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                             PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 804

                                                    SENATE BILL NO. 2207

                                             By Johnson, Bowling, Rose, Seal

                                           Substituted for: House Bill No. 2275

                                        By Moody, Hardaway, Eldridge, Crawford

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 10, Chapter 7; Title 49; Title 62, Chapter 35
          and Title 68, relative to school facilities.

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

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 8, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:

                    (a) There is created a safe school design advisory board to recommend to the
          commissioner of commerce and insurance safe school design guidelines for LEAs and public
          charter schools to consider when constructing or remodeling kindergarten through grade
          twelve (K-12) public school facilities.

                    (b) The safe school design advisory board is administratively attached to the
          department of commerce and insurance. The commissioner of commerce and insurance
          shall call the first meeting of the advisory board to order no later than July 1, 2026.

                    (c) The safe school design advisory board consists of:

                              (1) A representative of the department of education, who is appointed by the
                    commissioner of education;

                              (2) A representative of the department of safety, who is appointed by the
                    commissioner of safety;

                              (3) A representative of the state fire marshal, who is appointed by the state fire
                    marshal;

                              (4) A representative of the office of the state architect, who is appointed by the
                    state architect;

                              (5) A member from the American Institute of Architects in this state who is a
                    licensed architect with experience in designing kindergarten through grade twelve (K-
                    12) educational facilities, who is appointed by the commissioner of commerce and
                    insurance; and

                              (6) A member with knowledge of kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12)
                    school facilities, who is appointed by the commissioner of education.

                    (d) Members of the advisory board serve on the advisory board until the member
          vacates the member's position on the advisory board or until the member is notified, in
          writing, by the respective appointing authority that another member is being appointed to
          serve on the advisory board in the member's stead.

                    (e) Members of the advisory board serve without compensation, and are not entitled
          to receive reimbursement for travel expenses.
SB 2207

                    (f) The advisory board meetings are not subject to the open meetings laws compiled
          in title 8, chapter 44. Though closed to the general public, reasonable notice must be
          provided to the general public prior to a meeting of the advisory board.

                    (g) The advisory board shall recommend to the commissioner of commerce and
          insurance safe school design guidelines for LEAs and public charter schools to consider
          when constructing or remodeling kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) public school
          facilities that addresses a broad spectrum of school safety considerations that includes:

                              (1) Building and location security;
                              (2) Fire and life safety;
                              (3) Emergency preparedness, response, and evacuation;
                              (4) Access, control, and visibility;
                              (5) Communication and coordination with first responders;
                              (6) Design strategies that support safety and student well-being; and
                              (7) Best building design approaches and building material options that may
                    enhance safety, resilience, and durability while maintaining flexibility for schools.
                    (h) In developing the guidelines, the advisory board shall review:
                              (1) Current building and fire codes;
                              (2) National best practices; and
                              (3) The operational needs of LEAs and public charter schools.
                    (i) The advisory board shall submit its recommended guidelines to the commissioner
          of commerce and insurance no later than January 1, 2027. The advisory board shall meet at
          least once per year after January 1, 2027, to review the guidelines to ensure that the
          guidelines reflect any emerging threats, new technologies, evolving best practices, and any
          updates of building or safety codes. The advisory board shall submit any recommended
          updates to the guidelines to the commissioner.
                    U) Notwithstanding title 10, chapter 7, the advisory board's recommended guidelines
          are not open to the public and may only be shared with governmental entities.
          SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

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         SENATE BILL NO. 2207

PASSED:  April 2, 2026

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                        SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

                        CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

J/ Am/ APPROVED this                                    2026
         ~!' day of

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                      BILL LEE, GOVERNOR