Education, Higher

Plain English Breakdown

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

Education, Higher

Present law classifies as confidential and not open for public inspection records maintained by an intercollegiate athletics program of a public institution of higher education if the records contain information relating to game or player integrity and th at is traditionally not revealed publicly due to the public institution of higher education's need to maintain competitiveness in the sport to which the records relate.

What This Bill Does

• Present law classifies as confidential and not open for public inspection records maintained by an intercollegiate athletics program of a public institution of higher education if the records contain information relating to game or player integrity and th at is traditionally not revealed publicly due to the public institution of higher education's need to maintain competitiveness in the sport to which the records relate.
• Such provision is scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2026.
• This bill: (1) Removes the repeal date for the present law exception to the open records act; (2) Adds an additional exception for records of or relating to an intercollegiate athletics program of a public institution of higher education if the records are commercial contracts entered into solely in furtherance of an intercollegiate athletics program and contain information that if disclosed to the public, reasonably could be used to affect the economic advantage of a business over its competit ors.
• The new exception will be repealed July 1, 2033; and (3) Specifies that neither exception affords a private cause of action, liability, or basis for injunctive relief or equitable relief by any private person or entity except for a business asserting that disclosure of information would undermine an econo mic advantage over its competitor.

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.

Official Summary Text

Present law classifies as confidential and not open for public inspection records maintained by an intercollegiate athletics program of a public institution of higher education if the records contain information relating to game or player integrity and th
at is traditionally not revealed publicly due to the public institution of higher education's need to maintain competitiveness in the sport to which the records relate. Such provision is scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2026.

This bill:

(1) Removes the repeal date for the present law exception to the open records act;

(2) Adds an additional exception for
records of or relating to an intercollegiate athletics program of a public institution of higher education if
the
records are commercial contracts entered into solely in furtherance of an intercollegiate athletics program and contain information that if disclosed to the public, reasonably could be used to affect the economic advantage of a business over its competit
ors. The new exception will be repealed July 1, 2033; and

(3) Specifies that neither exception affords a private cause of action, liability, or basis for injunctive relief or equitable relief by any private person or entity except for a business asserting that disclosure of information would undermine an econo
mic advantage over its competitor.

ON MARCH 19, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2141, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 a
dds that, in circumstances where records are deemed confidential and not open for public inspection on the basis of this bill's exemption for certain commercial contracts,

the exemption must not be construed to treat as confidential the information of the aggregate amount of state appropriated funds expended under such a contract, the existence of such a contract, the identity of the contracting parties of such a contract,
or the general topic of such a contract.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 2292
By Stevens

HOUSE BILL 2141
By Zachary
HB2141
011881
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
Chapter 7, Part 1, relative to the confidentiality of
intercollegiate athletics program records.

WHEREAS, this State fosters the growth of its sports and entertainment industry and
encourages lawful competition and economic development to further academics, athletics,
trade, and commerce in Tennessee; now, therefore,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-7-170(a), is amended by deleting
the subsection and substituting instead the following:
(a) Notwithstanding § 10-7-504 or another law to the contrary, records of or
relating to an intercollegiate athletics program of a public institution of higher education
must be treated as confidential and must not be open for public inspection if:
(1) The records contain information relating to game or player integrity
and that is traditionally not revealed publicly due to the public institution of higher
education's need to maintain competitiveness in the sport to which the records
relate; or
(2) The records are commercial contracts entered into solely in
furtherance of an intercollegiate athletics program and contain information that if
disclosed to the public, reasonably could be used to affect the economic
advantage of a business over its competitors.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-7-170(f), is amended by deleting
the subsection and substituting instead the following:

- 2 - 011881

(f) This section does not create or afford any private cause of action, liability, or
basis for injunctive relief or equitable relief by any private person or entity except for a
business asserting that disclosure of information would undermine an economic
advantage over its competitor.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-7-170, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection (g):
(g) Subdivision (a)(2) is repealed on July 1, 2033.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.