Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly

Tennessee HB902: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to education.

Status: Chaptered, May 27, 2026

Fiscal Summary OTHER FISCAL IMPACT Requiring state special schools, local education agencies, and public charter schools to implement an evidence-based substance abuse and violence prevention program will result in a mandatory increase in state and local expenditures. However, due to multiple unknown factors, including the selection of a vendor and the cost of providing instructional materials or programs, a fiscal impact cannot be precisely quantified. *Article II, Section 24 of the Tennessee Constitution provides that: no law of general application shall impose increased expenditure requirements on cities or counties unless the General Assembly shall provide that the state share in the cost. Bill Summary ON APRIL 14, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 821, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, establish a pilot program that provides grants to local education agencies ("LEAs") to advance substance abuse and violence prevention programs. As used in this amendment, a "substance abuse and violence prevention program" is a program or series of programs that meets all of the following criteria:  Equips students with knowledge, skills, and resilience for healthy living and strong decision-making. Fosters long-term resilience against substance use, mental health challenges, and preventable disorders by engaging families and communities as active partners in student development. Includes a series of lessons that address the risk and protective factors associated with youth substance use and violence. Is age and developmentally appropriate for the age and maturity level of the student receiving the instruction.  Aligns with the coordinated school health program guidelines developed by the commissioner of education, in consultation with the department of health.  In