Tennessee Bills

HB 1051 replaces Tennessee's "Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022" with the "Freedom to Read Act," affecting school libraries and classroom libraries in public schools and charter schools. The bill requires that materials (including books, digital content, and more) must be suitable for students' age and maturity and cannot be removed due to the creator's background, ideology, or religious views. Schools must adopt a policy for reviewing removal requests from students, parents, or staff, and materials must stay available during the review process. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.

HB 771 requires boat owners to purchase a $72 annual permit to operate vessels that are exempt from Tennessee numbering (because they have a valid federal number from another state) on Tennessee's intrastate waters. This applies specifically to boats already legally numbered under another state's federally approved system. The permit fee must be paid annually, and all revenue will fund Tennessee's boating safety programs. The bill creates a new permit requirement for these "exempt vessels," which would be administered by the Fish and Wildlife Commission. (Note: The bill failed in committee on March 26, 2025, and is not yet law.)

SB 270, the "Universal Pre-K Funding Act," mandates that Tennessee public school districts (LEAs) provide universal pre-kindergarten programs for all eligible 4-year-olds residing in their district. It removes previous voluntary language, requiring LEAs to offer sufficient classrooms and set specific program standards, including a maximum class size of 20 students, certified early childhood teachers, and a curriculum covering literacy, math, and social development. The bill also establishes enrollment processes for oversubscribed programs and requires compliance with state early childhood education standards. This directly affects all Tennessee public school districts and children aged 4 who meet residency requirements.

SB 386, the "Early Behavioral Intervention and Reporting Act," would require Tennessee public charter schools and local school districts to implement a computer-based system for staff to report early warning signs of student behavioral issues, such as bullying, threats, substance abuse, or mental health concerns. Schools must train staff to use the system, which automatically alerts their threat assessment teams when a report is entered, and submit annual reports to the state education department. Non-compliance could result in the withholding of state funds, while all data handling must comply with privacy laws like FERPA. The bill clarifies that public charter schools must now establish threat assessment teams in the same way as traditional school districts.

HB 1213 requires students using Tennessee’s education savings accounts (vouchers) to take the same standardized tests as public school students. It mandates that these students: - Take all Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) tests for their grade or course, - Complete the 11th-grade college readiness exam, and - Undergo three annual reading screeners in kindergarten through third grade. The bill directly affects voucher program participants (students using education savings or individualized education accounts), with exemptions for students with disabilities under IEP plans. It aims to align assessment requirements between voucher and public school students, effective July 1, 2025.

HB 1109 requires private schools participating in Tennessee's education voucher programs (including education freedom scholarships, individualized education accounts, and education savings accounts) to conduct background checks on all staff with direct child contact or access to school grounds. The bill mandates fingerprint or Social Security number-based checks including state/national sex offender registries and child abuse registries, plus verification of educator license status. It applies specifically to schools enrolling students using state-funded voucher programs. The bill failed in the K-12 Subcommittee on March 25, 2025, and is not currently law.

HB 309 amends Tennessee law to require the Bureau of Parks and Conservation to designate **at least one day annually** - instead of exactly one day - when all state parks, campgrounds, and golf courses are free for veterans. This directly affects **veterans** seeking access to state park facilities, expanding potential free days beyond the current single-day requirement. The key provision modifies an existing law (TCA Title 58, Chapter 3) to mandate annual free access while shifting responsibility from the "division of parks" to the "bureau of parks and conservation." The bill does not create new fees or alter veteran eligibility, only adjusting the frequency and administrative oversight of free park access.

HB 1214 (School Vouchers) requires private schools participating in Tennessee's education savings account (ESA) or individualized education account (IEA) programs to: (1) publish lesson plans, syllabi, library materials, and academic standards online; (2) ensure all educators hold valid teaching licenses; and (3) administer state standardized tests (TCAP or equivalent) to participating students annually, with grade-specific requirements for K-3 reading screeners and 11th-grade exams. The bill directly affects private schools in the voucher programs and their students, mandating transparency and academic accountability. It exempts students with disabilities from certain testing requirements as outlined in their IEPs. The law would take effect July 1, 2025, if passed.

HB 1001 would allow high school students pursuing a career and technical education (CTE) focus to replace up to four required course credits (chemistry, computer science, world language, and Algebra II) with CTE course credits toward their high school diploma. The bill requires the Tennessee State Board of Education to authorize this substitution for eligible students. It directly affects CTE students who want flexibility in meeting graduation requirements without changing the total credit count. The policy would take effect July 1, 2025, if enacted. This is a substantive change to graduation requirements, not a procedural measure.

HJR 176 is a procedural resolution establishing a joint committee to investigate the potential removal of Steven J. Mulroy, the District Attorney General for Tennessee's Thirtieth Judicial District. The bill authorizes the House and Senate Speakers to appoint five members each to form a committee that will review alleged misconduct (including ethical violations and mismanagement) and determine if due process hearings are warranted. If hearings proceed, the committee would recommend removal to the full General Assembly, which would then vote separately on each cause requiring a two-thirds majority. This resolution outlines the procedural steps for removal under Tennessee Constitution Article VI, Section 6, but does not address the merits of the allegations.

SB 645, a Tennessee legislative bill that was withdrawn on March 25, 2025, would have made three key changes to voting rules. It would have banned online voting for most voters (except military and overseas citizens who already have specific provisions), prohibited using post office boxes for voter registration or voting addresses, and required voters who moved counties within Tennessee to vote based on their current residence without needing to update registration. The bill directly affected all Tennessee voters by altering how they register, establish residency, and cast ballots. It amended Tennessee Code Annotated Title 2, specifically sections on voting equipment, address requirements, and residency voting rules.

SB 475 modifies Tennessee's sentencing rules for individuals convicted of first-degree murder after July 1, 1995, who receive life imprisonment. It reduces the required service for release eligibility from 100% of 60 years (60 years total) to 60% of 60 years (36 years), minus time earned for good behavior. However, it mandates a minimum 25-year sentence if the offender was under 25 at the time of the crime, or 30 years if 26 or older. This bill directly affects life-sentenced murder convicts in Tennessee, changing when they may become eligible for parole under specific age-based timelines.