HB 996 Tennessee House · 113th Regular Session (2023-2024)

Education - As enacted, clarifies that instruction in topics related to sexual activity are generally not age-appropriate for students in grades K-5 and must generally not be taught to students in grades K-5 as part of a family life curriculum; clarifies that such prohibition does not prohibit an LEA or public charter school from providing instruction to students in K-5 on the detection, intervention, prevention, and treatment of child sexual abuse and human trafficking in which the victim is a child. - Amends TCA Title 49.

This bill clarifies that schools in Tennessee generally should not teach topics related to sexual activity to students in grades K-5 as part of their family life curriculum. However, it explicitly allows educators to teach children in these grades how to recognize, prevent, and respond to child sexual abuse and human trafficking. The legislation amends state education code to ensure these specific safety topics remain available despite the broader restriction on sexual activity instruction.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
Feb 2024
House Passage
May 2024
Senate Passage
May 2024
Signed into Law
May 2024
Introduced Feb 1, 2023 Signed May 21, 2024
Floor votes · Senate Apr 22, 2024 · House Feb 12, 2024

How they voted

24–2
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 28
Apr 22, 2024
D Democratic4
2 Nay 2
50% Nay
R Republican24
24 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
27
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 21, 2024
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
May 9, 2024
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
May 1, 2024
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 22, 2024
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, Ayes 24, Nays 2, PNV 2
upper
Feb 15, 2024
Introduced
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
lower
Feb 12, 2024
Lower · Passed
H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0517)
lower
Feb 12, 2024
Lower · Passed
Passed H., as am., Ayes 94, Nays 1, PNV 0
lower
Feb 7, 2024
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 2/8/2024
lower
Feb 6, 2024
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Jan 31, 2024
Committee
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Education Instruction
lower
Jan 24, 2024
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Education Instruction Subcommittee for 1/31/2024
lower
Mar 14, 2023
Committee
Ref. to Education Instruction
lower
Mar 14, 2023
Committee
Assigned to s/c Education Instruction Subcommittee
lower
Feb 1, 2023
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Charlie Baum
Charlie Baum
RRepublican
TN
37