Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly

Tennessee HB1805: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to the history of communism.

Status: Chaptered, May 5, 2026

Fiscal Summary OTHER FISCAL IMPACT To the extent that the State Board of Education performs an off-cycle standards review, there will be an estimated increase in state expenditures of up to $235,500, to be expended by the Board over two fiscal years. Any effect on the timing of the next regularly scheduled standards review cycle and expenditures associated with such review is indeterminate. Due to multiple unknown factors, including the cost of providing local education agencies with necessary classroom materials, a precise increase in local expenditures cannot be reasonably determined. Bill Summary ON MARCH 2, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1890, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, require, beginning with the next adoption of academic standards in the subject of social studies, the standards recommendation committee to include in their final recommendations of academic standards in the subject of social studies to the state board of education, and the state board, to adopt, grade-appropriate academic standards on the history of communism that include:  The history of communism in the United States and domestic communist movements, including the tactics of communist movements. Atrocities committed in foreign countries under the guidance of communism. Comparative discussion of political ideologies, such as communism and totalitarianism, which conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy essential to the founding principles of the United States. The increasing threat of communism in the United States and to our allies throughout the twentieth century, including the events of the Cultural Revolution in the People's Republic of China and other mass killings from communist regimes. The economic, industrial, and political events that preceded and antici