SB0121 • 2026

Local Education Agencies

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to electronic devices on school property.

Education

Active

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

Sponsor: Lowe, Littleton
Last action: 2025-01-15
Official status: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on enforcement or consequences for using personal devices during tests.

Rules for Electronic Devices in Schools

This bill updates Tennessee laws to require both local education agencies and charter schools to adopt internet use policies and limits their ability to track personal devices on school property except during tests.

What This Bill Does

Adds public charter schools to the list of entities required to adopt an acceptable internet use policy for students.
Prohibits local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools from tracking or monitoring a person's use of a personal electronic device on school property, except during tests.

Who It Names or Affects

Local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools
Students who use personal electronic devices at school

Terms To Know

Local Education Agencies (LEA): School districts or other organizations that provide educational services to students.
Public Charter School: An independent public school that operates under a charter agreement with the local education agency.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if a student uses a personal electronic device during a test.
It is unclear how this law will be enforced or monitored by schools and districts.

Bill History

2025-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor change.
2025-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) withdrawn.
2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Education Administration Subcommittee
2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Education Committee
2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2025-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 768
By Littleton

SENATE BILL 121
By Lowe

SB0121
000542
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
relative to electronic devices on school property.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-1-221(a)(1), is amended by
deleting "LEA" and substituting "LEA and public charter school", deleting "school district"
wherever it appears and substituting "school district or public charter school", deleting "school
district's" wherever it appears and substituting "school district's or public charter school's",
adding "or public charter school's" after "LEA's", and adding the following as a new subdivision:
(G) Prohibit the LEA or public charter school from tracking or monitoring a
person's use of the internet via a personal electronic device on school property, except
for instances in which a student uses a personal electronic device during a test.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-1-221(b), is amended by adding
"or director of the public charter school" after "director of schools" and deleting "school district's"
and substituting "LEA's or public charter school's".
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-1-221(c), is amended by deleting
"LEA or" wherever it appears and substituting "LEA, public charter school, or" and deleting
"LEA's or" wherever it appears and substituting "LEA's, public charter school's, or".
SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.