I knew it would happen, and it has: legislation has been filed (HB3180) to require the BEP to be funded according to the prototype system-level fiscal capacity model developed by TACIR. The bill is scheduled to be heard in the K-12 subcommittee on Tuesday, according to TLN Notes, a legislative update service by the Tennessee School Boards Association.

The sponsor is Gerald McCormick of Chattanooga — one of the four big cities that would benefit tremendously, at the expense of much smaller school systems across the state. Fortunately, there is no Senate companion at this time, which means it can’t pass the General Assembly. Last year a similar measure was sponsored by another Chattanooga Republican, Sen. David Fowler.

I think the bill filing deadline has passed, but am not certain whether a “caption bill” already filed in the Senate might be amended to make it a suitable companion to this one. Nonetheless, I will be watching the webcast of the committee meeting to see what happens.