Education - As enacted, changes the standard for entry-resistant window treatment for school buildings constructed or remodeled on or after July 1, 2025; requires the state-level school safety team to issue guidelines to, the official text

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State q/Jmnessee

                             PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 448

                                                     SENATE BILL NO. 899

                                                             By Massey

                                            Substituted for: House Bill No. 964

       By Hawk, Cepicky, Slater, White, Behn, Hardaway, Eldridge, Renea Jones, Terry, Mitchell

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 8,
          relative to school safety.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-818(a)(2), is amended by deleting
the subdivision and substituting:

                    (2)(A) If a public school building, including a public charter school building, is
                    constructed or remodeled after July 1, 2023, but prior to July 1, 2025, then the
                    building must have installed a clear entry-resistant film on the glass panel of each
                    exterior entry or basement level window and door to prevent individuals from entering
                    the school building without authorization by breaking the glass in an exterior entry or
                    basement level window or door; and

                              (8) If a public school building, including a public charter school building, is
                    constructed or remodeled on or after July 1, 2025, then the building must have
                    installed a clear window film or security glazing that meets a nationally recognized
                    test standard for forced entry resistance, such as the ASTM F3561 test standard, for
                    glazing systems of each exterior entry or door plus adjoining glazing and the secure
                    interior vestibules serving as primary entrances to prevent individuals from entering
                    the building without authorization;

          SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-818, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection (b) and redesignating the existing subsection (b) and the remaining
subsections accordingly:

                    (b) The state-level safety team established under§ 49-6-802 shall develop guidelines
          for compliance with this section and update the guidelines as needed. The state-level safety
          team shall transmit all of the guidelines that it develops pursuant to this section to the state
          fire marshal to be incorporated into rules pursuant to§ 68-120-101.

          SECTION 3. The state fire marshal is authorized to promulgate rules to effectuate this act.
The rules must be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act,
compiled in Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 5.

          SECTION 4. For the purposes of establishing guidelines and promulgating rules, this act
takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, this act
takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.
         SENATE BILL NO. 899

PASSED:  April 21, 2025

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                         '                             RANDY"1icNALLY

                            SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

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                            CAMERON"9EXTON,SPEAKER
                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

qtt.. _ APPROVED thisday o f ~                         2025

         BILL LEE, GOVERNOR