Codes

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Using Places of Worship for Education

This bill allows existing places of worship to be used for educational purposes without reclassifying their building type if they meet specific safety requirements and do not exceed occupancy limits.

What This Bill Does

• Allows an existing place of worship to be used for education without reclassification of the building's occupancy type.
• Requires that a place of worship meets specific fire safety upgrade requirements if it is used for educational purposes.
• Exempts places of worship from needing automatic fire sprinkler systems when they are used for education.

Who It Names or Affects

• Places of worship in Tennessee
• Local fire marshals who determine occupancy limits

Terms To Know

Occupancy type

The specific use or purpose a building is designed for, such as residential, commercial, or educational.

Fire safety upgrade requirements

Specific changes to a building that must be made to improve fire safety, like installing smoke detectors and alarms.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if a place of worship cannot meet the safety requirements.
• It is unclear how this will affect places of worship in different parts of Tennessee with varying local regulations.

Official Summary Text

Present law requires the
state fire marshal
to
promulgate rules establishing minimum statewide building construction safety standards.

Such standards
must
be designed to afford a reasonable degree of safety to life and property from fire and hazards incident to the design, const
ruction, alteration and repair of buildings or structures.

This bill requires the state fire marshal to include in such standards that a
n existing place of worship may be used for educational purposes without reclassification of the building's occupanc
y type
. However, t
he building
must
comp
ly
with the safety upgrade requirements specified in
this bill,
and
t
he educational use
must
not exceed the existing occupancy load as determined by the local fire marshal.
Such safety upgrade requirements include a
ll of the following:



Hardwired, interconnected s
moke detectors in all classrooms, corridors, and common areas
that a
ctivate simultaneously
and have
battery backup
.



Audible alarms must meet or exceed the decibel levels required by the building and fire safety codes adopted by the state fire marshal
.



Strobe alarms must be installed in classrooms, assembly areas, and common areas to ensure alerting of hearing-impaired individuals
.



Emergency exits must be clearly marked, unobstructed, and in compliance with applicable state and local egress standards
.



Fire extinguishers must be provided and maintained as required by local fire codes, with at least one

extinguisher on each floor and in each high-risk area such as a kitchen.

This bill exempts a
place of wor
ship used for educational
purposes
from requirements for automatic fire sprinkler systems.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1096
By Hensley

HOUSE BILL 414
By Davis

HB0414
001018
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49
and Title 68, Chapter 120, relative to places of
worship used for educational purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-120-101, is amended by adding
the following as a new subsection:
(l)
(1) For purposes of this subsection (l), "place of worship" means a
structure primarily used for religious worship and associated activities.
(2) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary:
(A) An existing place of worship may be used for educational
purposes without reclassification of the building's occupancy type;
provided that:
(i) The building complies with the safety upgrade
requirements specified in subdivision (l)(3); and
(ii) The educational use does not exceed the existing
occupancy load as determined by the local fire marshal.
(3) An existing place of worship used for educational purposes must
meet the following fire safety upgrade requirements:
(A) Smoke detectors must be:
(i) Installed in all classrooms, corridors, and common
areas;
(ii) Interconnected to activate simultaneously; and

- 2 - 001018

(iii) Hardwired to the building's electrical system with
battery backup;
(B) Audible alarms must meet or exceed the decibel levels
required by the building and fire safety codes adopted by the state fire
marshal;
(C) Strobe alarms must be installed in classrooms, assembly
areas, and common areas to ensure alerting of hearing-impaired
individuals;
(D) Emergency exits must be clearly marked, unobstructed, and
in compliance with applicable state and local egress standards; and
(E) Fire extinguishers must be provided and maintained as
required by local fire codes, with at least one (1) extinguisher on each
floor and in each high-risk area such as a kitchen.
(4) A place of worship used for educational purposes that complies with
this subsection (l) is exempt from requirements for automatic fire sprinkler
systems.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.