Tennessee is set to receive more than $1.1 billion in new federal funding for K-12 education through Congress' latest $900 billion coronavirus relief package, the Tennessean reports. The U.S. Department of Education is urging states and educators to use the funding to fully reopen K-12 schools in-person and to "take immediate action to address the unprecedented learning loss" caused by a lack of in-person school. The move comes as the Tennessee legislature is poised to hold a special session this month on education issues.

Gov. Bill Lee has called for a Jan. 19 special legislative session to help prioritize bills that would guide schools through the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for the next academic year, the Tennessean reports. The special session, scheduled just after the 112th General Assembly convenes on Jan. 12, will allow lawmakers to focus on select bills and expedite the normal process of passing them. Lee told lawmakers today that teacher pay increases could be considered during this session, as well as equipping educators with the necessary resources and support. Lawmakers will also take up a literacy bill and a new program from the Department of Education called “Reading 360,” which will use one-time federal relief funds to teach phonics.

Several bills that would weaken state vaccination requirements will be up for consideration when the state legislature convenes in January, the Daily Memphian reports. State law currently allows parents to refuse to vaccinate their children for religious beliefs or practices, as long as the state is “in the absence of an epidemic or immediate threat of an epidemic.” HB0010/SB0007 sponsored by Rep. Jay Reedy, R-Erin, and Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, would eliminate the “pandemic clause,” allowing parents to forego having their children vaccinated against COVID-19. HB0013 from Rep. Bud Hensley, R-Kingsport, would prevent state or local authorities from “forcing, requiring, or coercing” a person to get a COVID-19 vaccine against their will. House Education Committee Chairm Mark White, R-Memphis, says he is conflicted about the issues and plans to hear from medical experts when considering the bills. “We need to have some hard discussions and be thoughtful about this. I think we’re going to have to do a lot of listening,” he said.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture announced last week that former Republican Rep. Andy Holt of Dresden has been appointed to serve as the department’s director of business development, the Associated Press reports. In this role, Holt will support economic development initiatives and the expansion of the agriculture and forestry industries. Holt served in the state House from 2010 until this year. He was an Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee chair and spent time as chair of the Budget Subcommittee when Rep. Glen Casada was House speaker. Holt and his wife own and run Holt Family Farms agritourism and livestock operation in Dresden.

The Tennessee Senate Democratic Caucus today voted to keep its leadership team the same ahead of the 2021 legislative term, the Nashville Post reports. The caucus unanimously voted to keep Nashville Sen. Jeff Yarbro as minority leader, Memphis Sen. Raumesh Akbari as caucus chair and Nashville Sen. Brenda Gilmore as floor leader. The caucus added a sixth member earlier this year after Heidi Campbell flipped a seat in Nashville. Campbell was chosen by the group as a nominee for the Fiscal Review Committee.

With COVID-19 surging across the state, House Minority Leader Karen Camper says the legislature should concentrate on controlling the virus and disseminating a vaccine when it convenes in January, Tennessee Lookout reports. Gov. Bill Lee’s administration already has a vaccine distribution plan on the Department of Health website, and the governor is set to hold a briefing tomorrow as doses are distributed across the state. But with the rise in numbers, Camper contends state lawmakers should be involved in the process. Republican leaders, by contrast, say they are satisfied with the state’s distribution plan, which is based on CDC guidelines. Late today, Dr. William Polk, a Nashville surgeon, received the first dose of the vaccine in the state, the Commercial Appeal reports. Polk received the dose at Clinical Research Associates, a company that has been collecting data as part of the Pfizer clinical trial.

Rep. David Byrd, R-Waynesboro, who was hospitalized over the weekend due to complications from COVID-19, might be put on a ventilator due to his low oxygen levels, the Associated Press reports. “I really need a miracle today!! My doctor said if my oxygen level doesn’t improve then he has no choice but to put me on a ventilator,” Byrd wrote in a post on his Facebook page. Byrd attended the House GOP caucus meeting on Nov. 24 when the nearly 70-member group reelected legislative leaders. He also participated in a House GOP overnight retreat the weekend prior.

Gov. Bill Lee is considering calling a special session to prioritize legislation related to schools' pandemic challenges, the Tennessean reports. Lee’s office hasn’t confirmed whether he will call the special session, but it would likely be held within the regular session, similar to a February 2015 special session called by former Gov. Bill Haslam for a failed Medicaid expansion proposal. Multiple legislative officials confirmed discussions were being held to take that same approach to try and pass education-related bills early in the year to allow school districts time to plan accordingly. If the special session isn’t called, taking up those bills in regular session could delay passage until spring. Measures could include holding teachers and students harmless for standardized testing scores, ensuring schools receive adequate funding next year and providing resources to bring children back up to speed after months away from the classroom.

State Rep. David Byrd of Waynesboro was flown from Wayne County to a Nashville hospital over the weekend after being diagnosed with COVID-19 and pneumonia, the Tennessean reports. The paper also noted that he attended a recent House Republican Caucus meeting while not wearing a face covering, and hosted a dinner for dozens of GOP colleagues attending a caucus retreat.

State Rep. Vincent Dixie of Nashville has been elected chair of the House Democratic Caucus, defeating Rep. John Ray Clemmons in the first round of voting and Rep. Bo Mitchell in the final round. All three men represent the city of Nashville. Individual vote totals were not announced. Dixie succeeds Rep. Mike Stewart, also of Nashville, who decided against running for another term, the Nashville Post reports. Rep. Karen Camper of Memphis was unopposed in her bid for another term as House Minority Leader.