Representative David Byrd; District 71 Capitol Hill Update

HOPE awards increase, bill removes penalty for overachieving students

Republican legislation to increase HOPE Scholarship amounts for Tennessee college students was approved by the General Assembly.

House Bill 2152 increases the awards to $2,200 per semester through a student’s sophomore year and $2,850 per semester for their junior and senior years. The amounts have not been increased since 2008. HOPE scholarships for students enrolled in an eligible two-year public college would also increase to $1,600 per semester. The legislation also lowers the age requirement for the Tennessee Reconnect grant to 23 and expands the HOPE Scholarship to certain qualified nontraditional students.

In addition to other changes, the bill also encourages the Tennessee College of Applied Technology to partner with local education agencies to establish technical middle college programs that allow students to earn an advanced technical certificate or diploma by their high school graduation. Also, the General Assembly passed legislation allowing overachieving students to receive Tennessee Promise Scholarships upon their early graduation from high school.

State law previously did not allow a student who completed high school before the spring semester immediately preceding their initial fall semester of college to receive a Tennessee Promise Scholarship early.

House Bill 2436, sponsored by State Rep. Andrew Farmer, R-Sevierville, now allows hard-working students who graduate early to be eligible. Tennessee Promise Scholarship provides students a last-dollar scholarship which covers tuition and fees not covered by the Pell Grant, the HOPE scholarship, or Tennessee Student Assistance Award funds.

As always, I am truly humbled and honored to be your voice on Capitol Hill. If there is ever any issue I can assist with, please reach out to my office by calling 615-741-2190 or emailing me at [email protected]