Signed by Governor Bill Lee

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires university boards of regents in Tennessee to adopt policies distinguishing between tenure decisions and disciplinary actions for faculty.

Highlights:

• Specifies that the intent of the general assembly is to affirm that administrators possess clear authority to discipline or remove faculty members for cause while preserving tenure decisions from disciplinary actions (Sec. 3).

• Requires boards of regents and state university boards to adopt policies that do the following (Sec. 3):

• Ensure that awarding, denial, or revocation of academic tenure is not used as a form of discipline;

• Ensure that disciplinary actions do not alter or suspend a faculty member’s tenure except as outlined in institutional policy and after providing the faculty member with due process;

• Provide disciplinary procedures that are the same for both tenured and non-tenured faculty members;

• Ensure due process for a faculty member; and

• Comply with applicable state and federal law.

• Specifies that this Act will take effect on July 1, 2026 (Sec. 8).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires university boards of regents in Tennessee to adopt policies distinguishing between tenure decisions and disciplinary actions for faculty.

Highlights:

• Specifies that the intent of the general assembly is to affirm that administrators possess clear authority to discipline or remove faculty members for cause while preserving tenure decisions from disciplinary actions (Sec. 3).

• Requires boards of regents and state university boards to adopt policies that do the following (Sec. 3):

• Ensure that awarding, denial, or revocation of academic tenure is not used as a form of discipline;

• Ensure that disciplinary actions do not alter or suspend a faculty member’s tenure except as outlined in institutional policy and after providing the faculty member with due process;

• Provide disciplinary procedures that are the same for both tenured and non-tenured faculty members;

• Ensure due process for a faculty member; and

• Comply with applicable state and federal law.

• Specifies that this Act will take effect on July 1, 2026 (Sec. 8).

Full Bill Text