[{"_1":2,"_118":-5,"_119":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6448659,"mediaKeyId","2851962-2ce1c28f8434032cbe5e9169b787b23a","parentId",2851962,"title","Panel advances controversial ‘success sequence’ curriculum proposal after extended debate","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4781000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2851962-2ce1c28f8434032cbe5e9169b787b23a&start=4781&end=4781","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2851962-2ce1c28f8434032cbe5e9169b787b23a/thumbnail_4781000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6448659/Tennessee/Panel-advances-controversial-success-sequence-curriculum-proposal-after-extended-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6448659-f3f6a2e1e49baeff05a3710cf9a45e1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770562536&Signature=anpNBOecX8WtnnrlmBoExwu5K9IXl96fymK-Uxz5UBuQamBgHgEEOuZFlVPHJ9s~R5zquyAA7BPIxe6A6eshvfPUEawQ64WF7dVqscXoACVvz0A~KYkcPSWreSieuAwu6ltBBJIaDSMZIKbm1xiXJ4YouSdDRsAwj4iW0fNZnbnQ7FoaQsk7X0q8p8PPEQWJxY8WcTTwhXP6kFe9DiLGxjk1oUe2hUNk52W~eFywLh-CRV2OwIHipL53Yrsols8rqZ~gGQodaFDOT~~SnRuoVl5PZq0n75lrq0lh~2O4nDGF3vs8ix-esRwTwpPkZVgxJxa7eBYUm1vucXUCBxqQ7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tennessee Legislature","date","2025-04-02T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 178, an effort to add the “success sequence” to Tennessee’s family-life curriculum, generated some of the committee’s most sustained debate before the committee voted to advance the bill to Calendar and Rules.

Representative Ben Boso, sponsor of HB 178, described the measure as a data-driven, poverty-avoidance teaching module based on federal analyses and other studies. \"This is a bill that seeks to add a requirement to our family life curriculum,\" Boso said, and his presentation cited a Department of Health and Human Services analysis showing high poverty-avoidance rates among people who follow the sequence the report identifies.

Opponents said the proposal risks stigmatizing students who come from non-nuclear families and that it oversimplifies the complex factors that contribute to economic mobility. Representative McKenzie said the bill \"forces\" a single narrative and could shame students raised by grandparents or other family arrangements. Representative Johnson and others urged instruction emphasizing resilience, grit and multiple pathways to success.

Why it matters: The measure would change what is taught in family-life classes across Tennessee, touching on values, social science and guidance content. Because family-life curricula reach students in K–12 settings, additions to the standards can shape classroom conversations and parent-school interactions.

What happened in committee: After extensive back-and-forth between sponsors and critics, committee members voted to move the bill to Calendar and Rules; clerk summary recorded 15 ayes and 4 nays. An amendment delaying the effective date to the 2026–27 school year appeared on the committee calendar earlier in the discussion (amendment 4415); sponsors discussed the bill’s reliance on federal reports and research.

Representative Boso said the content would be factual and data-based: \"This bill...is simply going to be taking data that our federal Department of Health and Human Services has put together that shows how to avoid poverty.\" Detractors said data do not justify presenting a single prescriptive pathway to adolescents in a classroom.

