House Bill 1227 amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to higher education. Notably, it revises the definition of programs culminating in industry certifications by removing the inclusion of professional development and similar programs. The bill also establishes confidentiality for applications and related materials for the position of chief executive officer at public higher education institutions, allowing public access only after finalists are selected. Additionally, it mandates that the governing board or commission must hold public meetings to discuss the search process and qualifications for these positions.

Further amendments include the requirement for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to develop and evaluate initiatives for postsecondary access and career readiness, as well as to review and approve tuition and fee increases for state institutions. The bill also introduces a formal process for identifying capital investment needs and allows the commission to delegate certain approval powers to its executive director. Overall, the bill aims to enhance transparency in the selection of higher education leaders while ensuring that tuition policies are reviewed and managed effectively.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-4-902, 49-7-154, 49-7-202(c), 49-7-202, 49-7-202(i), 49-7-202(n), 49-7-202(o), 49-7-202(q)(2)(A), 49-7-202(q), 49-7-214