Representative David Byrd

Civics institute at UT-Knoxville / Public Chapter 963 – The General Assembly approved legislation to establish the Institute of American Civics at Tennessee’s largest public university. The new law locates the institute within the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy on the campus of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. The 2022-23 budget allocates $6 million for the project. A few of the seven objectives listed in the measure include to: foster a deeper understanding of the structures and institutions of federal, state, and local government; further the understanding of the principles that contributed to the foundation and development of the United States and the state of Tennessee; and foster civic engagement through full and fair discussions that promote civil dialogue among those holding conflicting points of view. The Institute is designed to serve as a robust marketplace of ideas for all students and faculty. Members of the board of fellows for the institute will include professors or administrators, former elected officials affiliated with different political parties, and members of the board of the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center. Effective April 2022.

Increasing HOPE Scholarship / Public Chapter 1116 – The General Assembly approved an $85 million increase in funding for the HOPE scholarship this year. With the increase, the scholarship award will raise from $3,500 to $4,500 per year for freshman and sophomores at four-year institutions and from$4,500 to $5,700 for juniors and seniors. It will increase from $3,000 to $3,200 per year for students at two-year schools. To be eligible for the HOPE scholarship, students must graduate from a Tennessee high school with a 3.0 GPA or higher and have a 21 on their ACT or 1060 on their SAT. The program is funded from revenue from the Tennessee Lottery. The award is estimated to impact 32,637 freshmen and sophomores and 30,537 juniors and seniors at four-year schools along with 15,901 students at two-year schools. The bill also increases eligibility for scholarships to the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, aiming to target the 12.6% of Tennesseans ages 16 to 24 who are not in school currently. Effective June & July 2022.

Increasing middle college scholarship / Public Chapter 1101 - A new law increases the Middle College scholarship award from $1,250 to $2,000 per semester for full-time students receiving the award. The program allows eligible high school juniors and seniors to attend college while they are in high school and receive an Associate’s Degree from their local community college along with their high school diploma. The program gives bright and academically strong students a leg up on their education. Roughly half of Tennessee’s community colleges participate in the successful program and about 403 students currently receive the scholarship. The scholarship increase will begin in the fall 2022 semester. Effective May 2022.

Increasing access to Tennessee Promise Scholarship / Public Chapter 1125 – Overachieving students who graduate from high school early will now be eligible to receive the Tennessee Promise scholarship upon their early graduation, under the new law. The Tennessee Promise Scholarship provides students a last-dollar scholarship, meaning the Tennessee Promise covers tuition and fees not covered by the Pell Grant, the HOPE scholarship, or TSAA funds. Effective June 2022.

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]