Education - As enacted, requires public high schools to provide students who are enrolled in a United States government and civics course the opportunity to participate in three civic engagement field days and similar op, the official text

.....

•   ~,:·, ' <' :~ :
•   ~ '<. y
    - .lt§.: IUCU~,~iRL;trj •/(:!<:
:•

       ~c..;;_c;--' ••
    ......-;-·•~·:--·

Sitde f { Jettnessee

                             PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 700

                                                    SENATE BILL NO. 1819

                                            By Campbell, Lamar, Lowe, Yarbro

                                           Substituted for: House Bill No. 1747

     By Freeman, Brooks, Dixie, Salinas, Pearson, Clemmons, Hardaway, Camper, Davis, Chism

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to civics engagement.

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

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 4, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:

                    (a) Each public high school shall provide students who are enrolled in a United States
          government and civics course with three (3) civic engagement field days, one (1) for each of
          the three (3) distinct branches of government. A civic engagement field day required
          pursuant to this subsection (a) must:

                              (1) Include structured learning activities aligned with the state board-adopted
                    academic standards for the United States government and civics course; and

                              (2) For purposes of the civic engagement field day that covers the:

                                        (A) Legislative branch, include a class visit to a city council, county
                              commission, or the general assembly;

                                        (8) Judicial branch, include a class visit to a courthouse to allow
                              students to observe a judicial proceeding or to meet with a judge or court
                              official; and

                                        (C) Executive branch, include a class visit to the office of a mayor,
                              county executive, or to the office of the governor.

                    (b) If a high school student who is enrolled in the United States government and
          civics course is absent from school on the day for which a class visit described in subdivision
          (a)(2) occurs, then the public high school is not required to reschedule the class visit or
          arrange for a separate visit for the absent student.

                    (c) A public high school may prohibit a student who is enrolled in the United States
          government and civics course from attending a class visit described in subdivision (a)(2) for
          disciplinary reasons in accordance with the disciplinary policy of the LEA or public charter
          school.

                    (d) If a class visit required in subsection (a) is impracticable due to budgetary
          constraints for the LEA or public high school, then the public high school may satisfy the
          requirements of subsection (a) by participating in:

                              (1) Verified virtual tours of the locations listed in subdivision (a)(2);

                              (2) State-approved traveling civics programs; or

                              (3) Visits to the public high school by public officials who serve the county in
                    which the public •high school is located during which time the students participate in
                    interactive instructional sessions.
SB 1819
          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.

                                                                 2
         SENATE BILL NO. 1819

PASSED:  March 30, 2026

                         \  ~ ~       ~1.,:\\'I;

                                       ~RANDYl\i

                            SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

                            CAMERONS~ON,SPEAKER

                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APPROVED this IL(\:t day of (\pr,' \  2026

          • l«_,

         BILL LEE, GOVERNOR