AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to human trafficking.
Summary
SB1710, as enacted as Public Chapter 744, requires Tennessee public schools to provide child trafficking prevention and awareness education as part of health education for students in kindergarten through grade 12. The bill defines “child trafficking” as a human trafficking offense under Tennessee law where the victim is under 18, and directs instruction to be age- and grade-appropriate, with content that builds each year as students advance through school.
The measure also allows local education agencies and public charter schools to use qualified healthcare professionals or social workers to assist with instruction, so long as they meet the same requirements that apply to family life instruction. Each local board of education and charter school governing body must adopt an implementation plan by August 1, 2026, and provide it to the Department of Education upon request. The act takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.
Impact
The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49 by removing an existing reference to human trafficking in the child welfare/education provisions and adding a new section that creates a statewide K-12 instructional requirement on child trafficking prevention and awareness. It expands the duties of local school districts and public charter schools by requiring curriculum planning, age-appropriate instruction, and implementation timelines, while also authorizing outside professional assistance under specified conditions. The bill affects public schools, local boards of education, charter school governing bodies, and the Department of Education.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests broad support for the bill. The Senate Education Committee recommended passage with amendments on a 9-0 vote, indicating unanimous committee approval. No committee transcript is available, but the lack of recorded opposition and the final enactment suggest the measure was viewed favorably as a student safety and awareness initiative.
Contention
There is little evidence of major controversy in the available record. The main policy questions likely concern how the curriculum is developed, what age- and grade-appropriate instruction should include, and how districts will implement the requirement by the 2026 deadline. Another possible point of discussion is the use of healthcare professionals or social workers in classrooms, though the bill limits that option by tying it to existing qualifications for family life instruction.