TennesseeState and public education rules would also cover honorifics
State employees, public schools, and public colleges would see honorifics added to statutory references that currently mention names or pronouns, effective when the act becomes law.
What it does
The state-employee statute would add honorifics, such as titles used with a person’s name, wherever it currently refers to names or pronouns.
Public-school rules would add honorifics to existing references involving names and pronouns, including references to preferred names and pronouns.
Public higher-education rules would add honorifics to existing references involving names and pronouns.
Argument forPeople covered by these rules may have clearer guidance about whether existing name-and-pronoun provisions also apply to titles used with names.
Argument againstSchools and state employers may need to adjust policies or training because the listed rules would also address honorifics, although the supplied text does not show the exact duties.
More detail
The listed state-employee provisions would refer to names, pronouns, and honorifics, rather than names and pronouns alone. This applies to the state-employee statute in Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-50-121. The act would take effect when it becomes law.
The listed public-school provisions would refer to names, pronouns, and honorifics, rather than names and pronouns alone. This applies to Tennessee’s public-school statute, including its references to public schools, school employees, teachers, students, and contractors. The act would take effect when it becomes law.
The listed public higher-education provisions would refer to names, pronouns, and honorifics, rather than names and pronouns alone. This applies to Tennessee’s public higher-education statute, including its references to public institutions, faculty, employees, students, and contractors. The act would take effect when it becomes law.
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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 27Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1076Latest
- Apr 21Comp. SB subst.
- Apr 21Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 16
- Vote recorded HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026 4/14/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Apr 14Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/14/2026
- Apr 14H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026
- Apr 8Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee 4/8/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 2Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 2Placed on cal. Education Committee for 4/8/2026
- Apr 1Rec. for pass; ref to Education CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Education Committee 4/1/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/31/2026
- Mar 25Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/31/2026
- Mar 18Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026
- Mar 18Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/24/2026
- Mar 12Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/18/2026
- Mar 11Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/18/2026
- Mar 4Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/11/2026
- Mar 4Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/11/2026
- Feb 25Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/4/2026
- Feb 18Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/4/2026
- Feb 11Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to State & Local Government CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE PUBLIC SERVICE SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee 2/11/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Feb 11Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 2/18/2026
- Feb 5Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Feb 4Placed on s/c cal Public Service Subcommittee for 2/11/2026
- Jan 21P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee - Education CommitteeMinor
- Jan 21Assigned to s/c Public Service SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 15Intro., P1C.Minor
- Jan 14Filed for introductionIntroduced
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