Legislators discuss recent session, school choice

Tennessee Sen. Bo Watson and Rep. Greg Martin addressing the June 19, 2024 Friends of Hixson meeting.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Two Tennessee state legislators discussed this year’s session in Nashville to their constituents Wednesday morning. 

Senator Bo Watson and Rep. Greg Martin were the featured guests at the monthly Friends of Hixson meeting.

They talked about what occurred in the previous legislative session and what could be on the table next year.

One topic covered at length was school choice which, despite a push from Governor Bill Lee, failed to pass in this session.

Both legislators said they still support school choice and believe it will come up again at next session.

“The question is, what is the mechanism to do that? Is it to make sure that the priority is on the system or the student? I think the paradigm shift needs to be, “what’s the best for a student?” Not everyone has a sense that they get to choose where they go to school and what’s best for them and for their children and their family, and that is a paradigm shift that we need to consider,” Rep. Martin said. 

The regular legislative session is from January to April.