Provenance: sponsor presentation begins at s=4781.12; extended debate recorded throughout the transcript; final tally at s=5822.7.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Education Committee\tApr 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 178, which would add the so-called 'success sequence' (education → employment → marriage → children) to family-life instruction, advanced amid heated debate and a 15–4 committee vote of approval.","taxTitle","Education, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",78388,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6448663,"Committee advances bill to remove Red Dye 40 from school nutrition program",514,2195000,2709000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2851962-2ce1c28f8434032cbe5e9169b787b23a&start=2195&end=2709","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2851962-2ce1c28f8434032cbe5e9169b787b23a/thumbnail_2195000.jpg","/articles/6448663/Tennessee/Committee-advances-bill-to-remove-Red-Dye-40-from-school-nutrition-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6448663-c6ea948292cd3339931d5b2603c0c605/orig.mp4?Expires=1770562536&Signature=XPQMp2G5uvbtBAmrQ5XWHRuWyu0Wi6HuX9F4~VyRSt8N2Um4Nlg611DbBPrmHNZso-emLZyEOfyC9zeEEJZEbX8NeLUAWlCumCp2eRnH~u5DPZ5NfjuJX09R~sjH5JaafIQHVRSIJYLvl0BpU7CUdlWCVuHKTmpG3ypMKT1heE4URGX8JBxWTsdOtzOECYLj17-Ss88~R-3a3Hq927AWZiP3Gj~b~E49mTPTfuo-P68s1c1hsoGjyGaedaSCu0KAwp~a9wgc6lAa4BWvlRuxSW2U08anO6Mx4jPPwl5y70dD8EOWsKP1n-~hINiecuIL-Vkzpm2cRfZM0ud-23L0IA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 134, sponsored by Representative Davis, was advanced by the House Education Committee after the committee adopted an amendment narrowing the measure to school nutrition programs.

Davis told the committee that the European Union requires 2010-era labeling for the dye and read language that \"it may have an adverse effect on the activity and the attention on children.\" He cited a 2021 peer-reviewed systematic review and letters from researchers and clinicians saying synthetic food dyes can exacerbate neurobehavioral problems in some children. The amendment adopted in committee (amendment 50495) limited the bill’s scope to school nutrition programs, preserving concessions and other non-school-meal uses.

Why it matters: If implemented, school nutrition programs would have to remove products containing Red Dye 40 (Red 40) from meals, possibly shifting vendor choices and menus. Sponsors noted vendor lists contain acceptable alternatives and argued the change would not be disruptive to school meal operations.

What happened in committee: The committee adopted a rewritten amendment and then moved the bill to Calendar and Rules. The clerk recorded 14 ayes and 4 nays.

Key quotes:
\"Since 02/2010, the European Union requires that food containing Allure Red ... have a warning label that reads that it may have an adverse effect on the activity and the attention on children,\" Representative Randy Davis said while presenting the bill.

Provenance: sponsor presentation and discussion beginning at transcript block s=2195.89; clerk tally recorded at s=2669.68.","Representative Davis’s bill to prohibit Red Dye 40 (commonly Red 40) in school nutrition programs was amended to target school meals and moved to Calendar and Rules after committee vote 14-4.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6448668,"Committee advances bill sponsors call a protection against coerced speech for school staff and students",367,1721000,2088000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2851962-2ce1c28f8434032cbe5e9169b787b23a&start=1721&end=2088","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2851962-2ce1c28f8434032cbe5e9169b787b23a/thumbnail_1721000.jpg","/articles/6448668/Tennessee/Committee-advances-bill-sponsors-call-a-protection-against-coerced-speech-for-school-staff-and-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6448668-e494ec9b0341dfc0808d419938dd5264/orig.mp4?Expires=1770562536&Signature=UgjJRUxpQRQjHciUp9oc8ZxuCIvDCIzxdZTH~0rsxYd~l67banSXnULE0ax1wxvtoJsZCymVJfaOoI8NwImSUdvpTHft51dx0iH1KMUFs4pGHSU8s8UoQP2tBxFGYZo0AwMlyjYX1nv6C7toIqER8ZAjo4YChzFQ4cBXrq5QjQj2CgBxodjZwEWG~XMFWlkJyFywKz5GaV2~z5uIqzrdjBGjjirRQS1eQHQuSO1DzPNGgn14DZX010O8D5vtJC1dQr78WQ~Tfv7qooHq3oImKvaO~CKlzeoDyNsOvD82MwbFIYNZU2Uxan4MHj4jaOWM69zo357JfksxqRgCcSJqjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 1270, described by its sponsor as a measure \"to ensure that none of those parties just mentioned are ever coerced into saying something that is in opposition to their deeply held religious convictions,\" was advanced by the Tennessee House Education Committee and referred to the Finance Committee after debate.

