Boards and Commissions - As enacted, prohibits the exclusion of persons from membership on state regulatory and health-related boards on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, and national origin; prohibits such boards from establishing or operating under race-based policies pertaining to their composition; removes requirement that appointing authorities strive to ensure certain boards and commissions are represented by members of racial minorities. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 21; Title 9; Title 62; Title 63 and Title 68.

HB 1237 prohibits excluding individuals from membership on Tennessee's state regulatory and health-related boards based on race, color, ethnicity, or national origin. It bans boards from using race-based policies (including affirmative action or racial quotas) to determine membership composition and removes requirements that appointing authorities ensure racial minority representation on certain boards. The bill allows private lawsuits for violations, with a minimum $4,000 statutory penalty per violation, and waives state sovereign immunity for such cases. It became effective April 24, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.