TennesseeHB 1886114th General Assembly (2025-2026)House

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to acceptable uses of technology provided by public schools.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Local Education Agencies

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Safer school materials and family complaints

Beginning July 1, 2027, contracted providers face safety rules for digital materials created and marketed for pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Covered contracts are with Tennessee school systems, public charter schools, or state agencies. Providers must verify compliance with Tennessee's obscenity law and block pornographic, obscene, and self-harm-promoting content. They must also block violent or frightening content unsuitable for students' age or maturity that has no educational value. Written verification must confirm that technology prevents sending, receiving, viewing, or downloading material legally defined as harmful to minors. Providers must remove access to material the contracting agency considers age- or audience-inappropriate within one business day of its request. Both parties can agree to extend that deadline. Contracting agencies must provide a complaint process, review alleged violations promptly, and decide whether further action is needed. Medical resources are excluded from these provider and complaint rules. Contracts or agreements entered into before July 1, 2027, remain protected until they expire.

Stronger school internet safeguards for students

Beginning July 1, 2027, Tennessee school systems and public charter schools must adopt school internet use policies. Policies must include internet safety in teaching and parent outreach, including through existing channels such as parent-teacher conferences. They must protect students using email, chat rooms, and other online messaging, and prevent access to services lacking student privacy protections. Schools must obtain filters or blocking tools for harmful, pornographic, obscene, self-harm-promoting content and material legally defined as harmful to minors. They must also block violent or frightening content unsuitable for a student's age or maturity that has no educational value. Policies must prevent employee access to this content and set discipline or other responses to employee violations. Schools can add parent permission requirements or different rules by student level. Directors must implement and enforce policies, with reviews at least twice yearly and updates as needed. Schools must immediately notify parents upon learning that a student under 18 accessed a website against policy using school internet. The law also repeals Section 49-1-221; the supplied text does not explain that section's former requirements.

School email barred for younger students

Beginning July 1, 2027, Tennessee school systems and public charter schools cannot allow email access for pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade students. Schools can create an email address only to identify a student in security or grading software. Students cannot use that address to send or receive messages.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Aron Maberry
Republican • House
Jake McCalmon
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 236 • No: 36

Senate vote • 4/22/2026

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/22/2026

Yes: 29 • No: 0

House vote • 4/22/2026

FLOOR VOTE: MESSAGE CALENDAR 2 CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENT # 3 4/22/2026

Yes: 69 • No: 19

House vote • 4/21/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026

Yes: 75 • No: 16

House vote • 4/20/2026

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 4/15/2026

HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE

Yes: 26 • No: 0

House vote • 4/15/2026

HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 2/17/2026

HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Yes: 18 • No: 1

House vote • 2/10/2026

HOUSE EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 6 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Effective date(s) 07/01/2027
5/26/2026
Pub. Ch. 992
5/26/2026
Signed by Governor.
5/19/2026
Transmitted to Governor for his action.
5/7/2026House
Signed by Senate Speaker
5/5/2026Senate
Signed by H. Speaker
4/30/2026House
Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
4/28/2026House
H. concurred in S. am. no. 3 Ayes 69, Nays 19 PNV 3 HB1886
4/22/2026House
H. Placed on Message Calendar #2 for 4/22/26
4/22/2026House
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 29, Nays 0
4/22/2026Senate
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 3 - SA1109)
4/22/2026Senate
Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0608)
4/22/2026Senate
Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - SA1049)
4/22/2026Senate
Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
4/22/2026Senate
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
4/21/2026Senate
Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
4/21/2026House
Passed H., as am., Ayes 75, Nays 16, PNV 0
4/21/2026House
H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA1192)
4/21/2026House
Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0560)
4/21/2026House
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026
4/16/2026House
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/16/2026
4/15/2026House
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
4/15/2026House
Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/15/2026
4/15/2026House
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
4/15/2026House
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
4/8/2026House

Bill Text

HA1192 (Substitute)
4/21/2026
PDF
Enrolled / Public Chapter
PDF
Fiscal Note
PDF
HA0560
PDF
Introduced
PDF
SA0608
PDF
SA1049
PDF
SA1109
PDF

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