Tennessee lawmakers on Thursday approved legislation drastically expanding the number of families who can use taxpayer money on private schools regardless of income, a long-sought victory for Republican Gov.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, who has criticized the federal government for "excessive overreach," said the U.S. Education Department should be eliminated during Donald Trump's second term as president. (Courtesy TN.gov) The House and the Senate passed the Education Freedom Act, legislation championed by Gov. Bill Lee.

The Tennessee state Congress passed Governor Bill Lee's heavily pushed school voucher bill Thursday, on what is expected to be the final day of the special session the governor called to vote on this initiative and several others.

The legislation could mean jail time and a fine for those supporting sanctuary policies designed to protect migrants.

The legislature’s Republican supermajority left little room for debate, pushing through millions of dollars and sprawling policy changes in a special session that lasted just four days.

A sweeping Tennessee immigration bill could make it unlawful for local officials to adopt sanctuary city policies and create temporary driver’s licenses for non-citizens. Senate Bill 6002/House Bill 6001 cleared both chambers of of the state legislature Thursday afternoon following a whirlwind special legislative session called by Gov.