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TennesseeSB 1311114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 5 and Title 49, Chapter 6, relative to teacher licensure.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Teachers, Principals and School Personnel

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Schools must report permit teacher misconduct

District and charter school directors must report listed criminal convictions involving teachers employed with temporary academic or clinical permits. The State Board sets the deadline for reporting these convictions. Directors must also report suspensions, dismissals, or resignations following misconduct allegations serious enough to warrant disciplinary review if proven. These reports support State Board investigation and discipline.

Teachers face subject and credential limits

Teachers need a matching subject endorsement to teach a course with an end-of-course exam required for graduation. Without that endorsement, they must pass a content test at their own expense or hold an endorsement exemption. Initial licenses through the eligible college-teacher pathway cover only the subject the applicant taught at that institution. Additional subject endorsements can be added later under State Board rules. Physical education classes must use educators with credentials that meet Tennessee's teacher-licensing law and State Board rules.

Industry workers gain a teaching pathway

A limited occupational teaching license lasts three years and does not require enrollment in a teacher training program. Applicants need a conditional school job offer and qualifying experience, equivalent education, or an available active industry license or credential. Experience must include five years within the last 10 years, or three years within the last five, in the subject area. Applicants must agree in writing to training on classroom management, students with disabilities, English learners, and teacher ethics. They must also work with a mentor. Renewal requires an overall rating of “above expectations” or “significantly above expectations” in each of the first two school years. Teachers must also finish the training and meet State Board renewal requirements. A practitioner occupational license requires enrollment in or completion of an approved teacher training program. The State Board must set additional rules for issuing licenses and advancing to later licenses.

Permit teachers gain a limited license

Teachers holding a valid third temporary academic permit can apply for a limited license to keep teaching the same subject. Approval requires a latest overall rating of “above expectations” or “significantly above expectations” and a director's recommendation for the same endorsement. Teachers must agree in writing to begin an approved path toward a practitioner license. The limited license lasts two school years, cannot be renewed, and cannot cover special education. State Board rules must set further requirements, including teaching coursework, foundational literacy, subject-knowledge benchmarks, a highly effective clinical mentor, and professional assessments. Rulemaking authority begins upon enactment; the licensing changes take effect July 1, 2025.

Schools gain emergency teacher hiring options

Beginning July 1, 2025, Tennessee expands emergency teaching credentials for school districts and public charter schools with unfilled jobs. School directors must notify their governing boards that they cannot find a qualified, licensed teacher. Academic permits require at least a bachelor's degree from a qualifying accredited school. Clinical permits require approved teacher training, all coursework except classroom practice, a program recommendation, and a conditional job offer. Fully licensed Tennessee teachers can also receive an exemption from a required subject endorsement. Emergency credentials expire on June 30 following issuance and cannot cover special education; clinical permits cannot be renewed. Academic permit holders can receive one-year contracts, renewed only when a qualified, licensed teacher remains unavailable. Clinical teaching counts toward training requirements only with the required assignment, mentoring, evaluation, and teaching time. Academic permit holders teaching courses with required graduation exams must have mentors. For those permits, the commissioner considers available staff, vacancy timing, and advertising for vacancies outside the school calendar. By July 1, 2027, the Education Department must report emergency credential requests and approvals for tested courses during 2024–25 through 2026–27. The law also repeals three older code sections; the supplied text does not explain their former requirements.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Becky D. Massey

    Republican • Senate

  • White

    Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 155 • No: 14

Senate vote • 4/16/2025

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 1 4/16/2025

Yes: 32 • No: 0

House vote • 4/14/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/14/2025

Yes: 82 • No: 14

Senate vote • 3/24/2025

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt 3/24/2025

Yes: 32 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/12/2025

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date(s) 05/02/2025, 07/01/2025

    5/13/2025

  2. Pub. Ch. 328

    5/13/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/2/2025Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/22/2025Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/21/2025House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/21/2025Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/21/2025Senate

  8. Concurred, Ayes 32, Nays 0 (Amendment 1 - HA0104)

    4/16/2025Senate

  9. Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/16/2025

    4/15/2025Senate

  10. Passed H., as am., Ayes 82, Nays 14, PNV 0

    4/14/2025House

  11. H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0104)

    4/14/2025House

  12. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/14/2025House

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

    3/27/2025House

  14. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/24/2025Senate

  15. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/24/2025Senate

  16. Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

    3/24/2025Senate

  17. Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/24/2025

    3/21/2025Senate

  18. Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

    3/12/2025Senate

  19. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/7/2025Senate

  20. Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/12/2025

    3/5/2025Senate

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

    2/12/2025Senate

  22. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/10/2025Senate

  23. Filed for introduction

    2/6/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • HA0104

    4/14/2025

    PDF

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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