All Roll Calls
Yes: 284 • No: 97
TennesseeSB 0016114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to interscholastic athletics.
Sponsored By: Adam Lowe (Republican)
Became Law
Education
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Help for foster students in sports
Beginning July 1, 2026, public schools must tell the athletic association when a student in foster care wants to play and not telling could make the student ineligible. The school must get written consent from the parent or guardian, or from the student if 18 or older, before sending the notice. All notices must follow state law and student privacy rules.
Tighter rules for suing associations
Beginning July 1, 2026, lawsuits over an athletic association’s eligibility decision must be filed in the county where the association’s main office is located. This law does not create a new right to sue athletic associations. It sets where cases must be filed and limits new legal claims.
Summer transfers can play right away
Beginning July 1, 2026, a student who makes their first school transfer in grades 6–8 or 9–12 during the summer is immediately eligible for school sports at the new member school. Transfers during the school year, or a second or later transfer, do not get this automatic eligibility. Schools and athletic associations can still apply other eligibility rules, and associations decide how to carry out this policy. These definitions and rules apply to Tennessee member schools serving grades 6–12.
Open meetings and audits for associations
Beginning July 1, 2026, public schools may use public money for membership only in athletic associations whose boards voluntarily follow Tennessee’s open meetings law. An association may close part of a meeting to discuss student records or other protected information, and only that topic. These associations face yearly audits by the state comptroller; the comptroller can accept the group’s CPA audit on file or order one and bill the group. Prior related code sections are repealed.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Adam Lowe
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Raumesh Akbari
Democrat • Senate
Tom Hatcher
Republican • Senate
Joey Hensley
Republican • Senate
Ed Jackson
Republican • Senate
Bo Watson
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 2/9/2026
FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 3 2/9/2026
Yes: 30 • No: 2
Senate vote • 2/9/2026
FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 1 2/9/2026
Yes: 30 • No: 2
House vote • 2/4/2026
FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 3 BY CEPICKY PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 2/4/2026
Yes: 82 • No: 11
House vote • 2/4/2026
FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 2/4/2026
Yes: 83 • No: 10
House vote • 4/17/2025
FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 2 BY PEARSON AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/17/2025
Yes: 28 • No: 65
Senate vote • 4/7/2025
FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/7/2025
Yes: 25 • No: 4
Senate vote • 3/26/2025
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Yes: 6 • No: 3
Actions Timeline
Pub. Ch. 533
3/16/2026Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
3/16/2026Signed by Governor.
2/23/2026SenateSigned by H. Speaker
2/12/2026HouseTransmitted to Governor for action.
2/12/2026SenateSigned by Senate Speaker
2/11/2026SenateSponsor(s) Added.
2/10/2026SenateEnrolled and ready for signatures
2/10/2026SenateEnrolled and ready for signatures
2/10/2026SenateConcurred, Ayes 30, Nays 2 (Amendment 1 - HA0299)
2/9/2026SenateConcurred, Ayes 30, Nays 2 (Amendment 3 - HA0543)
2/9/2026SenatePlaced on Senate Message Calendar for 2/9/2026
2/6/2026SenateH. adopted am. (Amendment 3 - HA0543)
2/4/2026HousePassed H., as am., Ayes 83, Nays 10, PNV 0
2/4/2026HouseH. Placed on Regular Calendar for 2/4/2026
2/2/2026HouseSubst. for comp. HB.
4/17/2025HouseH. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0299)
4/17/2025HouseReset on first calendar for February 2026
4/17/2025HouseRcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
4/9/2025HouseSenate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0269)
4/7/2025SenatePassed Senate as amended, Ayes 25, Nays 4
4/7/2025SenateEngrossed; ready for transmission to House
4/7/2025SenateSponsor(s) Added.
4/7/2025SenatePlaced on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/7/2025
4/4/2025SenateSenate Reset on calendar for 4/7/2025
4/3/2025Senate
Bill Text
HA0543 (Substitute)
2/4/2026
Enrolled / Public Chapter
Fiscal Note
HA0299
HA0497
Introduced
SA0269
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