HB 2167 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Election Laws - As introduced, requires all public institutions of higher education in this state to observe an academic holiday on each general election day. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 49, Chapter 11; Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9.

HB 2167 requires all public colleges and universities in Tennessee to close for all academic activities on general election days. The bill mandates that institutions observe a full "academic holiday," canceling all classes (in-person, online, or asynchronous), exams, quizzes, assignments, and any graded work that affects a student's grade. This applies specifically to general election days and affects students and faculty at every public higher education institution in the state. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections related to election laws to implement this requirement.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 4, 2026 Last action Apr 2, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
13
Committee
14
Amendments
1
Apr 2, 2026
Introduced
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0873)
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed H., as am., Ayes 89, Nays 0, PNV 4
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/26/2026
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/24/2026
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action def. in Education Committee to 3/24/2026
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/17/2026
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action def. in Education Committee to 3/17/2026
lower
Mar 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/10/2026
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Committee
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Education Committee
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/10/2026
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 3/4/2026
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action Def. in s/c Higher Education Subcommittee to Next Available Calendar
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 2/18/2026
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
P2C, ref. to Education Committee
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Assigned to s/c Higher Education Subcommittee
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jody Barrett
Jody Barrett
RRepublican
TN
69