NASHVILLE, TENN. — A last-minute amendment to expand Tennessee's Education Savings Account program failed by one vote in the state Senate on Thursday. The measure received 16 ayes and 14 nays, falling one vote short of the 17-vote majority required for passage.

The amendment was sponsored by Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, who attached the expansion to House Bill 1881, an unrelated bill addressing school reporting requirements. Because the proposal was introduced as an amendment, it did not have to go through any committees.

Under the current Education Savings Account program, income-eligible students in Shelby, Hamilton and Davidson counties can use state and local funds for private school tuition and other approved education expenses. The proposed expansion would have added Knox County to the program and raised the income cap for participating families, allowing a family of four earning up to $240,000 annually to receive $10,000 per year in public funds for private school costs.

Johnson plans to bring the amendment back under a Senate rule that allows a sponsor to retry legislation as long as it does not receive a majority of nay votes. The House is expected to vote on its version of the Education Savings Account expansion bill Thursday.

Also on Thursday, lawmakers passed an amended version of the bill that removes several accountability rules for private schools but does not expand the Education Savings Account program or raise income caps. If Governor Bill Lee signs the amended bill, students using an Education Savings Account will no longer be required to take the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program test.