HB2581 • 2026

Education, Higher

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9, relative to tenure.

Education

Active

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

Sponsor: Lafferty, Hensley
Last action: 2026-02-18
Official status: Taken off notice for cal in s/c Higher Education Subcommittee of Education Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify that the bill requires boards to define what tenure means or how it works for existing tenured faculty. These details were removed as they are not supported by the provided text.

Changes to Faculty Tenure in Tennessee

This bill stops new tenure for university faculty members starting July 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

Stops the Board of Regents and state university boards from giving new tenure status to faculty after July 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

University faculty members in Tennessee
Boards of Regents and state university boards

Terms To Know

tenure: A job agreement that gives a teacher or professor long-term security at their school.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not change how existing tenured faculty are treated.
It is unclear what will happen to tenure policies after July 1, 2026.

Bill History

2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Higher Education Subcommittee of Education Committee
2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 2/18/2026
2026-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Higher Education Subcommittee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Education Committee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
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 1838
By Hensley

HOUSE BILL 2581
By Lafferty
HB2581
009511
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49,
Chapter 9, relative to tenure.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-8-301, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting:
(a) The board of regents and each state university board shall adopt a tenure
policy for faculty at the institutions governed by the board. The policy must allow faculty
members who received tenure before July 1, 2026, to retain the status in accordance
with the policy, but must not allow the institutions governed by the board to confer any
new tenure status on faculty members on or after July 1, 2026.
(b) Pursuant to this part, the board shall:
(1) Define the nature of tenure and the rights and responsibilities of
faculty members with tenure in accordance with this section;
(2) Provide for the termination of faculty members with tenure for
adequate cause, for retirement or disability, or for financial or curricular reasons
in the discretion of the board or its designee; and
(3) Provide for all other matters relating to tenure deemed necessary by
the board in accordance with this section.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-7-1903(2), is amended by
deleting "tenure," and "or tenure".
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-9-209(d)(1), is amended by
deleting subdivision (H) and substituting:

- 2 - 009511

(H) Adopt a policy governing the granting and removal of tenure for faculty
members; provided, that the policy must allow faculty members who received tenure
before July 1, 2026, to retain the status in accordance with the policy, but must not allow
the institutions governed by the board to confer any new tenure status on faculty
members on or after July 1, 2026;
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-9-1603, is amended by deleting
subsection (d) and substituting:
(d) Faculty of the institute shall not be:
(1) Awarded tenure on or after July 1, 2026; or
(2) Required to gain joint appointment in another division of the
University of Tennessee.
SECTION 5. For purposes of adopting policies, 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.