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TennesseeSB 1968114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37, Chapter 1, Part 1; Title 49, Chapter 1; Title 49, Chapter 2 and Title 49, Chapter 6, relative to attendance.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Local Education Agencies

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Court referrals and parent penalties for truancy

Beginning July 1, 2026, school directors must report certain withdrawn students’ absences to the juvenile judge where the student lives. This applies when the student received tier three truancy interventions and withdrew without enrolling in another school district. The director must certify that required truancy interventions were used and the student did not enroll in another district. For kindergarten through grade 12, a judge may penalize parents or guardians after a child is found unruly for truancy. That finding must involve at least five unexcused absence days in one school year. The judge chooses whether to impose a fine up to $50 or community service. The law also removes a five-hour threshold from an existing truancy provision.

Students’ absences follow them between schools

Beginning July 1, 2026, public schools must keep attendance records for the remaining school year after students transfer or withdraw. Schools enrolling students after the year starts must check whether they attended another public school or district that year. They must request records from each prior school or district, which must provide them within five business days. The new school must count earlier unexcused absences and apply the appropriate level of its truancy plan when applicable. This continues truancy help but also means changing schools does not reset the absence count. The law also adds attendance alongside academics as a factor in a specified education rule.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 129 • No: 93

House vote • 4/15/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/15/2026

Yes: 66 • No: 24

House vote • 4/15/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 2 BY JOHNSON PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/15/2026

Yes: 24 • No: 69

Senate vote • 3/2/2026

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/2/2026

Yes: 30 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/25/2026

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date(s) 07/01/2026

    5/5/2026

  2. Pub. Ch. 844

    5/5/2026

  3. Signed by Governor.

    4/27/2026Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/17/2026Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/16/2026House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/16/2026Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/15/2026Senate

  8. Passed H., Ayes 66, Nays 24, PNV 5

    4/15/2026House

  9. Failed to adopt am (Amendment 2 - HA1129), Ayes 24, Nays 69, PNV 0

    4/15/2026House

  10. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA1024)

    4/15/2026House

  11. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/15/2026House

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

    3/5/2026House

  13. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/2/2026Senate

  14. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 30, Nays 0

    3/2/2026Senate

  15. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0542)

    3/2/2026Senate

  16. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/2/2026

    2/27/2026Senate

  17. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

    2/25/2026Senate

  18. Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 2/25/2026

    2/18/2026Senate

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

    2/5/2026Senate

  20. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/2/2026Senate

  21. Filed for introduction

    1/22/2026Senate

Bill Text

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