Education

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, relative to library collections.

Education

Active

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

Sponsor: Yarbro, McKenzie
Last action: 2026-03-18
Official status: Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on what happens if materials are found inappropriate after review.

Library Collection Protection Act

This bill stops local school boards and charter schools from removing books or materials from their libraries while they are being reviewed to see if they are appropriate for students' age and maturity level.

What This Bill Does

Adds rules about how local school boards and charter school governing bodies must handle library collections during the review process.

Who It Names or Affects

Local school boards
Charter school governing bodies

Terms To Know

Library collection: The group of books, magazines, and other learning materials in a library.
Local board of education: A group that makes decisions about schools in their area.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if the material is found to be inappropriate after review.
The bill does not cover private or religious school libraries.
It only applies to materials being evaluated, not all library items.

Bill History

2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee
2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Failed in s/c K-12 Subcommittee of Education Committee
2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/18/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate Education Committee to 3/18/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/17/2026
2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c K-12 Subcommittee to 3/17/2026
2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/11/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/10/2026
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c K-12 Subcommittee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Education Committee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 2434
By McKenzie

SENATE BILL 2298
By Yarbro
SB2298
012149
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
Chapter 6, relative to library collections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-3803(d), is amended by
designating the existing language as subdivision (d)(1) and adding the following as a new
subdivision:
(2) A policy adopted pursuant to subdivision (d)(1) must not allow for the
removal of a material in a library collection that is being evaluated by the local board of
education or public charter school governing body pursuant to subsection (e) or by the
state textbook and instructional materials quality commission pursuant to § 49-6-
2201(m)(1)(D) until a determination is made by the local board, governing body, or
commission, as applicable, to remove the material from the library collection.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-3803(e), is amended by
deleting "subdivision (d)(2)" and substituting "subdivision (d)(1)(B)".
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.