House Bill 472 amends Tennessee law to prohibit discrimination based on race, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the membership and operations of state entity boards. The bill establishes that no person can be excluded from board membership or subjected to discrimination on these bases. It also prohibits boards from implementing race-based policies, such as affirmative action or racial quotas, and from using aggregated data related to race or ethnicity to determine board participation.

Additionally, the bill creates a private cause of action for individuals who experience violations of these provisions, allowing them to seek actual or compensatory damages, as well as punitive damages if discrimination is proven to be intentional or reckless. Defendants are strictly liable for a minimum of $4,000 in statutory damages, and plaintiffs can pursue injunctive and declaratory relief. The state also waives sovereign immunity in these actions, ensuring that individuals can hold boards and their officers accountable for discriminatory practices.