TennesseeTennessee law sets teacher leave rates and sick leave limits
Starting July 1, 2026, Tennessee teachers’ leave includes a stated personal leave rate and sick leave limits tied to contract length.
What it does
Teachers earn personal and professional leave at a rate of two days for each half-year they work, under local school board policies.
A provision states four days, but the excerpt does not identify the type of leave or who qualifies for that amount.
Sick leave accrues at one day per month, up to yearly limits based on contract length. Unused earned or transferred days can carry over.
Argument forTeachers may be able to save unused sick leave over time, which could give them more days to use later.
Argument againstTeachers with shorter contracts may have fewer sick leave days available each year than teachers with longer contracts.
More detail
Local school board policies must allow teachers to earn personal and professional leave. This applies to teachers under policies adopted by their local boards of education. The rate is two days for each half-year employed. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
A provision in the law states four days. The excerpt does not identify the type of leave or explain who qualifies for this amount. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
The law sets sick leave at one day for each month employed, subject to yearly limits. The yearly limit is eight days for employees with ten-month contracts, nine days for eleven-month contracts, and ten days for twelve-month contracts. Teachers may transfer personal and professional leave to sick leave. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 26Pub. Ch. 1022Latest
- May 26Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
- May 19Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 7Transmitted to Governor for his action.To Governor
- May 5Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 29Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.Minor
- Apr 23Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 23Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA1089)
- Apr 23Passed Senate, Ayes 31, Nays 0Passed Senate
- Apr 9Received from House, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Apr 6H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0823)Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/6/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/6/2026 4/2/2026. Result: fail.Lower
- Apr 6Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 6Passed H., as am., Ayes 88, Nays 2, PNV 2Passed House
- Apr 6Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.Minor
- Apr 2H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/6/2026
- Apr 1Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/2/2026
- Mar 24Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee 3/24/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 18Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/24/2026
- Mar 17Action def. in Education Committee to 3/24/2026
- Mar 11Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/17/2026
- Mar 10Action def. in Education Committee to 3/17/2026
- Mar 4Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/10/2026
- Mar 3Action def. in Education Committee to 3/10/2026
- Feb 25Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/3/2026
- Feb 17Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Education CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Education Committee 2/17/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Placed on s/c cal Education Administration Subcommittee for 2/17/2026
- Feb 5P2C, ref. to Education CommitteeMinor
- Feb 5Assigned to s/c Education Administration SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 4Intro., P1C.Minor
- Feb 2Filed for introductionIntroduced
Education