www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-14 09:29:00
(The Center Square) – A bill that would allow Tennessee’s school districts and charter schools to ban students who are not in the country legally was delayed due to the possible loss of federal funds if it passes.
House Bill 703’s fiscal note says federal Title VI protections extend to undocumented individuals in the United States. Title VI is part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that bans programs from discrimination.
“Violations of federal civil rights laws may place this funding at risk, however, the specific amount at risk is undetermined,” analysts wrote in the bill’s fiscal note.
The state receives $1.1 billion in federal funding each year. Local school systems and charter schools could also face a loss of federal funds, analysts said.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland, was put “behind the budget” and could be considered again once lawmakers pass the state budget.
The Senate passed its version of the bill last Thursday, with supporters calling the bill a “financial” decision and opponents questioning the moral cost. Senate Bill 836, sponsored by Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, received “no” votes from some Republicans.
“But I think this is a bill that we do not need in the state of Tennessee and it will not pay dividends in the future for the children,” said Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga.
The Small Tennessee Business Alliance said the bill’s sponsors have not shown the bill could save money.
“This is an admission that Sen. Watson and Rep. Lamberth’s attack on children isn’t just morally indefensible – it’s fiscally reckless,” the organization said in a news release. “So we want to know: Will they finally drop their crusade against these children?”
The Hamilton County Principals Association is asking the local school board to pass a resolution that says all children in that county will have access to school.
“As educators, our mission is clear: we are dedicated to creating safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments where all students can thrive,” the association said in a statement. “Efforts to exclude children from school due to their immigration status undermine this mission, threaten the well-being of vulnerable communities, and harm the future of our nation.”
SUMMARY: A recent Tennessee Education Survey of nearly 40,000 teachers reveals most middle and high school teachers find cellphone use disruptive, with 73% reporting cheating via phones. While 94% say schools restrict phone use during class, half of high school teachers want a full campus ban. A new state law bans wireless devices during instruction but lets districts set specific rules. Teacher retention is driven mainly by school culture, despite only a third being satisfied with pay. Most teachers support current discipline methods and evaluations, with early-career teachers spending more time on discipline but generally satisfied with evaluations improving their teaching.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a new initiative at the Tennessee State Fair to end subsidies for solar panels on farmland while redirecting agriculture grants. The Trump administration recently cut more than \$31 million from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, with Rollins defending the move as prioritizing farmers. Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden called the cuts a “repurposing” away from clean energy and racial equity programs. Rollins pledged nearly \$89 million for rural development in 28 Tennessee counties and highlighted \$100 million already distributed to farmers. She also cited new trade agreements to offset tariff-related cost increases.
U.S. Agriculture officials announced a new initiative Monday to stop subsidies for solar energy panels that take up farmland while supporting cuts in agriculture grants to Tennessee universities.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins introduced the initiative by the Trump administration after a Future Farmers of America breakfast at the State Fairgrounds in Lebanon where she said the federal government will make new grants to bolster Tennessee farming while targeting grants that don’t help farmers’ production.
Rollins criticized the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act and “market distorting incentives” for solar panels, which she said are eliminating Tennessee farmland.
The secretary made the statements even though a study by the nonpartisan Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations found that solar facilities aren’t likely to be the “primary driver” of development on farmland for decades. The study also determined that land can be returned to farming once a solar facility goes out of use.
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn speaks at a Future Farmers of America breakfast featuring U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Aug. 28, 2025. Standing behind Blackburn is Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and U.S. Rep. John Rose. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
Earlier this year, the federal government made dramatic cuts to higher education grants, including eliminating more than $31 million in funding to the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, which houses agricultural research and resources for Tennessee farmers and communities in 95 counties.
Rollins defended the reductions, saying “Those cuts were being made in programs that did not align with the president’s vision of putting farmers first.”
Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden of Tennessee described the reduction as a “repurposing” and said changes were made in research funding based on whether a grant “helps a farmer in the field make more money.” Projects aimed at “clean energy” or based on “racial criteria” were eliminated, he said.
In addition to stopping solar panel development on farmland, Rollins announced that nearly $89 million will go toward 13 rural development projects in 28 Tennessee counties to “promote partnerships” and infrastructure investments for rural education. The department has distributed nearly $100 million this year to more than 10,000 farmers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, according to Rollins.
Some farmers have said they expect prices to increase because of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, which are forcing them to pass on higher rates to customers. Rollins said Monday the administration has signed eight new trade agreements expected to boost the nation’s economy.
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Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
The article largely reports on U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ policy announcements but introduces balancing context that slightly shifts the tone. While it covers her criticisms of the Biden administration and defense of Trump-era cuts, it also highlights a nonpartisan Tennessee study contradicting her claims about solar panels reducing farmland. This inclusion, along with details on higher education grant cuts and references to “racial criteria” in funding, frames the administration’s moves with a degree of skepticism. The reporting avoids overt editorializing but leans toward questioning Republican policies, giving it a mild Center-Left tilt.
SUMMARY: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced proposed changes to SNAP benefits during the Wilson County State Fair. The plan includes waivers to expand access to healthy foods and eliminate items where sugar is the main ingredient. Rollins noted that over 10% of SNAP’s $100 billion annual budget goes to sugary drinks and junk food, calling it an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars. Lee emphasized the goal of prioritizing nutrition. Rollins also announced nearly $90 million for rural development projects and confirmed the USDA will end funding for solar panels on productive farmland.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Gov. Bill Lee explained they have submitted two waivers to clarify what SNAP benefits can be used for.
