Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee SB2318: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to charter schools.
Status: Chaptered, May 27, 2026
Fiscal Summary OTHER FISCAL IMPACT An increase in public charter school applications to the Public Charter School Commission or local boards of education will result in an unknown increase in state revenue or local revenue from applications fees. Additionally, an increase in applications approved by the Commission or local boards of education will result in an increase in state or local revenue from authorizer fees, the extent and timing of which cannot be estimated. Bill Summary Present law generally makes private, religious, and church schools ineligible to sponsor a public charter school. This bill makes such schools eligible to sponsor a public charter school. Present law authorizes public institutions of higher education in Tennessee to sponsor public charter schools. This bill expands such authorization so that regionally accredited, private institutions of higher education may sponsor public charter schools.
What the bill says
An act to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to charter schools.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to charter schools. SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-13-104, is amended by deleting subdivision (16) and substituting instead the following: (16) "Sponsor" means a proposed governing body filing an application for the establishment of a public charter school that is not (B) Nonpublic school, as defined in § 49-6-3001; or (C) Postsecondary institution not regionally accredited; SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-13-106, is amended by deleting subsection (c) and substituting instead the following: (c) (1) A nonpublic school, as defined in § 49-6-3001, shall not establish a public charter school pursuant to this chapter. (2) A private postsecondary institution, including a private postsecondary institution that is religiously affiliated, that maintains a campus in this state may establish a public charter school pursuant to this chapter. SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-13-102(e), is amended by deleting the language "the state's public higher education institutions" and substituting instead the language "the postsecondary institutions in this state". SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-13-108(i), is amended by deleting the language "public institution of higher education" wherever it appears in the subsection and SB2318 substituting instead the language "postsecondary institution" and by deleting the language "public institution of higher education's" in subdivision (2) and substituting instead the language "postsecondary institution's". SECTION …
Sponsors
- Hensley, Joey (R, 28) · primary sponsor
- Stevens, Robert (R, 13)
Latest actions
- : Effective date(s) 05/22/2026
- : Pub. Ch. 1128
- : Signed by Governor.
- : Transmitted to Governor for action.
- : Signed by H. Speaker
- : Signed by Senate Speaker
- : Enrolled and ready for signatures
- : Passed H., Ayes 65, Nays 18, PNV 0
- : Subst. for comp. HB.
- : Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
Votes
- FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION (April 21, 2026): 65 yea, 18 nay, passed
- HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee (April 14, 2026): 24 yea, 0 nay, passed
- HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee (April 8, 2026): 9 yea, 1 nay, passed
- HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee (March 31, 2026): 13 yea, 3 nay, passed
- FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration (March 23, 2026): 25 yea, 5 nay, passed
- SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee (March 11, 2026): 8 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Archives, Publications, My Bills
Common questions
- What is SB2318?
- SB2318 is a bill in the Tennessee Legislature (114th General Assembly): AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to charter schools.
- What does SB2318 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to charter schools.
- What is the status of SB2318?
- Chaptered as of May 27, 2026. Latest action: Effective date(s) 05/22/2026 (May 27, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB2318?
- Hensley, Joey (R, 28), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB2318?
- On the Tennessee Legislature website: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=SB2318&GA=114
Source: official Tennessee record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.