Tennessee House Bill HB0998

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/25
• Refer: 3/4/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 14; Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9, relative to higher education.

Summary

HB0998 makes a narrow amendment to Tennessee’s higher education code. The bill changes one provision in Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-7-1804(f), by adding “the general assembly” to the list of entities that are included alongside the department of safety in the referenced language. The bill does not create a new program or funding mechanism; instead, it updates an existing statutory reference within the higher education title. Because the bill is limited to a single textual change, its practical effect is likely administrative or procedural rather than substantive. It appears to expand or clarify the scope of a higher-education-related provision so that the General Assembly is expressly included where the Department of Safety was already mentioned. The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-7-1804(f) by inserting the General Assembly into an existing statutory list, thereby altering the operation of that higher education provision to include legislative involvement or recognition where only the Department of Safety had been named before. It affects state higher education law in Title 49 and may influence how the referenced section is interpreted or administered by state agencies and the legislature.

Sentiment

There is little recorded debate or voting history available for HB0998, and no committee transcripts are provided. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears technical and noncontroversial, with no evident opposition or policy dispute reflected in the available materials.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the available record. If any concern existed, it would likely relate to the significance of adding the General Assembly to the referenced provision and whether that change has any practical legal effect, but the provided materials do not show disagreement from any particular stakeholder or committee member.