The Higher Education Subcommittee adopted Amendment 4246 to House Bill 738, clarifying that the bill applies to students enrolled in cosmetology or barbering courses in high school who then seek enrollment at a Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT). Representative Parkinson offered the amendment and, after a motion and second, members voted to add it.

Representative Parkinson said the amendment "clarifies which students that we're talking about, and we are talking about enrollment cosmetology or barbering, course in high school and then, seek to go to a TCAT." The committee chair welcomed a visiting Bartlett alderman but no additional outside testimony was offered in the record.

Committee action: the committee adopted Amendment 4246 (voice vote recorded as "ayes have it") and the sponsor indicated the bill will be placed on the lottery calendar for a later hearing.

Why it matters: Supporters said the change simply clarifies the intended student group (high-school students transitioning to TCAT programs) and avoids ambiguity about which enrollments the bill affects. The measure was not taken up on the lottery calendar during this meeting; committee members said the lottery calendar and the committee's final calendar will be coordinated on the same day.

Next steps: House Bill 738, as amended, will be scheduled for the lottery calendar for future consideration.