House Bill 1658, sponsored by Capley, aims to enhance civics education for future educators in Tennessee. The bill introduces the "Tennessee Civics Education Act," which mandates that, starting July 1, 2027, individuals seeking their first practitioner teacher or practitioner occupational teacher license must pass a civics test. This test will consist of 100 questions derived from the civics test used by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for naturalization. To pass, candidates must correctly answer at least 70 questions. The Department of Education is responsible for preparing and administering this test, as well as issuing certificates of completion to those who pass.

Additionally, the bill specifies that the Department of Education will not provide any remediation or civics instruction for candidates preparing for the civics test, although it will offer links to helpful resources on its website. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, ensuring that educators are well-equipped to teach civics and promote civic engagement among students.