A bill that nearly doubles the number of school vouchers in Tennessee narrowly passed both chambers of the statehouse amid concerns that the rapid expansion could jeopardize the state's financial future. The Tennessee Senate passed SB2247, which increases the total number of vouchers to 35,000 for the 2026-2027 school year. This increase falls short of Gov. Bill Lee's wish to raise the amount to 40,000. Critics questioned the vouchers' effectiveness, lack of transparency, fiscal risks, and impact on rural counties with few private schools. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Jack Johnson, stated that funding will only be restored in cases where students leave public school due to receiving a voucher, and students applying for vouchers must provide their social security numbers.