(The Center Square) – A proposed grocery tax cut and bill addressing illegal immigration are among the first filings ahead of Tennessee’s 2025 legislative session.
Sen. Charlane Oliver and Rep. Aftyn Behn, Democrats from Nashville, introduced bills in their chambers that would remove the sales tax on food and food ingredients. The effort to remove the 4% tax failed last year.
Most states have eliminated the tax on food and food ingredients. Oklahoma is the latest state to do so as lawmakers passed a bill earlier this year that took effect on Aug. 29. The measure returned $411 million to the taxpayers, lawmakers said.
A bill by Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, and Rep. Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill, would require a law enforcement agency to request an immigration detainer on anyone determined to be in the U.S. unlawfully and requires the agency to hold the person for the maximum time listed in the detainer. The agency would have to take anyone not picked up by the federal government to a sanctuary city.
If the federal government does not reimburse the state for the costs of holding and transporting the individual, the state could withhold its federal petroleum taxes, according to the bill.
Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, and Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland, filed the first bill of the upcoming session to revitalize efforts to pass school choice and give teachers a raise.
Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 1, entitled the “Education Freedom Act of 2025. includes $20,000 in scholarships of $7,075 each that could be used for tuition, fees or other education expenses.
Half of the scholarships would go to students below 300% of income, which qualifies them for free or reduced lunches, students with disabilities or those who are eligible for the current school choice plan. Three counties – Shelby, Davidson and Hamilton – already participate in a school choice pilot program.
The bill also includes a $2,000 bonus for teachers. Starting teacher pay would increase to $47,000 a year, beginning with the 2025-26 school year.
Lawmakers set aside $144 million for a school choice program during the 2024 legislative session, but it failed to pass.
The General Assembly begins its 2025 session on Jan. 14.
