Local Education Agencies

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 10 and Title 49, relative to special education.

Children Education Privacy

Active

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

Sponsor: Bowling, Raper
Last action: 2026-02-03
Official status: Withdrawn.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was withdrawn, so its future status is uncertain.

Video Camera Surveillance in Special Education Classrooms

This act requires local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools to install video cameras in special education classrooms, but only with the written consent of a majority of parents whose children attend those classes.

What This Bill Does

Requires LEAs and public charter schools to install and maintain video camera surveillance systems in special education classrooms to promote student safety.
Allows these institutions to use the cameras to continuously monitor students, teachers, and staff while they are receiving special education or related services.
States that a majority of parents must give written permission for their child's continuous monitoring using the system.
Limits who can view photographs or videos taken by the cameras to only the parent of the student featured in them.
Requires local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies to create policies about how long they need to keep video footage.

Who It Names or Affects

Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools
Parents of students receiving special education services
Students in special education classrooms

Terms To Know

LEA: Local Education Agency, which is a school district or other agency responsible for providing educational programs.
Special education classroom: A self-contained classroom or special education setting in which a majority of the students in regular attendance are provided special education and related services for at least fifty percent (50%) of the instructional day.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill was withdrawn, so it is unclear if or when it will be reconsidered.
It does not specify what happens if a majority of parents do not give consent.
There are no details on how the video footage should be stored and secured.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Withdrawn.
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Withdrawn.
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Education Administration Subcommittee
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Education Committee
2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 1701
By Raper

SENATE BILL 1894
By Bowling
SB1894
009775
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 10
and Title 49, relative to special education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 10, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a)
(1) Each LEA and public charter school shall install and maintain a video
camera surveillance system in each special education classroom operated by the
LEA or public charter school to promote student safety.
(2) Subject to subsection (b), each LEA and public charter school shall
use the video camera surveillance system installed in each special education
classroom to continuously monitor students, teachers, and staff in the special
education classroom while special education or related services are being
provided to students in the special education classroom.
(b) An LEA or public charter school shall not use a video camera surveillance
system to continuously monitor students, teachers, and staff in a special education
classroom unless the parents of a majority of the students assigned to receive special
education or related services in the special education classroom consent, in writing, to
the parent's student being continuously monitored using the system while they are
receiving special education or related services in the special education classroom.
(c) Photographs or video footage collected from a video camera surveillance
system installed in a special education classroom by an LEA or public charter school
pursuant to this section must only be viewed by the parent of a student who is featured

- 2 - 009775

in the photograph or recording and only to the extent that such viewing complies with the
requirements of § 10-7-504, the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20
U.S.C. § 1232g), or any other relevant or applicable state or federal privacy law.
(d) Each local board of education and public charter school governing body shall
adopt a policy to effectuate this section. The policy must establish the duration for which
an LEA or public charter school must maintain photographs or video footage collected
from a video camera surveillance system installed in a special education classroom.
(e) As used in this section:
(1) "Parent" means the parent, guardian, person who has custody of the
child, or individual who has caregiving authority under § 49-6-3001;
(2) "Special education classroom" means a self-contained classroom or
special education setting in which a majority of the students in regular attendance
are provided special education and related services for at least fifty percent
(50%) of the instructional day; and
(3) "Student" means a student in any of the grades pre-kindergarten
through twelve (pre-K-12) who receives special education and related services.
SECTION 2. For purposes of developing and 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, and applies to the 2026-2027 school year and each
school year thereafter.