TN SB2259

Public higher education institutions must adopt and publicly post policies preserving institutional neutrality, free expression, and civil discourse on campus

Board of Regents and state university boards must create policies that separate tenure decisions from disciplinary actions, ensuring tenure cannot be awarded, denied, or revoked as a form of discipline

Chief executive or academic officers gain sole authority to terminate or suspend faculty for misconduct without any recommendation or vote from other faculty members

Faculty facing termination or suspension for misconduct are entitled only to written notice of grounds and an opportunity to be heard by the chief academic or executive officer

Takes effect upon becoming law for policy adoption; applies to the 2026-2027 academic year and thereafter for all other purposes beginning July 1, 2026