Tennessee House Bill HB0777

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/25
• Refer: 2/6/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 4, Part 9, relative to higher education.

Summary

HB0777 amends Tennessee’s higher education statutes by revising the definition of a qualifying private postsecondary institution in Title 49, Chapter 4, Part 9. Under the bill, the relevant category would include only private postsecondary institutions whose primary campus is domiciled in Tennessee and that are accredited by, or are candidates for accreditation by, a regional accrediting association. In practical terms, the bill narrows and clarifies which private colleges and universities may qualify under the affected statutory provision. The change ties eligibility to both in-state domicile and regional accreditation status, which may affect how certain institutions are treated under state higher education programs, regulations, or benefits governed by the referenced code section. The act is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, the available record does not show formal debate or amendments. The bill text itself suggests a straightforward technical policy change focused on institutional eligibility and accreditation standards rather than a broader restructuring of higher education law. Overall sentiment appears neutral to supportive based on the absence of recorded opposition or controversy in the provided materials. The measure seems aimed at refining statutory language and ensuring that only Tennessee-based private institutions with recognized accreditation pathways are covered by the provision. No specific points of contention are documented in the supplied context. If any concerns were raised, they are not reflected in the available transcripts or voting history, so the bill appears to have been presented as a limited administrative or definitional update.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-4-902(11) by replacing subdivision (C) with a narrower definition of a private postsecondary institution. The revised language requires the institution to have its primary campus domiciled in Tennessee and to be accredited by, or a candidate for accreditation by, a regional accrediting association. This change affects the scope of institutions that qualify under the referenced higher education provision and may influence eligibility for state-administered programs or regulatory treatment tied to that definition.

Sentiment

No committee discussion or vote record was provided, so there is no evidence of recorded support or opposition in the supplied materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears technical and administrative in nature, and the overall sentiment is best characterized as neutral, with no visible controversy in the available record.

Contention

The provided materials do not identify any specific points of contention, amendments, or opposing viewpoints. The only likely issue implied by the text is the narrowing of eligibility to Tennessee-domiciled private institutions with regional accreditation or candidacy status, which could exclude some schools, but no stakeholder objections are documented here.