Monitor Legislation that Impacts Your Nonprofit and the Communities you serve
Nonprofits must be legislative watchdogs for three key reasons:
Impact awareness: New laws affect funding, operations, and beneficiary eligibility. Staying informed prevents blindsided disruptions.
Advocacy opportunity: Proactive engagement shapes legislation to better serve communities. Nonprofits bring unique perspectives to lawmakers.
Public trust: Monitoring shows commitment to responsible use of resources and best serving beneficiaries. Transparency builds trust and attracts donors.
In short, informed nonprofits can adapt, advocate, and build trust, all crucial for lasting positive impact.
Below are bills we are monitoring in the State of Tennessee. Please note that Tennessee Nonprofit Network monitors all bills that impact nonprofits and the communities they serve, but we only take positions on issues impacting the entire nonprofit sector and align with our public policy agenda.
Want to take action on a bill below? Find your legislators here.
Did we miss any important bills? Let us know here.
Sector: Healthcare/ Education
Bill: SB2329 / HB2354
Bill Summary: As introduced, prohibits a local government entity, school, or local education agency from implementing a mask mandate related to COVID-19.
Impact: Reduces the ability for an organization to self-govern and respond to the needs of their community
Position: Oppose
Sector: Education
Bill: SB0999 / HB0849
Bill Summary: Rural Schools Innovation Act; This bill requires the department of education to select at least six rural districts to participate in a two-year pilot program that partners rural districts together to expand access to high-quality, robust college and career pathways.
Impact: Increases opportunities for nonprofits in rural communities, especially those already engaged in workforce development issues
Position: Monitor
Sector: Education
Bill: SB1330 / HB1201
Bill Summary: Under present law, a nonprofit organization seeking to operate an annual event for the benefit of that organization located in this state must submit an annual event application to the secretary of state, or the secretary of state's authorized representative ("secretary"), by January 31 each year for the annual event period beginning July 1 of that calendar year and ending June 30 of the subsequent calendar year. This bill adds that a school foundation, established as a 501(c)(3) organization, or a school support organization, that is seeking to operate an annual event for the benefit of the organization located in this state may submit to the secretary an application one time by January 31 and the application will be automatically renewed thereafter.
Impact: Reduces the administrative burden and streamlines the processes for certain nonprofit organizations to operate an annual event. While intended to benefit school organizations and support their mission, this exemption might be seen as unfair treatment since other nonprofits are not included.
Position: TBD - Tennessee Nonprofit Network will usually oppose exemptions for specific nonprofits without a clear and fair justification.
Sector: Education / Public Safety
Bill: SB1708 / HB1631
Bill Summary: As introduced, clarifies that a private school serving students in any of the grades pre-K through 12 is authorized to adopt a handgun carry policy for the private school's property.
Impact: TBD
Position: Monitor
Sector: Education
Bill: HB2923
Bill Summary: As introduced, requires public charter schools to provide licensed employees of the public charter school six paid workweeks after a birth or stillbirth of the employee's child or the employee's adoption of a newly placed minor child.
Impact: TBD
Position: Monitor
Sector: Education
Bill: SB2766 / HB1634
Bill Summary: Present law requires an educator to strive to help each student realize the student's potential as a worthy and effective member of society. Present law provides that an educator therefore works to stimulate the spirit of inquiry, the acquisition of knowledge and understanding, and the thoughtful formulation of worthy goals. In fulfillment of this obligation to the student, present law prohibits an educator, among other things, from unfairly excluding any student from participation in any program, denying benefits to a student, or granting any advantage to a student on the basis of the following:
Race; color; creed; disability; sex; national origin; marital status; political or religious beliefs; or
Family, social, or cultural background; or sexual orientation.
This bill deletes (2) and provides, instead, that an educator must not unfairly exclude any student from participation in any program, deny benefits to a student, or grant any advantage to a student on the basis of family background or the student's membership in a protected class under federal or state law.
Impact: TBD
Position: Monitor
Sector: Higher Education
Bill: SB2296 / HB2248
Bill Summary: As introduced, authorizes the department to contract with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that maintains a principal office in this state and that is affiliated with a nonprofit membership organization composed of family physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students in this state for the nonprofit organization to administer some or all portions of the family medicine student loan repayment program.
Impact: Provides an incentive for medical students to consider and pursue family medicine, and may encourage more doctors to pursue a career in family medicine
Position: Monitor
Sector: Higher Education
Bill: SB2351 / HB1660
Bill Summary: As introduced, prohibits certain institutions of higher education from defining discriminatory practices in their antidiscrimination policies in a manner inconsistent with the definition of discriminatory practices in state law; prohibits certain institutions of higher education from establishing or recognizing forms of discrimination in their antidiscrimination policies in a manner inconsistent with the forms of discrimination recognized as legally actionable by this state; requires the Tennessee higher education commission to establish a process for persons to file a complaint alleging that an institution is not complying with such prohibitions.
Impact: TBD
Position: Monitor
Sector: Higher Education
Bill: SB0943 / HB0697
Bill Summary: As introduced, authorizes nonprofit entities that have entered into an agreement with THEC to administer the work-based learning program to provide, in consultation with THEC, a method for employers of work-based learning students to submit applications electronically.
Impact: Increases efficiency and convenience for nonprofits, making it easier to participate in the program
Position: Monitor
Sector: Higher Education
Bill: SB1977 / HB1914
Bill Summary: Subject to the appropriation of funds by the general assembly, this bill creates a hunger-free campus grant program, administered by the Tennessee higher education commission, to provide grants to higher education institutions to be used to address hunger on the institutions' campuses. As used in this bill, a "higher education institution" means (i) an institution operated by the board of trustees of the University of Tennessee; the board of regents of the state university and community college system; or a local governing board of trustees of a state university; or (ii) a private postsecondary institution accredited by a regional accrediting association that has its primary campus domiciled in this state.
Impact: Increases funding to higher education institutions to address student hunger and increase access to nutritious food
Position: Monitor
Sector: Public Safety
Bill: SB2912 / HB2032
Bill Summary: As introduced, removes the offense of possessing a weapon in a building that prohibits or restricts weapons; allows a person with an enhanced handgun carry permit to carry a handgun into a business that prohibits or restricts weapons; removes penalties for violations of certain firearms provisions.
Impact: Raises safety concerns for nonprofits providing services related to children & youth, domestic violence, violence intervention, and mental health, etc.
Position: Opposed