State legislative wrap-up: Immigration, vouchers and preemption

The dust is starting to settle after the annual whirlwind that is the final days of the legislative session at the Tennessee State Capitol.

Today we take you inside the halls of power to wrap-up. We hear from reporters who offer their insights into what passed and why, what failed…and what might surface again in 2027. From school vouchers and immigration policy to preempting local laws — what were the predominant issues and political dynamics that will shape our state’s future?

This hour, we also want to hear from you: How would you rate legislative performance? Were your priorities addressed? If not, what do you want from lawmakers next year? Join the conversation by calling 615-760-2000 or chiming in on the chat on our live YouTube stream.

This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.

Guests

• Marianna Bacallao, State Legislature reporter, WPLN
• Sarah Grace Taylor, Statehouse reporter, Nashville Banner
• Vivian Jones, State government and politics reporter, Tennessean

Further reading

• Tennessean | Lawmaker calls for special session on marijuana: week in politics; The Week in Politics is a weekly political notebook dump of odds and ends from your Tennessean reporter in the statehouse
• Nashville Banner | 2026 Recap: Tennessee Legislature Adjourns From Session Dominated by Immigration, Vouchers and Preemption; Here’s a recap of the biggest bills that passed and those that fell short during the two-year session
• WPLN | Tennessee brings Trump’s immigration policy to the states
• Tennessean | TN legislature adjourns after vote-a-rama on local preemption bills
• WPLN | Blackburn calls on Tennessee to eliminate remaining Democratic seat after SCOTUS ruling