TN SB1741

Requires Tennessee public universities to adopt freedom of expression policies modeled on the University of Chicago's statement and political neutrality policies based on the 1967 Kalven Report, incorporating both into institutional bylaws and posting them on websites.

Prohibits institutions from refusing or canceling invited speakers based on viewpoints, restricting student organizations' speaker choices, or retaliating against faculty for scholarly viewpoints or First Amendment-protected speech.

Bars discrimination or retaliation against individuals based on religious beliefs or opposition to abortion, homosexuality, or transgender behavior, and protects student groups and employers with such beliefs from denial of campus recognition or interview access.

Establishes mandatory escalating disciplinary sanctions: students face probation, then 1-year suspension, then expulsion; faculty face 1-week unpaid suspension, then 1-year unpaid suspension, then termination for repeated violations of campus speech policies.

Creates private civil enforcement with a 6-year statute of limitations, waives sovereign and qualified immunity for lawsuits, awards attorney's fees to prevailing plaintiffs, and takes effect July 1, 2026 for enforcement purposes.