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TennesseeHB 2194114th General Assembly (2025-2026)House

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9, relative to public institutions of higher education.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Education, Higher

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Public colleges must protect free expression

Every Tennessee public college must adopt policies protecting institutional neutrality, free expression, and respectful discussion. The policies must support a campus where people can respectfully express all viewpoints. Colleges must post these policies on their websites. Policy-adoption requirements take effect upon enactment for that limited purpose. Full requirements take effect July 1, 2026, and apply starting with the 2026–2027 academic year and thereafter.

New tenure and discipline rules for faculty

Beginning July 1, 2026, the law separates faculty tenure decisions from discipline, applying from the 2026–2027 academic year onward. The Board of Regents and each state university board must adopt these policies. The University of Tennessee trustees must do the same if they adopt the referenced tenure-award policy. Tenure decisions cannot serve as punishment. Discipline cannot change or suspend tenure status except under institutional policy and with due process. Tenured and non-tenured faculty must face the same misconduct procedures, with due process consistent with state and federal law. Before suspension or dismissal for misconduct, faculty are entitled only to written notice and a hearing opportunity before the chief executive or chief academic officer. Those officers must make these decisions without relying on a faculty body's recommendation or vote. Boards can still deny tenure based on performance, qualifications, or institutional needs, separately from discipline. The law also aligns the trustees' tenure-policy authority with these rules. It removes Code § 49-8-301(b)(4) and § 49-8-303, and adds “prior to July 1, 2026” to the for-cause language in § 49-8-304(a). The supplied text does not explain those older rules, so their specific effects are unclear. Policy-adoption provisions take effect upon enactment for that limited purpose.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Rush Bricken

    Republican • House

  • Aron Maberry

    Republican • House

  • Kevin D. Raper

    Republican • House

  • Michele Reneau

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 185 • No: 51

Senate vote • 3/23/2026

FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 3/23/2026

Yes: 25 • No: 5

House vote • 3/9/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/9/2026

Yes: 70 • No: 21

House vote • 3/9/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/9/2026

Yes: 72 • No: 21

House vote • 3/9/2026

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 3/3/2026

HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Yes: 13 • No: 3

House vote • 2/18/2026

HOUSE HIGHER EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 5 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date(s) 04/16/2026, 07/01/2026

    4/27/2026

  2. Pub. Ch. 761

    4/27/2026

  3. Signed by Governor.

    4/16/2026

  4. Transmitted to Governor for his action.

    4/7/2026House

  5. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/1/2026Senate

  6. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/1/2026House

  7. Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

    3/24/2026House

  8. Passed Senate, Ayes 25, Nays 5

    3/23/2026Senate

  9. Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

    3/23/2026Senate

  10. Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

    3/12/2026Senate

  11. Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

    3/10/2026House

  12. Passed H., as am., Ayes 70, Nays 21, PNV 1

    3/9/2026House

  13. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/9/2026House

  14. H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0586)

    3/9/2026House

  15. H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/9/2026

    3/5/2026House

  16. Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/5/2026

    3/4/2026House

  17. Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

    3/3/2026House

  18. Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/3/2026

    2/25/2026House

  19. Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Education Committee

    2/18/2026House

  20. Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 2/18/2026

    2/11/2026House

  21. Assigned to s/c Higher Education Subcommittee

    2/5/2026House

  22. P2C, ref. to Education Committee

    2/5/2026House

  23. Intro., P1C.

    2/4/2026House

  24. Filed for introduction

    2/2/2026House

Bill Text

  • HA0586

    3/9/2026

    PDF

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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