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HB1733 • 2026

Students

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 3; Title 40; Title 49 and Title 55, Chapter 10, Part 7, relative to harassment.

Education Labor
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Moody, Rose
Last action
2026-05-27
Official status
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1093
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Students

Present law provides that a person commits an offense who intentionally engages in bullying, which is an act committed by a student that substantially interferes with another student's educational benefits, opportunities, or performance, and includes eit her of the following, depending on location of the action:  If the act takes place on school grounds, at any school-sponsored activity, on school-provided equipment or transportation, or at any official school bus stop, the act has the effect of (i) physically harming the other student or damaging the other student's property; or (ii) knowingly placing the other student or students in reasonable fear of physical harm to the other student or damage to the student's property.

What This Bill Does

  • Present law provides that a person commits an offense who intentionally engages in bullying, which is an act committed by a student that substantially interferes with another student's educational benefits, opportunities, or performance, and includes eit her of the following, depending on location of the action:  If the act takes place on school grounds, at any school-sponsored activity, on school-provided equipment or transportation, or at any official school bus stop, the act has the effect of (i) physically harming the other student or damaging the other student's property; or (ii) knowingly placing the other student or students in reasonable fear of physical harm to the other student or damage to the student's property.
  •  If the act takes place off school property or outside of a school-sponsored activity, the act is directed specifically at another student or students and has the effect of creating a substantial disruption to the education environment or learning process.
  • For acts committed on or after July 1, 2026, this bill changes the description of bullying as described above to, instead, include such acts committed by a school employee.
  • As used in this bill, a "school employee" means an employee of a private school, an LEA, a public charter school, or other public school.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB1733

Plain English: House Education 1 Amendment No.

  • House Education 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to HB1733 White Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 1774 House Bill No.
  • 1733* HA0635 013498 - 1 - by deleting Section 2 and substituting: SECTION 2.
Amendment 2-0 to HB1733

Plain English: Amendment No.

  • Amendment No.
  • 2 to HB1733 Johnson Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 1774 House Bill No.
  • 1733* HA1217 018346 - 1 - by adding the following sections immediately preceding the effective date section and renumbering the effective date section accordingly: SECTION __.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1093

  2. 2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 07/01/2026

  3. 2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 1093

  4. 2026-05-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2026-05-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2026-05-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2026-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  8. 2026-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  9. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Concurred, Ayes 31, Nays 0 (Amendment 1 - HA0635)

  10. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  11. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  12. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/22/2026

  13. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 92, Nays 0, PNV 0

  14. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Failed to adopt am (Amendment 2 -HA1217), Ayes 28, Nays 64, PNV 0

  15. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0635)

  16. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  17. 2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026

  18. 2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  19. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/16/2026

  20. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  21. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/15/2026

  22. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for adopt by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  23. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/15/2026

  24. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  25. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  26. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/1/2026

  27. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  28. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  29. 2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  30. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/23/2026

  31. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2026

  32. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  33. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  34. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  35. 2026-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/16/2026

  36. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/18/2026

  37. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Judiciary Committee

  38. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  39. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/10/2026

  40. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/10/2026

  41. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/9/2026

  42. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  43. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Education Administration Subcommittee for 3/3/2026

  44. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Education Administration Subcommittee to Next Available Calendar

  45. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Education Administration Subcommittee for 2/17/2026

  46. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Education Administration Subcommittee

  47. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Education Committee - Judiciary Committee

  48. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  49. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  50. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  51. 2026-01-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  52. 2026-01-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present law provides that a person commits an offense who intentionally engages in bullying, which is an act committed by a student that substantially interferes with another student's educational benefits, opportunities, or performance, and includes eit
her of the following, depending on location of the action:



If the act takes place on school grounds, at any school-sponsored activity, on school-provided equipment or transportation, or at any official school bus stop, the act has the effect of (i) physically harming the other student or damaging the other student's property; or (ii) knowingly placing the other student or students in reasonable fear of physical harm to the other student or damage to the student's property.



If the act takes place off school property or outside of a school-sponsored activity, the act is directed specifically at another student or students and has the effect of creating a substantial disruption to the education environment or learning process.

For acts committed on or after July 1, 2026, this bill changes the description of bullying as described above to, instead, include such acts committed by a school employee. As used in this bill, a "school employee" means an employee of a private school,
an LEA, a public charter school, or other public school. Additionally, this bill clarifies that if the act is committed by a school employee, then the victim of bullying is a student. If the act is committed by a student, then the victim is another stu
de
nt.

POLICIES

Present law requires each school district to adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyber-bullying. School districts are encouraged to develop the policy after consultation with parents and guardians, school employees, volunte
ers, students, administrators, and community representatives. School districts must include in the policies a description of the type of behavior expected from each student. This bill adds that the districts must additionally include in the policies a d
es
cription of the type of behavior expected from each school employee.

This bill provides that a teacher or school employee found to have committed an act of harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyberbullying is subject to dismissal or suspension.

INSUBORDINATION

With regard to teachers' tenure, present law lists several situations that may constitute a teacher's insubordination. This bill adds to the list committing an act of harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyberbullying in violation of the school distri
ct's policy.

ON APRIL 21, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 1774 FOR HOUSE BILL 1733, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1774, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1
clarifies that the school employees to which this bill applies are an employee of:

(1) A public or private school that conducts classes in any grade from kindergarten through grade twelve; or

(2) An LEA.

ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENT #1.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1774
By Rose

HOUSE BILL 1733
By Moody
HB1733
011241
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37;
Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 3; Title 40; Title 49 and
Title 55, Chapter 10, Part 7, relative to
harassment.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-308(e), is amended by
deleting subdivision (1) and substituting:
(1) "Bullying" means an act committed by a school employee or student that
substantially interferes with a victim's educational benefits, opportunities, or
performance; and:
(A) If the act takes place on school grounds, at any school-sponsored
activity, on school-provided equipment or transportation, or at any official school
bus stop, the act has the effect of:
(i) Physically harming the victim or damaging the victim's
property; or
(ii) Knowingly placing the victim or victims in reasonable fear of
physical harm to the victim or damage to the victim's property; or
(B) If the act takes place off school property or outside of a school-
sponsored activity, is directed specifically at a victim or victims and has the effect
of creating a substantial disruption to the education environment or learning
process;
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-308(e), is amended by adding
the following appropriately designated subdivisions:

- 2 - 011241

( ) "School employee" means an employee of a private school, an LEA, a public
charter school, or other public school;
( ) "Victim" means:
(A) If the act is committed by a school employee, then any student; and
(B) If the act is committed by a student, then another student;
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-4503(b)(3), is amended by
adding "and school employee" after "each student".
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-4503, is amended by adding
the following as a new subsection:
(e) A teacher or school employee found to have committed an act of
harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyberbullying is subject to dismissal or suspension.
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-5-501(7), is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:
(E) Committing an act of harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyberbullying in
violation of the school district's policy adopted in accordance with chapter 6, part 45 of
this title;
SECTION 6. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to acts committed on or after that date.