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HB1805 • 2026

Local Education Agencies

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to the history of communism.

Education
Active

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

Sponsor
Barrett, Bowling
Last action
2026-03-30
Official status
Sponsor(s) Added.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide detailed information on how the instruction will be implemented or the exact content that must be taught.

Teaching About Communism in Schools

This bill requires Tennessee schools to teach about the history of communism, including its tactics, atrocities, and impact on freedom and democracy.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools to provide age- and grade-appropriate instruction on the history of communism.
  • Includes teaching about communist movements in the U.S., atrocities committed abroad under communism, and comparisons with other political ideologies like totalitarianism.
  • Instructs LEAs to cover the increasing threat of communism during the 0th century, economic events leading up to revolutions, and policies in Cuba and Latin America.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools in Tennessee
  • Students in Tennessee's social studies classes

Terms To Know

Local Education Agencies (LEAs)
School districts or other local organizations responsible for providing public education.
Public Charter Schools
Independent schools that are publicly funded but operate under a charter agreement with the state.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact cost of implementing these changes is not known, as it depends on factors like classroom materials and timing of standards reviews.
  • It's unclear how much additional funding will be needed beyond the initial $235,500 for state board activities.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB1805

Plain English: This amendment requires Tennessee schools to include specific topics about the history of communism in their social studies curriculum.

  • Adds new academic standards on the history of communism for social studies classes.
  • Includes details such as communist movements in the U.S., atrocities abroad, and comparisons with democratic principles.
  • The exact content and grade level specifics are not detailed in this amendment text.
Amendment 2-0 to HB1805

Plain English: The amendment adds two new sections to HB1805 that require teaching about the history of communism and related events in schools.

  • Adds a section requiring local education agencies to explain the history of communism, its differences from socialism and democratic socialism.
  • Includes another section on teaching about the Red Scare, the House Un-American Activities Committee, McCarthyism, and the false labeling of Civil Rights activists as 'communists'.
  • The amendment does not specify how or when these topics should be taught in schools.
Amendment 1-0 to SB1890

Plain English: This amendment requires Tennessee schools to include specific topics about the history of communism in their social studies curriculum.

  • Adds new academic standards on the history of communism for social studies classes.
  • Includes details such as communist movements in the U.S., atrocities committed abroad, and comparisons with democratic principles.
  • The exact content and grade level specifics are not detailed in this amendment text.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  2. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  3. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  4. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  5. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  6. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  7. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  8. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 72, Nays 18, PNV 1

  9. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0559)

  10. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  11. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/30/2026

  12. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/26/2026

  13. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  14. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 3/17/2026

  15. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  16. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  17. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  18. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  19. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to 3/11/2026

  20. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  21. 2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  22. 2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 28, Nays 1, PNV 3

  23. 2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0540)

  24. 2026-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/2/2026

  25. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/4/2026

  26. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

  27. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  28. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Re-ref. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  29. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 2/19/2026

  30. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 2/25/2026

  31. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  32. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 2/17/2026

  33. 2026-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  34. 2026-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  35. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Education Instruction Subcommittee for 2/10/2026

  36. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Education Instruction Subcommittee

  37. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Education Committee

  38. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  39. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  40. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  41. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  42. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON MARCH 2,
2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1890, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1
rewrites the bill to
,
instead,
require,
beginning with the next adoption of academic standards in the subject of social studies, the standards recommendation committee
to
include in their final recommendations of academic standards in the subject of social studies to the state board of education, and the state board
,

to
adopt, grade-appropriate academic standards on the history of communism that include:



The history of communism in the United States and domestic communist movements, including the tactics of communist movements.


Atrocities committed in foreign countries under the guidance of communism.


Comparative discussion of political ideologies, such as communism and totalitarianism, which conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy essential to the founding principles of the United States.


The increasing threat of communism in the United States and to our allies throughout the twentieth century, including the events of the Cultural Revolution in the People's Republic of China and other mass killings from communist regimes.


The economic, industrial, and political events that preceded and anticipated communist revolutions.


The communist policies of Cuba and the spread of communist ideologies throughout Latin America, including the roots of the Communist Party of Cuba and guerilla forces throughout Latin America.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1890
By Bowling

HOUSE BILL 1805
By Barrett
HB1805
010422
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
relative to the history of communism.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 10, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) Each LEA and public charter school shall provide age- and grade-appropriate
instruction to students on the history of communism. The instruction must include:
(1) The history of communism in the United States and domestic
communist movements, including the tactics of communist movements;
(2) Atrocities committed in foreign countries under the guidance of
communism;
(3) Comparative discussion of political ideologies, such as communism
and totalitarianism, which conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy
essential to the founding principles of the United States;
(4) The increasing threat of communism in the United States and to our
allies throughout the twentieth century, including the events of the Cultural
Revolution in the People's Republic of China and other mass killings from
communist regimes;
(5) The economic, industrial, and political events that preceded and
anticipated communist revolutions; and
(6) The communist policies of Cuba and the spread of communist
ideologies throughout Latin America, including the roots of the Communist Party
of Cuba and guerilla forces throughout Latin America.

- 2 - 010422

(b) The department of education shall develop guidance to assist LEAs and
public charter schools in providing the age- and grade-appropriate instruction required in
this section, and may seek input from any individual who was a victim of communism or
any state- or nationally recognized organization dedicated to the victims of communism.
SECTION 2. For purposes of developing guidance for LEAs and public charter schools,
this act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes,
this act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and applies to the 2026-2027
school year and each school year thereafter.