The bill would effectively allow public money to be used by families across the state to pay for private education costs. It will now head to Gov. Bill Lee's desk.

In one of the most hotly-contested questions in modern Tennessee political history, the legislature narrowly approved a $430 million private-school voucher program that critics say will grow quickly to $1 billion and endanger the state’s budget.

The Senate sponsor defended the voucher proposal against critics who said it favors affluent families: “It shouldn’t be based on income. It should be universal.”

In the first full day of committees during Tennessee's special legislative session, Republicans pushed an expanded school voucher program.

Governor Bill Lee's school voucher bill is making rapid progress through the Tennessee House, despite opposition from Democratic lawmakers.