Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Tennessee General Assembly, fetched 2026-09-25. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
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PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 962
HOUSE BILL NO. 1857
By Representatives Rudd, Reneau, Moody, Marsh, Fritts, McCalmon, Todd, Greg Martin,
Reedy, Littleton, Vital, Davis, Powers
Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 1960
By Senators Pody, Bailey, Bowling, Crowe, Rose, Seal
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 1; Title 49, Chapter 2;
Title 49, Chapter 50 and Title 49, Chapter 6, relative to education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 10, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) The general assembly finds and declares that:
(1) The Fourth of July commemorates the founding of the United States of
America and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence;
(2) It is important for students to understand the historical significance of
the Fourth of July and the constitutional foundations and civic principles upon
which this great nation was established; and
(3) Because the Fourth of July occurs during the summer months when
school is not in session, students should receive specialized instruction during
the school year on the Fourth of July.
(b) Each director of schools for an LEA and each director of a public charter
school shall annually ensure that students in any of the grades kindergarten through
twelve (K-12) enrolled in the LEA or public charter school observe the Fourth of July
during the school year by receiving age- and grade-appropriate instruction on the
founding of the United States, the separation of the original thirteen (13) colonies from
Great Britain, the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the
fundamental rights and freedoms enjoyed by American citizens.
(c) Each LEA and public charter school shall determine the instructional program
and methods used to provide the instruction required in this section, including, but not
limited to, designing and implementing interactive classroom lessons, readings, writing
assignments, and discussions, or conducting school assemblies. The instruction
provided by an LEA or public charter school for purposes of this section must
accomplish the grade-specific objectives in subsection (d).
(d) The objectives of the instruction provided pursuant to this section are to:
(1) Introduce the foundational concepts of American independence to
students in grades kindergarten through five (K-5) to ensure students can:
(A) Explain the meaning of the Fourth of July;
(B) Identify the United States as an independent nation;
(C) Describe the basic ideas of freedom and individual rights; and
(D) Recognize the national symbols of the United States and their
connection to American freedom and independence;
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(2) Emphasize the historical context of the Fourth of July and establish a
civic understanding for students in grades six through eight (6-8), which may be
accomplished through the social studies curriculum, to ensure students can:
(A) Describe the events that led to America gaining its
independence from Great Britain;
(8) Explain the reasons for why the thirteen (13) original American
colonies sought self-governance;
(C) Summarize the purpose and significance of the Declaration of
Independence and the United States Constitution; and
(D) Identify the foundational civic principles of liberty, individual
rights, limited government, and consent of the governed; and
(3) Focus on analysis of foundational texts and civic themes for students
in grades nine through twelve (9-12), which may be accomplished through the
English language arts curriculum, to ensure that students can:
(A) Analyze the Declaration of Independence and the United
States Constitution as foundational American texts;
(8) Identify key themes of the American Revolution, including, but
not limited to, liberty, equality, and natural rights;
(C) Evaluate the historical and philosophical significance of
American independence; and
(D) Understand the connection our founding American principles
have to modern civic responsibilities and American citizenship.
(e) Each director of schools for an LEA and each director of a public charter
school shall:
(1) Ensure consistent implementation of this section at each school in the
LEA or at the public charter school;
(2) Verify that the instruction provided to students at each public school in
the LEA or at the public charter school for purposes of this section complies with
the requirements of this section and is aligned to the relevant state academic
standards adopted by the state board of education if the instruction is being
provided as part of a social studies or English language arts class;
(3) Provide guidance as needed to support the implementation of this
section at each public school in the LEA or at the public charter school; and
(4) Ensure that if a school in the LEA or the public charter school has not
provided the instruction described in subsection (b) before the last full school day
of the school year, then the director of schools or the director of the public charter
school shall require the school to observe the Fourth of July on the last full
school day of the school year and on such date provide students with age- and
grade-appropriate instruction on the founding of the United States, the separation
of the original thirteen (13) colonies from Great Britain, the Declaration of
Independence, the United States Constitution, and the fundamental rights and
freedoms enjoyed by American citizens that is designed to accomplish the
objectives in subsection (d).
(f) The instruction provided to students pursuant to this section must be
nonpartisan and solely educational in nature. The focus of the required instruction must,
at all times, be on historical facts, the content of the founding documents, and the civic
principles underlying the creation of the founding documents and of the United States.
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(g) Each LEA and public charter school shall periodically review the content,
materials, and instructional methods used to provide the instruction required in this
section and update the same as the LEA or public charter school determines appropriate
to ensure best practices in civic education are implemented and to ensure that any
instruction provided as part of a social studies or English language arts class is aligned
to the relevant state academic standards adopted by the state board of education.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it,
and applies to the 2026-2027 school year and each school year thereafter.
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HOUSE BILL NO. 1857
PASSED: April 23, 2026
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CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RANDY MCNALIY
SPEAKER OF THE SENA
1 ~ APPROVED this t;R... day of 2026
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