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SB0861 • 2026

Human Rights

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8 and Title 68, relative to human rights.

Education Housing
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Stevens, Garrett
Last action
2025-05-27
Official status
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 471
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text does not provide specific details on how duties will be transferred or managed after July 1, 2025.

Human Rights Act Amendments

This bill changes how human rights duties are handled in Tennessee by ending the Human Rights Commission and giving its responsibilities to other government offices.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the duty of the Human Rights Commission to identify laws that conflict with Title VI requirements and gives this task to the Attorney General's office.
  • Transfers all duties related to discrimination, harassment, and civil rights from the Human Rights Commission to the Attorney General's office by July 1, 2025.
  • Establishes a new Civil Rights Enforcement Division within the Attorney General’s office.
  • Moves funding for employment positions previously allocated to the Human Rights Commission to the Attorney General’s office.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Tennessee Human Rights Commission
  • The Attorney General's Office

Terms To Know

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
A federal law that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.
Civil Rights Enforcement Division
A new division within the Attorney General's office responsible for enforcing civil rights laws after the Human Rights Commission is dissolved.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the transition of duties and funding will be managed.
  • It is unclear what specific actions the Attorney General will take regarding the transferred responsibilities.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB0910

Plain English: The amendment replaces part of Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 21, Part 1, changing its purpose and definitions related to human rights protections.

  • Replaces the existing language in Title 4, Chapter 21, Part 1 with new provisions that outline the chapter's purpose and intent.
  • Updates definitions for terms such as 'disability,' 'discriminatory practice,' and others relevant to enforcing human rights protections.
  • The full extent of changes to other parts of Title 4, Chapter 21 is not clear from the provided text.
  • Details about how this amendment will affect existing federal laws are not specified in the given material.
Amendment 2-0 to HB0910

Plain English: The amendment replaces existing language in Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 21, Part 1, with new provisions that aim to align state laws more closely with federal civil rights legislation and provide additional protections against discrimination.

  • Replaces the current purpose statement of Title 4, Chapter 21 with a new one that includes the intent to enforce federal Civil Rights Acts and other related acts at the state level.
  • Adds definitions for terms such as 'disability,' 'discriminatory practice,' and others relevant to enforcing anti-discrimination laws in employment, public accommodations, housing, and education.
  • The amendment text is truncated and does not provide a complete picture of all changes made.
  • Further details about specific enforcement mechanisms or penalties are not included in the provided text.
Amendment 3-0 to HB0910

Plain English: The amendment changes several sections of Tennessee law by setting a deadline for July 1, 2026, when certain provisions will be repealed or transferred to other departments.

  • Repeals specific sections of the law on July 1, 2026.
  • Transfers funding and employment positions from the commission to the office of the attorney general and reporter by July 1, 2026.
  • Specifies that pending complaints before the commission will be terminated or can be refiled with the attorney general's office after July 1, 2026.
  • Substitutes the state, represented by the attorney general, for the commission in all current actions starting on July 1, 2026.
  • The amendment text is extensive and includes many specific legal provisions that are not fully explained here.
  • Some sections of the amendment were truncated or unclear, making it difficult to provide a complete summary.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0861

Plain English: The amendment replaces existing parts of Tennessee Code Annotated Title 4, Chapter 21, which deals with human rights protections, by adding new provisions that align with federal civil rights laws and provide additional state-level protections against discrimination.

  • Replaces the current Part 1 of Title 4, Chapter 21 in the Tennessee Code Annotated to include a purpose statement that aims to enforce federal Civil Rights Acts and other related statutes within the state.
  • Adds definitions for terms such as 'discriminatory practice', 'disability', and others relevant to enforcing anti-discrimination laws.
  • Establishes protections against discrimination in employment, public accommodations, housing, and education, aligning with existing federal legislation but providing additional state-level enforcement.
  • The amendment text is truncated and does not provide the full extent of changes made to other parts of Title 4, Chapter 21 or related titles.
  • It's unclear from this excerpt how specific protections for individuals will be implemented beyond the stated purpose and definitions.
Amendment 2-0 to SB0861

Plain English: The amendment replaces existing parts of Tennessee Code Annotated Title 4, Chapter 21 with new provisions that aim to align state laws more closely with federal civil rights acts and provide additional protections against discrimination.

