TennesseeTennessee law defines bullying and sets employee discipline rules
Starting July 1, 2026, Tennessee law defines certain student and employee acts as bullying and makes teachers and school employees subject to dismissal or suspension for specified misconduct.
What it does
The law defines bullying to include certain acts by school employees or students that interfere with a student's education. Where the act happens affects which harms or disruptions count.
Teachers and school employees found to have harassed, intimidated, bullied, or cyberbullied may be dismissed or suspended. Violating a district policy against these acts is also listed as a ground for dismissal.
Argument forStudents could get more protection if schools can suspend or dismiss teachers and employees found to have harassed or bullied them.
Argument againstTeachers and school employees could lose their jobs for misconduct that violates district policy, so schools’ findings may have serious employment consequences.
More detail
The law defines bullying to include certain acts by school employees or students that interfere with a student's education. When an employee acts, any student may be a victim; when a student acts, the victim must be another student. At school or a school activity, the act must harm the student or property, or knowingly cause reasonable fear of that harm. Off school grounds and outside school activities, the act must target a student and substantially disrupt the school environment or learning process. The definition applies to acts committed on or after July 1, 2026.
Teachers and school employees found to have committed harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyberbullying are subject to dismissal or suspension. This applies to teachers and school employees. Committing one of these acts in violation of district policy is also listed as a ground for dismissal. These provisions apply to acts committed on or after July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27Pub. Ch. 1093Latest
- May 27Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
- May 22Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 11Transmitted to Governor for action.To Governor
- May 7Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Enrolled and ready for signaturesMinor
- Apr 30Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 22Concurred, Ayes 31, Nays 0 (Amendment 1 - HA0635)Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 1 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 21Subst. for comp. HB.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 2 BY JOHNSON AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0635)Major
- Apr 21Failed to adopt am (Amendment 2 -HA1217), Ayes 28, Nays 64, PNV 0
- Apr 21Passed H., as am., Ayes 92, Nays 0, PNV 0Passed House
- Apr 21Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/22/2026
- Mar 19Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
- Mar 16Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0Passed Senate
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt 3/16/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 16Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Mar 13Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/16/2026
- Mar 9Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
- Vote recorded SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee 3/9/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/9/2026
- Jan 22Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Jan 21Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Jan 20Filed for introductionIntroduced
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