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Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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SB1838 • 2026

Education, Higher

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9, relative to tenure.

Education
Active

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

Sponsor
Hensley, Lafferty
Last action
2026-02-10
Official status
Sponsor(s) Added.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not explicitly state that the bill requires boards to define what tenure means and how it affects faculty responsibilities, although it implies this through its amendments.

Act to End New Tenure for Tennessee University Faculty

This bill stops new tenure appointments for university faculty in Tennessee starting from July 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

  • Stops the Board of Regents and state university boards from giving new tenure status to faculty members after July 1, 2026.
  • Allows existing tenured faculty before July 1, 2026, to keep their tenure status under current policies.

Who It Names or Affects

  • University faculty members in Tennessee who might seek new tenure after July 1, 2026.
  • The Board of Regents and state university boards responsible for setting policies on tenure.

Terms To Know

tenure
A long-term job guarantee given to faculty members by universities.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not change the status of existing tenured faculty before July 1, 2026.
  • It is unclear how this will affect current tenure policies and practices in Tennessee universities.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Higher Education Subcommittee of Education Committee

  2. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 2/18/2026

  3. 2026-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  4. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Higher Education Subcommittee

  5. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Education Committee

  6. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  7. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  8. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  9. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  10. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 2581
By Lafferty

SENATE BILL 1838
By Hensley
SB1838
009511
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49,
Chapter 9, relative to tenure.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-8-301, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting:
(a) The board of regents and each state university board shall adopt a tenure
policy for faculty at the institutions governed by the board. The policy must allow faculty
members who received tenure before July 1, 2026, to retain the status in accordance
with the policy, but must not allow the institutions governed by the board to confer any
new tenure status on faculty members on or after July 1, 2026.
(b) Pursuant to this part, the board shall:
(1) Define the nature of tenure and the rights and responsibilities of
faculty members with tenure in accordance with this section;
(2) Provide for the termination of faculty members with tenure for
adequate cause, for retirement or disability, or for financial or curricular reasons
in the discretion of the board or its designee; and
(3) Provide for all other matters relating to tenure deemed necessary by
the board in accordance with this section.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-7-1903(2), is amended by
deleting "tenure," and "or tenure".
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-9-209(d)(1), is amended by
deleting subdivision (H) and substituting:

- 2 - 009511

(H) Adopt a policy governing the granting and removal of tenure for faculty
members; provided, that the policy must allow faculty members who received tenure
before July 1, 2026, to retain the status in accordance with the policy, but must not allow
the institutions governed by the board to confer any new tenure status on faculty
members on or after July 1, 2026;
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-9-1603, is amended by deleting
subsection (d) and substituting:
(d) Faculty of the institute shall not be:
(1) Awarded tenure on or after July 1, 2026; or
(2) Required to gain joint appointment in another division of the
University of Tennessee.
SECTION 5. For purposes of adopting policies, this act takes effect upon becoming a
law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, this act takes effect July 1, 2026, the
public welfare requiring it.