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HB1838 • 2026

Education

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to career readiness assessments.

Education Taxes
Active

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

Sponsor
Haston, Lowe
Last action
2026-04-15
Official status
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not explicitly state that passing the test allows for automatic college credit, only that a framework will be established by the Board of Regents.

Career Readiness Assessments for High School Students

This bill changes Tennessee's education laws to require all high school students to have access to career readiness assessments and allows colleges to give credit based on these assessments.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so that all high school students, not just seniors, can take a nationally recognized career readiness test.
  • Requires schools to offer this test every year.
  • Creates rules for college boards to give credits based on good scores from these tests.

Who It Names or Affects

  • High school students
  • Local education agencies and public charter schools
  • Colleges governed by the Board of Regents

Terms To Know

Career readiness assessment
A test that shows if a student is ready for jobs or further education after high school.
Transcribable credit
College credits that can be counted towards a degree.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify which career readiness assessments are nationally recognized.
  • It is unclear how many students will take advantage of the new testing opportunities and earn college credits.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB1838

Plain English: House Education 1 Amendment No.

  • House Education 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to HB1838 White Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 1967 House Bill No.
  • 1838* HA1081 016977 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.
Amendment 1-0 to SB1967

Plain English: Senate Education 1 Amendment No.

  • Senate Education 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to SB1967 White Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 1967 House Bill No.
  • 1838* SA0683 013949 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  2. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026

  3. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  4. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  5. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026

  6. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  7. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  8. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 4/8/2026

  9. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Education Committee to 4/8/2026

  10. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/31/2026

  11. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  12. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/24/2026

  13. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c K-12 Subcommittee to 3/24/2026

  14. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/17/2026

  15. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

  16. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c K-12 Subcommittee to 3/17/2026

  17. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/11/2026

  18. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/10/2026

  19. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c K-12 Subcommittee to 3/10/2026

  20. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/3/2026

  21. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  22. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c K-12 Subcommittee

  23. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Education Committee

  24. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  25. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  26. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  27. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1967
By Lowe

HOUSE BILL 1838
By Haston
HB1838
010438
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
relative to career readiness assessments.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-6001(b)(4)(A), is amended by
deleting "each high school senior" and substituting "each student in any of the grades nine
through twelve (9-12)" and deleting "in the 2023-2024 school year, and each subsequent school
year" and substituting "each school year".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-8-203, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(n) The board of regents shall establish a standard framework for each institution
governed by the board to provide transcribable credit to a student who earned a
credential on a nationally recognized career readiness assessment administered to the
student in high school pursuant to § 49-6-6001(b)(4) that may be applied toward the
student's attainment of a postsecondary degree.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.