NASHVILLE – Tennesse lawmakers kicked into high gear on Wednesday, the final day of the two-year 110th General Assembly’s first session, passing Gov. Bill Haslam’s “groundbreaking” Tennessee Reconnect Act, which effectively extends free college tuition to all state citizens.
The legislation builds on Haslam’s 2014 Tennessee Promise initiative, which offers lottery-funded, last-dollar scholarships to recent high school graduates and all adults who have no post-secondary degree or certificate.
“Just as we did with Tennessee Promise, we’re making a clear statement to families: wherever you fall on life’s path, education beyond high school is critical to the Tennessee we can be,” Haslam said in a news release.
In other final action Wednesday:
– After a two-year battle, Sen. Bo Watson passed his much-amended de-annexation bill that would allow disgruntled voters in sections of cities annexed by ordinance after 1999 to secede.