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SB0712 • 2026

Comptroller, State

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to education.

Education
Active

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

Sponsor
Taylor, White
Last action
2026-03-30
Official status
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how the bill will affect existing lawsuits or legal actions already in progress, nor does it mention updates to other parts of the law beyond the specific prohibitions.

Education Accountability Measures

This bill prohibits local education agencies and charter schools from using public funds to sue the state or its officials over school accountability measures.

What This Bill Does

  • Prohibits local education agencies and public charter schools from using public funds to initiate or maintain any civil action against the state or its officers regarding school or district accountability measures established under state law.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local Education Agencies (LEAs)
  • Public Charter Schools
  • The State of Tennessee

Terms To Know

Local Education Agency (LEA)
An agency that is responsible for providing public education in a specific area, such as a school district.
Public Charter School
A publicly funded school that operates independently of the local school board under a charter agreement.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not address what happens if LEAs or public charter schools attempt to sue without using public funds.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect existing lawsuits or legal actions already in progress.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB0664

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to Tennessee Code Annotated that prevents local education agencies and public charter schools from using public funds to sue the state or its officials over school accountability measures.

  • Adds a new law stating that local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools cannot use public money to file lawsuits against the state or any of its officers regarding school accountability measures.
  • The amendment text does not specify what happens if LEAs or public charter schools violate this rule, leaving details about enforcement unclear.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0712

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to Tennessee Code Annotated that prevents local education agencies and public charter schools from using public funds to sue the state or its officials over school accountability measures.

  • Adds a new law stating that local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools cannot use public money to file lawsuits against the state or any of its officers regarding school accountability measures.
  • The amendment text does not specify what happens if LEAs or public charter schools violate this rule, leaving details about enforcement unclear.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026

  2. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026

  3. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  4. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  6. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  7. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 26, Nays 6, PNV 1

  8. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0795)

  9. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Education Committee to 4/1/2026

  11. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/26/2026

  12. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 0 PNV 0

  13. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/24/2026

  14. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/18/2026

  16. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Education Committee to 3/18/2026

  17. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  18. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  19. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  20. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  21. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  22. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  23. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c K-12 Subcommittee

  24. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Education Committee

  25. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee

  26. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/19/2025

  27. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  28. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  29. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  30. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  31. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  32. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON MARCH 26, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 712, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 r
ewrites this bill to prohibit a
n LEA or public charter school
from using
public funds to initiate or maintain any civil action or proceeding against this state or an agency or officer of this state to challenge a school or district accountability measure established
under state law
.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 664
By White

SENATE BILL 712
By Taylor

SB0712
000158
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
relative to education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-2406, is amended by deleting
the section.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-2407, is amended by deleting
"49-6-2406" in subsections (a) and (e) and substituting "49-6-2405".
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.