TennesseeTennessee law applies honorific rules to schools, colleges, and state work
Tennessee's enacted law includes honorifics in rules for addressing people at public schools and colleges, and in state work.
What it does
Public school workers may use an honorific that matches a person's sex, even if it is not the person's preference. Written parent or guardian consent is required to use an inconsistent honorific for an unemancipated minor.
Public higher education rules include honorifics in provisions about names and pronouns. They cover students, faculty, employees, and contractors.
State employees and contractors follow provisions covering honorifics when they communicate as part of state work or a state contract.
Argument forPeople may value consistent rules for forms of address because the law includes honorifics alongside pronouns in school and state work rules.
Argument againstA student may not receive a requested form of address at school if it conflicts with the student's sex and the parent or guardian has not given written consent.
More detail
School workers may use a pronoun or honorific consistent with the person’s sex, even when it is not that person’s preference. These rules cover teachers, employees, and contractors at public schools and local education agencies, and students enrolled there. A teacher, employee, or contractor must get written parent or guardian consent before knowingly using an honorific inconsistent with an unemancipated minor student's sex. A school worker must not ask a student to use a pronoun or honorific inconsistent with the worker's sex. The act took effect when it became law.
Public higher education provisions include honorifics alongside names and pronouns. These provisions cover students, faculty members, employees, and contractors at public institutions of higher education. The act took effect when it became law.
State work provisions include honorifics alongside names and pronouns. These provisions cover state employees, state contractors, and people they communicate with for state work or a state contract. The rules apply when a state employee or contractor communicates as part of state work or a state contract. The act took effect when it became law.
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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. 1076Latest
- May 27Effective date(s) 05/22/2026
- May 22Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 11Transmitted to Governor for action.To Governor
- May 7Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 29Enrolled and ready for signaturesMinor
- Apr 22Concurred, Ayes 22, Nays 4 (Amendment 1 - HA1079)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 PREVIOUS QUESTION AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.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 - HA1079)Major
- Apr 21Passed H., as am., Ayes 70, Nays 18, PNV 1Passed House
- Apr 21Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/22/2026
- Mar 12Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
- Mar 9Passed Senate, Ayes 26, Nays 6Passed Senate
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 3/9/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 9Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Mar 6Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/9/2026
- Mar 4Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
- Vote recorded SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee 3/4/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 26Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/4/2026
- Jan 21Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education CommitteeMinor
- Jan 15Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Jan 14Filed for introductionIntroduced
EducationGovernment & Ethics