Schools are a top priority with new laws effective July 1, 2025

With the new set of state laws passed over the past few months going into effect at the start of July, Tennessee lawmakers have been busy trying to pass as many as possible that can protect the schools of the state. Among the 177 laws passed, nearly a dozen pertained to education.

HB 0825 and SB 0811 is one of the largest bills in this regard. One of its main clauses requires that public charter schools prohibit students from accessing social media through the internet the school provides. Many schools in the region have already begun adopting this over time, but now it is a certified state law to prevent social media on school Wi-Fi. The law also requires the Department of Education to develop curricula regarding internet and social media safety, to better inform students of the dangers it can expose them to.

SB 0899 and HB 0964 is directly concerned with the safety of students and faculty within the building. The law requires any public-school building constructed or remodeled after July 1, when the law takes effect, must have window film or security glazing that passes the test standard for forced entry resistance.

HB 0932 and SB 0897 follow similarly from the prior law. It requires each local board of education to implement some kind of cell phone policy and publish the policy on its website. The policy is meant to clarify what is allowable usage of the cellphone in the classroom, and it is authorizes a teacher to withhold a student’s cell phone in specific circumstances if it is a distraction to the class or student. The law also sets up a preliminary process of informing parents about emergency occurrences at school, so the restricted cell phone access does not prevent parents staying informed.

HB 0085 and SB 0158 increases the minimum amount of physical activity that elementary school students must receive. It is an increase from 130 minutes per school week to 60 minutes per school day, and the law adds some requirements to physical education classes as well.

SB 0298 and HB 1197 authorizes public schools to provide an elective state-funded Bible course that studies the Bible in “nonsectarian, nonreligious academy study.” It also requires local education agencies and public schools to make all Bible course curricula available on their websites. The fiscal note clarifies that LEAs and public schools are not required to provide the elective, only that is now authorized as a possibility.

All the prior laws mentioned will take effect July 1, and they are viewable on the Tennessee General Assembly’s website. The Summary tab for each law will give ample details, while the fiscal note will describe all of the extra assumptions that go into laws like this.