Representative David Cochran, the bill sponsor, said the legislation \"protects the right to free speech for students, teachers, employees, and contractors at public schools and LEAs and all state employees for that matter,\" and framed it explicitly as a shield against compelled speech about names or pronouns. Cochran cited federal court decisions he said supported the principle, naming Merriweather v. Trustees of Shawnee State University (6th Circuit), Ricard v. USD 475 (federal court), and Garrity v. Jackson Local School District as precedent he believed supported the bill's protections.

Why it matters: The bill addresses questions at the intersection of First Amendment rights and school policy for staff and students. If enacted, it could affect how schools and districts develop policies about preferred names/pronouns, training, and discipline when speech requests implicate religious convictions.

What happened in committee: The committee debated the bill and heard objections and clarifying questions. Representative McKenzie argued the bill could \"force people\" and raised concerns about how the measure would operate in practice; Cochran and supporters countered that the bill \"doesn't force anyone to do that. It is a protection against coerced speech.\" The clerk recorded 14 ayes, 3 nays and 1 present not voting; the bill was referred to Finance. Committee legal staff and the sponsor added at least one technical/clerical amendment (6982) during the hearing.

Key quotes:
\"Students, teachers, employees, and contractors of public schools and LEAs do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression while at school or work,\" Representative David Cochran (sponsor) said, arguing the bill advances First Amendment protections.
\"This doesn't force anyone to do anything,\" Cochran said in response to criticism that the measure would compel speech.

Provenance: sponsor remarks and legal citations (transcript block starting s=1721.86); clerk vote tally (s=2008.225).","House Bill 1270 would bar schools and some public employers from compelling speech that conflicts with workers' or students' religious convictions; sponsor cited federal cases and the committee referred the bill to Finance, 14-3-1.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6448673,"House committee advances bill to refocus high-school assessments toward ACT/SAT and alternatives",397,1141000,1538000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2851962-2ce1c28f8434032cbe5e9169b787b23a&start=1141&end=1538","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2851962-2ce1c28f8434032cbe5e9169b787b23a/thumbnail_1141000.jpg","/articles/6448673/Tennessee/House-committee-advances-bill-to-refocus-high-school-assessments-toward-ACTSAT-and-alternatives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6448673-22e210d1f9a0a51272b819884515b1ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1770562536&Signature=Z5R2uewLt1eAdhgdCf~akU4IG51iGd9ruAC~7NziGjnGe2zfuFJm9M4ePgj~gqaW2WgoQ1tarjk6PMSl5RXO-b-5CjkCsO-sM7r~0~15ah7A2o-xKrJv0Ou0fparZfCff51zUzbc4bkOQbHyFzW5wekxmxflsNl6f-YWkFBTYua7GK2X~bSwvFUppxp4qg83lINlOpoJ9Rmum1WQA3fLsjHZWCPZVRh9uCxdECgskfdVXLu-LuAVCgYs2wETqj7Pc0xTh9Lz~Z53q8o75YyzveRS8hyUZDEqonM-mXhkaoSMjx7lLgQIpQRZbNSUGpmAa0E20YWTsO-iJLOcfXAFyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 675, a proposal to reform high-school end-of-course (EOC) testing and refocus high-school accountability around college-entrance assessments, moved out of the Tennessee House Education Committee to Government Operations after a morning hearing.

Representative David Cochran, sponsor of HB 675, told the committee the bill aims to \"refocus the exams and the accountability portion in our high schools to ACT, which is the national standard,\" and that the legislation would allow the ACT or SAT (and technical equivalents such as ACT WorkKeys) to serve as the basis for accountability in grades 9–12. Cochran said the measure also provides alternatives for technical students in districts where some courses (for example, Algebra II) are not available.

Why it matters: Changing which tests are tied to accountability would shift how school performance is measured and could affect classroom instruction, college-admission alignment and district testing costs. Sponsor remarks framed the bill as an effort to reduce over-testing and to focus on assessments connected to postsecondary opportunities.

