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SB0305 • 2026

Human Rights

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, relative to discrimination.

Active

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

Sponsor
Briggs, Wright
Last action
2025-03-20
Official status
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the change will affect existing programs with anti-discrimination policies.

Amending Tennessee's Anti-Discrimination Law

This bill changes Tennessee's discrimination laws to only protect people based on their religion when receiving state financial assistance for programs or activities.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so that organizations getting money from the state cannot discriminate against someone because of their religion.
  • Adds a new section to Tennessee's Code Annotated Title 4 about anti-discrimination rules for state-funded programs, but limits these rules to discrimination based on religion.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Organizations that get money from the state of Tennessee for their activities or programs
  • People who receive benefits, participate in programs, or are eligible for services funded by the state

Terms To Know

Financial assistance
Money given by the government to help organizations run their programs and activities.
Discrimination
Treating someone unfairly because of who they are or what they believe in, like their religion.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill only applies to organizations receiving state financial assistance and does not cover all discrimination cases.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect existing programs and activities that already have anti-discrimination policies in place.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to SB0305

Plain English: The amendment adds a new subsection to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-21-806, which requires organizations or entities receiving state financial assistance not to discriminate against individuals based on religion.

  • Adds a new subsection (c) to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-21-806.
  • Requires organizations and entities that receive state financial assistance to provide benefits without discrimination based on religion.
  • The amendment does not specify the types of programs or activities covered by this requirement.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal. in State & Local Government Committee

  2. 2026-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 2/4/2026

  3. 2026-01-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Meeting Canceled

  4. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 1/28/2026

  5. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  6. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to First Calendar of 2026

  7. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/9/2025

  8. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/9/2025

  9. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor withdrawn.

  10. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  11. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/2/2025

  12. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/2/2025

  13. 2025-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/26/2025

  15. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  16. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  17. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  18. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 30, Nays 0

  19. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0115)

  20. 2025-03-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/17/2025

  21. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/18/2025

  22. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 1

  23. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/11/2025

  24. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

  25. 2025-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  26. 2025-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) withdrawn.

  27. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  28. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee

  29. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  30. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  31. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  32. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON MARCH 17, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 305, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 revises the provision p
rohibiting an
organization or entity receiving financial assistance from this state for programs or activities
from
deny
ing
benefits to, exclud
ing
from participation in, or discriminat
ing
against a person otherwise eligible for the program or activity on t
he basis of

race, color, religion, or national origin
, to, instead, only apply to such prohibited conduct on the basis of religion.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 744
By Wright

SENATE BILL 305
By Briggs

SB0305
000230
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
relative to discrimination.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 21, Part 8, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
An organization or entity receiving financial assistance from this state for
programs or activities shall not deny benefits to, exclude from participation in, or
discriminate against a person otherwise eligible for the program or activity on the basis
of race, color, religion, or national origin.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.