# Tennessee SB 1311: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 5 and Title 49, Chapter 6, relative to teacher licensure. Tennessee SB 1311, AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 5 and Title 49, Chapter 6, relative to teacher licensure., is a 114th General Assembly (2025-2026) Senate bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2025-05-13 (Effective date(s) 05/02/2025, 07/01/2025) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB1311-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Tennessee SB 1311 - State: Tennessee - Session: 114th General Assembly (2025-2026) - Title: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 5 and Title 49, Chapter 6, relative to teacher licensure. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-02-06 - Last action: 2025-05-13, Effective date(s) 05/02/2025, 07/01/2025 - Sponsors: no sponsor on record - Cosponsors: 2 - Subjects: Teachers, Principals and School Personnel - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 4 (155 yes, 14 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Schools must report permit teacher misconduct: benefit, low. 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 mis… - Teachers face subject and credential limits: cost, low. 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… - Industry workers gain a teaching pathway: mixed, low. 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 fiv… - Permit teachers gain a limited license: mixed, low. 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… - Schools gain emergency teacher hiring options: mixed, low. 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… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Cosponsor: Becky D. Massey (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: White ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-16 | Senate | FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 1 4/16/2025 | pass | 32 | 0 | | | 2025-04-14 | House | FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/14/2025 | pass | 82 | 14 | | | 2025-03-24 | Senate | FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt 3/24/2025 | pass | 32 | 0 | | | 2025-03-12 | Senate | SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE | pass | 9 | 0 | | ## Actions (23) - 2025-05-13: Effective date(s) 05/02/2025, 07/01/2025 - 2025-05-13: Pub. Ch. 328 - 2025-05-02: Signed by Governor. (Senate) - 2025-04-22: Transmitted to Governor for action. (Senate) - 2025-04-21: Signed by H. Speaker (House) - 2025-04-21: Signed by Senate Speaker (Senate) - 2025-04-21: Enrolled and ready for signatures (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Concurred, Ayes 32, Nays 0 (Amendment 1 - HA0104) (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/16/2025 (Senate) - 2025-04-14: Passed H., as am., Ayes 82, Nays 14, PNV 0 (House) - 2025-04-14: H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0104) (House) - 2025-04-14: Subst. for comp. HB. (House) - 2025-03-27: Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk. (House) - 2025-03-24: Sponsor(s) Added. (Senate) - 2025-03-24: Engrossed; ready for transmission to House (Senate) - 2025-03-24: Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0 (Senate) - 2025-03-21: Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/24/2025 (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Sponsor(s) Added. (Senate) - 2025-03-05: Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/12/2025 (Senate) - 2025-02-12: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee (Senate) - 2025-02-10: Introduced, Passed on First Consideration (Senate) - 2025-02-06: Filed for introduction (Senate) ## Bill text - HA0104, 2025-04-14: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/HA0104.pdf) - Enrolled / Public Chapter: [PDF](https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0328.pdf) - Fiscal Note: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Fiscal/SB1311.pdf) - Introduced: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/SB1311.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 1326: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 5, Part 7, relative to property tax relief for elderly persons. (signed) - SB 1255: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 49; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to blood lead level testing. (signed) - SB 1232: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40, Chapter 32, Part 1, relative to expunction of criminal records. (signed) - SB 0855: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 12; Title 13; Title 29; Title 54; Title 64; Title 65; Title 68 and… (signed) - SB 0539: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7; Title 13; Title 48; Title 49; Title 67 and Title 68, relative to low-income housing. (signed) - SB 0254: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, relative to criminal law. (signed) ## Sources - [HA0104 (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/HA0104.pdf) - [Enrolled / Public Chapter (PDF)](https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0328.pdf) - [Fiscal Note (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Fiscal/SB1311.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/SB1311.pdf) ## Related - [SB 1326: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 5, Part 7, relative…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB1326-2025-2026) - [SB 1255: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 49; Title 63; Title 6…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB1255-2025-2026) - [SB 1232: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40, Chapter 32, Part 1, relativ…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB1232-2025-2026) - [SB 0855: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; T…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB0855-2025-2026) - [SB 0539: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7; Title 13; Title 48; Title 49…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB0539-2025-2026) - [SB 0254: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Titl…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB0254-2025-2026) - [Tennessee bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/tennessee/bills) - [Tennessee state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/tennessee) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB1311-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).