What happened in committee: The committee adopted a subcommittee amendment (6055) and later voted to move the bill out. The clerk recorded 15 ayes and 3 nays; the bill was referred to Government Operations for further consideration.

Key quotes from the hearing:
\"This isn't a bill against data,\" Representative Scott Haston told the committee in supporting remarks; \"It's about being focused on the right kind of data.\" (Haston, committee member)
\"[The bill] refocuses the exams and the accountability portion in our high schools to ACT, which is the national standard,\" Representative David Cochran (sponsor) said in committee.

Next steps: HB 675 will be considered by Government Operations. Any amendment adopted in subsequent committees or on the floor will alter the bill’s text and implementation path.

Provenance (transcript evidence): introduction and sponsor explanation (transcript block starting s=1141.97); clerk vote tally (s=1458.01).","Sponsor says HB 675 would shift high-school end-of-course testing toward ACT/SAT (and technical equivalents) and provide alternatives for students without access to certain courses; committee advanced the bill to Government Operations, 15-3.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":114,"_52":115,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":116,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":117,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6448677,"Tennessee House Education Committee advances two dozen education bills in packed session; key votes listed","/articles/6448677/Tennessee/Tennessee-House-Education-Committee-advances-two-dozen-education-bills-in-packed-session-key-votes-listed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6448677-2cb7a70271ce2f173c498d55254ae3ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1770562536&Signature=hTsXHjxH~mudp8ymSr2G3pq5am8~K3c5LJK~SYXsgBAeo6RyqcUS2jwHT0Y~RprZvUhY7PKxR2qJsmF3JXBRrS8fM53X5i6YM-i5lEmRgEynmMxJjjQ8QcfSUDq3yPz0wrUjqm6-iPMyWPzyqtdz9P0K-LBdW3c98ARWmaIKKEddvtiQQUZIjrfv7lXJimItA9jO~s0IewUBafdcQfLU69yQH9FUuKq-a7PA3FbZfM8Oqg25oYkDIFWeL1rt-6xiCBoBu8MVDlxBRzC-AWawGWroqibZu3nrXMPhXQbpOA9l~YU1DFhozY85BH2JhhZMBDKgl4xW2nUG1ERwv5TunA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A densely scheduled session of the Tennessee House Education Committee advanced a slate of education bills on a range of topics, from assessment changes and student speech protections to school nutrition and safety grants.

The committee met in the morning and moved quickly through many items; several bills passed with recorded roll-call tallies and were referred to the next committee or to the calendar. Below are the items the committee put on the record in this session, with vote tallies and destinations as recorded in committee minutes/transcript excerpts.

Votes at a glance (bill — brief summary — committee outcome — recorded vote):

- House Bill 675 — testing and accountability changes focused on end-of-course (EOC) exams and potential shift to ACT/SAT in high schools — moved out to Government Operations — 15 ayes, 3 nays (clerk report at record time).

- House Bill 1270 (listed as House Bill 12 70 in transcript) — statement-protection measure described by sponsor as a protection against coerced speech for students, teachers, employees and contractors in public schools and LEAs — moved out to Finance — 14 ayes, 3 nays, 1 present not voting.

- House Bill 6 — allows local school districts to enroll additional students in voluntary pre-K under certain class-size/at-risk conditions — moved to Calendar and Rules — 17 ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting.

- House Bill 47 — rolled to the second calendar of 2026 (no final vote in this session).

- House Bill 134 — limits or removes Red Dye 40 from school nutrition program (amendment targeted school nutrition only) — moved to Calendar and Rules — 14 ayes, 4 nays.

- House Bill 764 — establishes training/requirements for school searches and related protections; as amended in committee — moved to Calendar and Rules — 18 ayes, 0 nays.

- House Bill 1175 (listed as House Bill 11 75) — multiple childcare and facility provisions (as amended) — moved out to Government Operations — 18 ayes, 0 nays.

