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PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 293
HOUSE BILL NO. 1188
By Representatives Grills, Reedy, Faison, Moody, Cepicky
Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 1209
By Senators Rose, Bowling, Crowe, Bailey, Gardenhire, Jackson, Walley
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to discrimination in
educational institutions.
WHEREAS, a historic rise in antisemitic violence, harassment, and discrimination has
occurred at K-12 schools, colleges, and universities across the United States, targeting Jewish .
students; and
WHEREAS, on April 2024, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation found that
the number of FBI investigations into antisemitic hate crimes tripled in the months after October
7,2023; and
WHEREAS, according to a recent Gallup Poll, eighty-one percent of Americans now see
antisemitism as either a very or somewhat serious problem, up from fifty-seven percent two
decades ago; and
WHEREAS, acts of antisemitism on our campuses undermine the educational and social
fabric of our institutions; and
WHEREAS, promoting understanding, tolerance, and respect for all students and faculty
is imperative; now, therefore,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 50, is amended by adding
the following as a new part:
49-50-1801.
(a) As used in this part:
(1) "Antisemitism" has the same meaning as the working definition of
antisemitism described in§ 49-7-181; and
(2) "Public institution of education" includes LEAs, public charter schools,
and public institutions of higher education.
(b) Discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, or religion
against a student or an employee of a public institution of education is prohibited. A
public institution of education shall not discriminate against a person on the basis of
race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, or religion by:
(1) Excluding the person from participating in a program offered by the
public institution of education;
(2) Denying the person the benefits of participating in a program offered
by the public institution of education;
(3) Subjecting the person participating in a program offered by the public
institution of education to discrimination;
(4) Denying the person any employment benefit; or
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(5) Subjecting the person to an employment condition or practice based
solely on the person's race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, or religion.
(c) A public institution of education shall not use criteria for admission to a
school, program, or course that has the effect of restricting access for persons of a
particular race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion.
(d) All programs and classes offered at a public institution of education must be
available to students without regard to the student's race, ethnicity, national origin, sex,
or religion. This subsection (d) does not eliminate programs designed to meet the needs
of students with limited proficiency in the English language, gifted students, or students
with disabilities or programs tailored to students with specialized talents or skills.
(e) A public institution of education shall ensure that guidance services,
counseling services, and financial assistance services offered by the public institution of
education are available to all students equally and provided in the same manner,
regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, ~,,; religion.
49-50-1802.
(a) A public institution of education shall prohibit antisemitic harassment or
discrimination against students and employees, including discrimination resulting from a
policy of the public institution of education or a program offered by the public institution
of education that is conducted on the public institution of education's campus or school
grounds, in the same manner as the public institution of education applies to any other
form of discrimination prohibited under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C.
§ 2000d et seq.).
(b) All public institutions of education shall:
(1) Integrate the definition of antisemitism into the public institution of
education's codes of conduct or antidiscrimination policies to prohibit antisemitic
harassment and discrimination; and
(2) Prohibit conduct of harassment and discrimination against Jews in
compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and with the
antidiscrimination regulations established by the United States department of
education and United States department of justice.
(c) All public institutions of education are encouraged to:
(1) Incorporate antisemitism awareness training for all students, staff,
faculty, administrators, and police or school security assigned to the campus or
school grounds of the public institution of education; and
(2) Integrate Jewish American Heritage curricula for students that
incorporate Jewish experiences in America pre-American revolution and post-
American revolution, pre-World War II and post-World War II, the Holocaust, and
in modern times into a course provided by the public institution of education.
(d) All public institutions of education shall place reasonable time, place, and
manner restrictions on speech to ensure order and protect the rights of all students.
49-50-1803.
(a)
(1) By July 1, 2025, the department of education shall designate a Title VI
coordinator to monitor antisemitic discrimination and harassment at public
institutions of education that serve students in any of the grades kindergarten
through grade twelve (K-12).
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(2) Each public institution of higher education shall designate a Title VI
coordinator to monitor antisemitic discrimination and harassment at the public
institution of higher education.
(b) All public institutions of education shall formally report incidents and
complaints of antisemitic discrimination and harassment to the appropriate Title VI
coordinator.
(c) A Title VI coordinator designated pursuant to this section shall thoroughly
investigate all complaints reported by a public institution of education. If, after
reasonable investigation, the respective Title VI coordinator determines that the public
institution of education has engaged in, allowed, or not sufficiently prohibited antisemitic
discrimination, then the Title VI coordinator shall give written notice to the public
institution of education to take the necessary actions to address the prohibited
antisemitic discrimination. The public institution of education must take such necessary
actions no later than sixty (60) days after the date on which the Title VI coordinator
notifies the public institution of education pursuant to this subsection (c).
(d) If the Title VI coordinator determines that the public institution of education
has not taken the necessary actions to address the prohibited antisemitic discrimination
by the end of the sixty-day period, then the Title VI coordinator shall report their findings
to the attorney general and reporter.
(e) Each Title VI coordinator shall, no later than June 30 of each year, issue an
annual report on antisemitism at the public institution of education overseen by the
coordinator to the attorney general and reporter and to the general assembly.
(f) The general assembly is encouraged to conduct hearings or investigations, as
deemed necessary, to assess whether a public institution of education has adequately
addressed antisemitic discrimination.
49-50-1804.
(a) Criticism of Israel that is similar to criticism toward any other country is not
considered antisemitism discrimination or harassment for purposes of this part.
(b) This part does not diminish or infringe on any right protected under the First
Amendment to the United States Constitution or the Tennessee Constitution.
(c) Implementation of this part must not conflict with federal or state
antidiscrimination laws and must be implemented consistently with Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.).
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
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HOUSE BILL NO. 1188
PASSED: April 7, 2025
CAMERON S~XTON, SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Q., a), e· ~ c . . ' \ \ *
\ RANDY MC LLY
SPEAKER OF THE SENATE
\:l. I APPROVED this Gl4 day of Pr{>r, 2025
~ • .
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