Lottery, Scholarships and Programs - As introduced, adds William R. Moore College of Technology as an eligible institution for receipt of the Wilder-Naifeh reconnect grant and Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grant; specifies that the amount of the scholarship for such students enrolled is the average cost of tuition and mandatory fees at TCATs less all other gift aid. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 4.

HB 704 adds William R. Moore College of Technology as an eligible institution for two state financial aid programs: the Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grant and Wilder-Naifeh reconnect grant. It specifies that students at this college enrolled in qualifying programs will receive scholarships covering the average tuition and fees at Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs), minus other gift aid like Pell Grants or state scholarships. This change directly affects students at William R. Moore College seeking these grants, aligning their aid calculation with TCAT rates rather than their institution’s specific costs. The bill amends Tennessee’s education code to implement these eligibility and funding adjustments, effective for the 2025-2026 academic year.