherwise be able to attend private schools, as promised. Transparency is seen as crucial for holding the voucher program accountable.

The details

The bill, sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Sam McKenzie, would have required the Comptroller's Office to provide an annual report to the legislature detailing the number of private school voucher recipients who were previously enrolled in public schools. However, the bill died in a 2-5 subcommittee vote along party lines. Republican committee chairman Mark White expressed concerns over potential privacy violations, though he acknowledged the need for more data to hold the program accountable.

  • The bill, HB1052, was presented to a subcommittee on Tuesday, February 11, 2026.

The players

Sam McKenzie

A Democratic state representative from Knoxville who sponsored the bill to increase transparency of the state's private school voucher program.

Mark White

The Republican chairman of the House Education Committee who voted against McKenzie's bill, citing concerns over privacy violations but acknowledging the need for more data on the voucher program.

Bill Lee

The governor of Tennessee who is pushing to double the number of available scholarships in the state's Education Freedom Scholarship program.

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What they’re saying

“Bottom line, it's so we can make informed decisions. We talk about being fiscally conservative on both sides of the aisle, and about how important it is for the government to be transparent. But right now, we don't have that transparency.”

— Sam McKenzie, State Representative (johnsoncitypress.com)

“I think I understand what [McKenzie] is asking for, but at this particular point in time, I think there should be more of a move from the department to put some things together so we can have more details on what can be collected.”

— Mark White, House Education Committee Chairman (johnsoncitypress.com)

What’s next

A similar bill sponsored by Republican state Rep. Jody Barrett would require the Department of Education to submit an annual report to the legislature with more detailed data on the voucher program, including the number of public-to-private school transfers, recipient county of residence, and household income. This bill has seven cosponsors and may have a better chance of passing.

The takeaway

The failure of this transparency bill highlights the ongoing debate over accountability and oversight of Tennessee's private school voucher program. Without clear data on the program's impact, it will be difficult for lawmakers and the public to assess whether it is truly achieving its goal of providing educational options for disadvantaged students.