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SB0913 • 2026

State Universities

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29; Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9, relative to the composition of governing boards of institutions of higher education.

Education
Active

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

Sponsor
Lowe, Hawk
Last action
2025-02-12
Official status
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details about the consequences for breaking the new rule or how many current board members will be affected.

Changing Rules for University Board Members

This bill changes who can serve on university boards in Tennessee by adding new rules about other board memberships.

What This Bill Does

  • Expands the prohibition of serving on multiple higher education institution governing boards to include all types of institutions, not just public ones.
  • Requires current state university board members who also serve on another institution's board to vacate their position when this law takes effect.

Who It Names or Affects

  • University board members in Tennessee
  • Higher education institutions governed by these boards

Terms To Know

governing body
The group of people who make decisions for an institution, like a university.
institution of higher education
A place where people go to study after high school, such as colleges or universities.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if someone breaks this new rule.
  • It is unclear how many current board members will be affected by the requirement to vacate their positions.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal. in Education Committee

  2. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/25/2025

  3. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Education Committee to 3/25/2025

  4. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/18/2025

  5. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Education Committee to 3/18/2025

  6. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/11/2025

  7. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  8. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  9. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 2/19/2025

  10. 2025-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Higher Education Subcommittee

  11. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  12. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Education Committee

  13. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  14. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  15. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 1006
By Hawk

SENATE BILL 913
By Lowe

SB0913
002851
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
Chapter 29; Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter
8 and Title 49, Chapter 9, relative to the
composition of governing boards of institutions of
higher education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-8-201(f)(6), is amended by
deleting subdivision (D) and substituting:
(D) Members of a governing body for another institution of higher education.
SECTION 2.
If, on the effective date of this act, a state university board member is serving on
the governing board for another institution of higher education, then the member's seat
on the state university board is vacated on the effective date of this act. The appropriate
appointing authority shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.