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HB1006 • 2026

State Universities

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29; Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9, relative to the composition of governing boards of institutions of higher education.

Education
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Hawk, Lowe
Last action
2025-03-25
Official status
Taken off notice for cal. in Education Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about how appointing authorities will choose new members for vacant seats or what happens after the initial effective date of the bill.

Expanding Rules for State University Board Members

This bill changes rules about who can serve on state university boards in Tennessee by prohibiting members of governing bodies from other institutions of higher education.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the list of people not allowed to be on a state university board to include those who are members of governing bodies for other public or private institutions of higher education.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who serve or want to serve on state university boards in Tennessee
  • Appointing authorities responsible for filling vacancies on these boards

Terms To Know

governing body
The group of people who make decisions and set policies for an institution.
institution of higher education
A college, university, or other school that offers advanced degrees or professional training.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what happens if someone is appointed to a state university board and then joins another institution's governing body later.
  • The bill does not explain how the appointing authority will choose new members for vacant seats on the boards.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal. in Education Committee

  2. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/25/2025

  3. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Education Committee to 3/25/2025

  4. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/18/2025

  5. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Education Committee to 3/18/2025

  6. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/11/2025

  7. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Education Committee

  8. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 2/19/2025

  9. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  10. 2025-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Higher Education Subcommittee

  11. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Education Committee

  12. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  13. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  14. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  15. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 913
By Lowe

HOUSE BILL 1006
By Hawk

HB1006
002851
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
Chapter 29; Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter
8 and Title 49, Chapter 9, relative to the
composition of governing boards of institutions of
higher education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-8-201(f)(6), is amended by
deleting subdivision (D) and substituting:
(D) Members of a governing body for another institution of higher education.
SECTION 2.
If, on the effective date of this act, a state university board member is serving on
the governing board for another institution of higher education, then the member's seat
on the state university board is vacated on the effective date of this act. The appropriate
appointing authority shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.