House Bill 25 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, to establish new regulations regarding public schools' participation in associations that govern interscholastic athletics. The bill prohibits public schools from using public funds to join or maintain membership in any association that disallows a student from participating in athletic competitions due to transferring schools more than once, with specific exceptions for completing the highest grade at a school. Additionally, it mandates that public schools and charter schools must ensure that the governing boards of these associations comply with open meeting laws, while allowing for closed meetings when discussing confidential information protected by privacy laws.

The bill also introduces requirements for public schools to notify athletic associations when a student in foster care seeks to participate in sports, contingent upon obtaining consent from the student's parent or guardian. Furthermore, it establishes annual compliance documentation requirements for local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools, which must be reported to the Department of Education. The bill includes provisions for annual audits of voluntary associations that enforce interscholastic sports rules, with costs borne by the associations. Notably, several existing sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated are deleted as part of this legislative update. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-2-132, 49-2-136, 49-6-416