House Bill 2851 amends Tennessee law to ensure that higher education institutions comply with the United States Supreme Court's ruling in the case of Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. The bill introduces a new section to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 7, Part 1, which mandates that the office of the comptroller of the treasury include an examination of compliance with equal protection provisions during audits of the University of Tennessee system, the state university and community college system, and local governing boards of trustees. This examination will focus on the institutions' admission programs and practices to ensure they align with the Fourteenth Amendment and the Tennessee Constitution.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2024, emphasizing the importance of adherence to constitutional standards in higher education admissions. This legislative change reflects a commitment to uphold equal protection rights in the state's educational institutions.