- House Bill 392 — lowers certain thresholds for small schools to receive career and technical education recognition (threshold change from 30 to 20) — moved to Calendar and Rules — 17 ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting.

- House Bill 1147 (listed on the transcript as House Bill 11 47) — tuition waiver for children of line-of-duty law enforcement/firefighters, subject to available funds — moved to Finance — 17 ayes, 0 nays.

- House Bill 505 — expands the school safety alert grant program (Alyssa’s Law pilot conversion to statewide two-year program and creates a fund) — moved to Government Operations — 18 ayes, 0 nays.

- House Bill 348 — maintenance-of-effort clarification requiring local funding of education obligations before other maintenance-of-effort increases — moved to Finance — 17 ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting.

- House Bill 1113 — (as amended) expands advisory participation to include children’s hospitals and other parties for an identified program — moved to Finance — 18 ayes, 0 nays.

- House Bill 485 — authorizes a short-term hybrid/virtual instruction allowance for up to four days of the 180-day requirement under extreme weather conditions — moved to Calendar and Rules — 18 ayes, 0 nays.

- House Bill 178 — adds the “success sequence” content to the family-life curriculum (education → employment → marriage → children), generating substantial debate in committee — moved to Calendar and Rules — 15 ayes, 4 nays.

What this record does and does not show

The transcript records votes, amendments offered (including several late/untimely amendments that the committee considered and adopted for multiple bills), and destinations (for example, “moves out to Finance,” “moves to Calendar and Rules,” or “moved out to Gov Ops”). The committee frequently adopted subcommittee amendments on the floor and sometimes substituted rewritten language provided by legal staff.

The transcript does not include a full roll-call showing how each named committee member voted; the clerk’s summaries provide only tallies for the recorded items above. Several bills were rolled to later calendars rather than voted on in this sitting.

Next steps

Bills that moved to Finance or Government Operations may receive additional hearings or fiscal review. Bills sent to Calendar and Rules are positioned for a floor calendar placement if they clear subsequent procedural steps.

Provenance (selected evidence spans from the committee transcript supporting the summaries above):
- HB 675: topic intro at committee recognition of House Bill 675 (transcript block starting s=1141.97); vote recorded at clerk tally (s=1458.01).
- HB 1270: bill introduction and sponsor explanation (s=1721.86 onward); vote recorded (s=2008.225).
- HB 6 (pre-K): sponsor explanation (s=2055.27); vote recorded (s=2126.815).
- HB 134 (red dye): sponsor explanation and evidence discussion (s=2228.0898 onward); vote recorded (s=2669.68).
- HB 178 (success sequence): sponsor introduction and extended debate (s=4781.12 onward); vote recorded (s=5822.7).

Speakers (selected; attributions come from the committee transcript):
- Representative David Cochran — bill sponsor for HB 675 and other items (role: Representative, government).
- Representative (Leader) Williams — sponsor/leader on several bills (government).
- Representative Jeremy Hurd — offered remarks on World Autism Awareness Day and other items (government).
- Representative Davis — sponsor of HB 134 (government).
- Representative Boso — sponsor of HB 178 (government).
- Representative McKenzie — spoke in opposition to HB 178 (government).
- Chairman (committee chair) — presided over the meeting (government).

This roundup lists recorded procedural outcomes and tallies recorded in the transcript; reporters and stakeholders should consult official committee minutes or the legislative clerk’s published records for full roll-call data and the final text of any adopted amendments.","The full House Education Committee advanced multiple bills on testing, student speech, nutrition, school safety and other education matters. This roundup lists each bill taken up, its outcome and vote tally where recorded on the transcript.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Panel advances controversial ‘success sequence’ curriculum proposal after extended debate

Committee advances bill to remove Red Dye 40 from school nutrition program

Committee advances bill sponsors call a protection against coerced speech for school staff and students

House committee advances bill to refocus high-school assessments toward ACT/SAT and alternatives

Tennessee House Education Committee advances two dozen education bills in packed session; key votes listed