Lawmakers in the House passed the bill that would give some public universities their own board.
The measure was passed Thursday 71 to 19.
The plan would remove six universities from under the Tennessee Board of Regents umbrella: Austin Peay, East Tennessee, Middle Tennesee, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Tech, and the Univeristy of Memphis.
Most schools except from Tennessee State University have been on board with this plan.
The Senate Finance Committee was set to take up the measure next week.
