House Bill 85 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Section 49-6-1021, to establish new requirements for physical activity in schools. For elementary school students, the bill mandates a minimum of sixty minutes of physical activity per full school day, while middle and high school students must engage in at least ninety minutes of physical activity per full school week. The bill also clarifies that physical activity can include various forms of exercise, such as walking and jumping rope, but explicitly states that walking to and from class does not count towards this requirement.

Additionally, the bill outlines specific conditions for fulfilling the physical activity requirements. It stipulates that physical activity must include unstructured outdoor play unless weather conditions prevent it, and it cannot include time spent using electronic devices or in physical education classes. Furthermore, local education agencies (LEAs) are required to provide elementary students with two thirty-minute periods of physical activity each school day, and students cannot be denied participation in physical activity as a form of punishment. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-6-1021(a), 49-6-1021, 49-6-1021(b)