PRIA Logo™
TennesseeSB 0937114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8; Title 9, Chapter 8; Title 29, Chapter 20 and Title 49, relative to freedom of speech.

Sponsored By: Paul Rose (Republican)

Became Law

Education

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Campus rules on names and pronouns

Public colleges and universities cannot make you use a preferred name unless it is the legal name or a common short form. They also cannot make you use pronouns that do not match a person’s sex or punish you for refusing to give preferred pronouns. Students, faculty, staff, and contractors are not civilly liable for using legal names or sex‑consistent pronouns. The institution is not liable for that speech. Each institution must send a separate yearly notice about these protections.

K-12 complaint and lawsuit process

You may file a written complaint with the school or LEA director within 10 days after a violation. The director must fix it within 30 days and tell you in writing what was done. If it is not fixed, you may sue for a court order, money damages, and other relief. If you win, you can recover court costs and lawyer fees. You must file suit within two years after the director’s written notification.

State worker rules on names and pronouns

In state work, agencies cannot require employees or contractors to use a preferred name that is not a legal name or to use pronouns that do not match sex. They also cannot require people to provide preferred pronouns or punish refusal. State employees and contractors are not civilly liable for using legal names or sex‑consistent pronouns. The State is not liable for that speech. Each board, department, agency, and contractor must send a separate yearly notice about these rules. These state‑employee rules do not apply to public colleges and universities, and higher‑education personnel are not treated as state employees for this part.

K-12 name and pronoun rules

Public K–12 schools cannot force students or staff to use a preferred name unless it is the legal name or a common short form. They cannot force use of pronouns that do not match a person’s sex, and they cannot punish someone for refusing. Students, teachers, and staff are not civilly liable for using legal names or sex‑consistent pronouns, and schools are not liable for that speech. For unemancipated minors, staff need written parent or guardian consent to use a different name or a pronoun or title that does not match the student’s sex. Teachers and staff cannot ask students to use pronouns or honorifics that do not match the staff member’s sex. Schools cannot require anyone to give their preferred pronouns.

When this law takes effect

The law takes effect on April 21, 2025. Its rules and protections apply starting that date.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Paul Rose

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Janice Bowling

    Republican • Senate

  • Joey Hensley

    Republican • Senate

  • Ed Jackson

    Republican • Senate

  • Mark Pody

    Republican • Senate

  • Bo Watson

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 220 • No: 314

Senate vote • 4/21/2025

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 1 4/21/2025

Yes: 27 • No: 6

House vote • 4/16/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 5 BY JONES J AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/16/2025

Yes: 20 • No: 73

House vote • 4/16/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 4 BY PEARSON AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/16/2025

Yes: 21 • No: 72

House vote • 4/16/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 3 BY PEARSON AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/16/2025

Yes: 22 • No: 69

House vote • 4/16/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 2 BY PEARSON AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/16/2025

Yes: 20 • No: 70

House vote • 4/16/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/16/2025

Yes: 77 • No: 18

Senate vote • 4/3/2025

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/3/2025

Yes: 25 • No: 5

Senate vote • 3/26/2025

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Yes: 8 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 453

    5/15/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 05/09/2025

    5/15/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/9/2025Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    5/1/2025Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/30/2025House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/29/2025Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/23/2025Senate

  8. Concurred, Ayes 27, Nays 6 (Amendment 1 - HA0259)

    4/21/2025Senate

  9. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/21/2025Senate

  10. Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/21/2025

    4/17/2025Senate

  11. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/16/2025House

  12. H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0259)

    4/16/2025House

  13. Passed H., as am., Ayes 77, Nays 18, PNV 0

    4/16/2025House

  14. Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

    4/7/2025House

  15. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0275)

    4/3/2025Senate

  16. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 25, Nays 5

    4/3/2025Senate

  17. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/3/2025Senate

  18. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    4/3/2025Senate

  19. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/3/2025

    4/1/2025Senate

  20. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 1 PNV 0

    3/26/2025Senate

  21. Action deferred in Senate Education Committee to 3/26/2025

    3/19/2025Senate

  22. Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/26/2025

    3/19/2025Senate

  23. Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/19/2025

    3/12/2025Senate

  24. Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

    2/12/2025Senate

  25. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/10/2025Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation