Lottery, Scholarships and Programs - As introduced, allows a private postsecondary institution that is a candidate for accreditation by a regional accrediting association and that has its primary campus domiciled in this state to serve as an institution at which a student may be enrolled for purposes of receiving financial aid funded using net proceeds of the state lottery. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 4, Part 9.

HB 777 amends Tennessee law to allow private colleges with their main campus in Tennessee - whether accredited or a candidate for regional accreditation - to qualify for state lottery-funded financial aid. This directly affects eligible private institutions seeking accreditation, expanding their access to lottery-generated scholarship money. The key change removes a previous requirement that institutions must already be accredited, instead including "candidate for accreditation" status. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, enabling these institutions to enroll students receiving such aid starting then.