Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee House Bill HB0704 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	SENATE BILL 719
3	3	By Taylor
4	4
5	5	HOUSE BILL 704
6	6	By White
7	7
8	8
9	9	HB0704
10	10	002544
11	11	- 1 -
12	12
13	13	AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
14	14	Chapter 4, relative to financial aid.
15	15
16	16	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
17	17	SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-4-902(11), is amended by adding
18	18	the following as a new subdivision:
19	19	(D) For purposes of the Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grant and the Wilder-
20	20	Naifeh reconnect grant, a private, nonprofit technical school that:
21	21	(i) Has had its primary campus domiciled in this state for at least seventy-
22	22	five (75) consecutive years;
23	23	(ii) Is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education; and
24	24	(iii) In addition to offering diploma, certificate, and associate degree
25	25	programs, offers a baccalaureate degree through an articulation agreement with
26	26	a regionally accredited postsecondary institution;
27	27	SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-4-902(46), is amended by
28	28	deleting the subdivision and substituting:
29	29	(46) "Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grant" means a grant funded from net
30	30	proceeds of the state lottery and awarded under this part for coursework in an eligible
31	31	program of study at a Tennessee college of applied technology operated by the board of
32	32	regents of the state university and community college system or an eligible independent
33	33	postsecondary institution as defined in subdivision (11)(D).
34	34	SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-4-921, is amended by deleting
35	35	subsection (a) and substituting:
36	36
37	37
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40	40	(a) To be eligible for a Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grant, a student seeking a
41	41	QNDC, diploma, or certificate at a Tennessee college of applied technology operated by
42	42	the board of regents of the state university and community college system or an eligible
43	43	independent postsecondary institution as defined in § 49-4-902(11)(D) shall:
44	44	(1) Meet the requirements of §§ 49-4-904 and 49-4-905(a); and
45	45	(2) Be admitted to the institution in a program of study leading to a
46	46	certificate or diploma.
47	47	SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-4-923, is amended by deleting
48	48	subsection (b) and substituting:
49	49	(b) To be eligible for a Wilder-Naifeh reconnect grant, a student seeking a
50	50	diploma or certificate at a Tennessee college of applied technology operated by the
51	51	board of regents of the state university and community college system or an eligible
52	52	independent postsecondary institution as defined in § 49-4-902(11)(D) shall:
53	53	(1) Meet the requirements of §§ 49-4-904 and 49-4-905(a);
54	54	(2) Be admitted to the institution in an eligible program of study;
55	55	(3) Complete and file the FAFSA. Students must complete the FAFSA
56	56	each academic year in which they seek to receive the Wilder-Naifeh reconnect
57	57	grant; and
58	58	(4) Be an independent student as determined by the FAFSA.
59	59	SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-4-923, is amended by deleting
60	60	subsection (g) and substituting:
61	61	(g)
62	62	(1) Subject to the amounts appropriated by the general assembly and
63	63	any law relating to a shortfall in funds available for postsecondary financial
64	64	assistance from the net proceeds of the state lottery, a Wilder-Naifeh reconnect
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66	66
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69	69	grant awarded under this section is for independent students as determined by
70	70	the FAFSA. The amount of a Wilder-Naifeh reconnect grant:
71	71	(A) For students enrolled in a Tennessee college of applied
72	72	technology, is the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the Tennessee
73	73	college of applied technology attended less all other gift aid, which must
74	74	be credited first to the student's tuition and mandatory fees; or
75	75	(B) For students enrolled in an eligible independent
76	76	postsecondary institution as defined in § 49-4-902(11)(D), is the average
77	77	cost of tuition and mandatory fees at Tennessee colleges of applied
78	78	technology less all other gift aid, which must be credited first to the
79	79	student's tuition and mandatory fees.
80	80	(2) Notwithstanding § 49-4-902, "gift aid" as used in this section is
81	81	financial aid received from a federal Pell grant, a Tennessee student assistance
82	82	award, and any scholarship or grant funded from net lottery proceeds under this
83	83	part.
84	84	SECTION 6. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
85	85	applies to students seeking postsecondary financial aid for the 2025-2026 academic year and
86	86	each academic year thereafter.