  • Replaces the current Part 1 of Title 4, Chapter 21 in the Tennessee Code Annotated with a new section detailing the purpose and intent of the chapter.
  • Defines key terms such as 'discriminatory practice', 'disability', and others to ensure clarity and consistency within the law.
  • The amendment text is truncated, so it's unclear if there are additional changes beyond what is provided in this excerpt.
  • Specific details about enforcement mechanisms or penalties for violations of these new provisions are not included in the given text.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 471

  2. 2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 05/12/2025

  3. 2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 471

  4. 2025-05-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-05-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  6. 2025-05-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2025-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  8. 2025-04-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  9. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  10. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  11. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 27, Nays 6

  12. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - SA0404)

  13. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0202)

  14. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  15. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/21/2025

  16. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  17. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  18. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 73, Nays 23, PNV 0

  19. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  20. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Failed to adopt (Amendment 3 - HA0431), Ayes 24, Nays 68, PNV 0

  21. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA0214)

  22. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0205)

  23. 2025-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  24. 2025-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/16/2025

  25. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/15/2025

  26. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  27. 2025-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/15/2025

  28. 2025-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/15/2025

  29. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 7, Nays 2 PNV 0

  30. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/14/2025

  31. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  32. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Government Operations Committee calendar for 4/9/2025

  33. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/9/2025

  34. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  35. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  36. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/31/2025

  37. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee

  38. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Government Operations Committee Ayes 7, Nays 2 PNV 0

  39. 2025-03-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  40. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/24/2025

  41. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  42. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  43. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  44. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  45. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  46. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee

  47. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  48. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  49. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  50. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present law describes the duties of the human rights commission, one of which is iden
tifying any Tennessee laws, rules, programs, services and budgetary priorities that conflict with the components, guidelines, and objectives of the comprehensive state policy to ensure and to promote compliance with Title VI requirements. This bill remov
e
s this duty from the human rights commission and transfers it to the attorney general.

ON APRIL 16, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 910, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #2 rewrites this bill to schedule the Tennessee human rights commi
ssion for termination on July 1, 2025, and transfers the commission's duties concerning discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, malicious harassment, the Civil Rights Act of 1990,
the "Tennessee Anti-Slapp Act
,
"
and education to the a
ttorney general and reporter. The full text of this amendment specifies the process for winding up the commission's business and transferring the commission's
procedures, reports, functions, duties, and records
to the attorney general and reporter.

This
amendment transfers the commission's responsibility to verify that state government entities comply with
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
to the department of human resources.

This amendment establishes
a civil rights enforcement division in the
office of the attorney general and reporter
.
The offices of the division are to be located in a place to be determined by the attorney general. The division
will be
headed by a director of civil rights enforcement who is appointed by, and serves at the
pleasure of, the attorney general.
E
ffective July 1, 2025, it is the legislative intent that all funding for 30 employment positions allocated to the commission prior to such date is to be transferred to the office of the attorney general and reporter. T
h
is amendment authorizes th
e attorney general
t
o determine how and whether to utilize these positions.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 910
By Garrett

SENATE BILL 861
By Stevens

SB0861
003147
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 8 and Title 68, relative to human rights.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-21-203(c)(3), is amended by
deleting the subdivision.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-6-109(b), is amended by adding
the following new subdivision:
To identify any Tennessee laws, rules, programs, services, and budgetary
priorities that conflict with the components, guidelines, and objectives of the
comprehensive state policy, as defined and established by the human rights commission
under § 4-21-203(c)(2), to ensure and to promote present and future compliance with
Title VI requirements;
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.