HB1524 • 2026

Teachers, Principals and School Personnel

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, relative to searches on school property.

Education Firearms Labor

Active

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

Sponsor: Stevens
Last action: 2026-01-22
Official status: Withdrawn.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on what happens after a search or how many schools will use this type of detection system.

School Searches Using Weapons Detection Systems

This bill allows trained school employees to search containers or packages that trigger alerts from weapons detection systems on school property.

What This Bill Does

Allows designated school staff who complete training to search items like bags and boxes if a weapon detector sounds an alarm.
Requires the principal to choose which staff members can do these searches.
Specifies that clothing cannot be searched even if it sets off the detection system.

Who It Names or Affects

Students and visitors who bring items into school buildings.
School employees designated by principals to conduct searches.

Terms To Know

Weapons detection system: A device used in schools to alert staff if a dangerous item is present.
Designated school employee: A teacher or other staff member chosen by the principal to perform searches when needed.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens after a search.
It is unclear how many schools will use this type of detection system.
This bill was withdrawn on January 22, 2026, and its status is uncertain.

Bill History

Date Tennessee General Assembly
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Withdrawn.
2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Education Administration Subcommittee
2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Education Committee
2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-01-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

<BillNo> <Sponsor>

HOUSE BILL 1524
By Stevens
HB1524
010744
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
Chapter 6, relative to searches on school property.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-4204(a), is amended by
deleting "subsection (a)" in subdivision (a)(2) and substituting "subdivision (a)(1)", designating
the subsection as subdivision (a)(1), and adding the following as a new subdivision:
(2) If a school conducts a security screening through a weapons detection
system and the weapons detection system triggers an alert on a container, package, or
other enclosure in the possession of a student or visitor, then a school employee who
has completed the training described in § 49-6-4212 and who is designated by the
principal to conduct a search for purposes of this subdivision (a)(2) may search the
container, package, or other enclosure that triggered the weapons detection system
alert. This subdivision (a)(2) does not authorize a search of an enclosure that is part of a
student's or visitor's clothing for which the student or visitor is wearing.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-4212(a)(3), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting:
(3) A school administrator or school employee designated by a school principal
for purposes of § 49-6-4204(a)(2) must complete the orientation and training developed
by the department pursuant to subdivision (a)(1) prior to conducting a search pursuant to
§ 49-6-4204(a)(1)(B)(iii), § 49-6-4204(a)(2), or § 49-6-4205(a)(2)(C).
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.