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...