House Bill 1658, also known as the "Tennessee Civics Education Act," amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, to establish new requirements for educator licensure. Starting July 1, 2027, individuals seeking their first practitioner teacher or practitioner occupational teacher license must pass a United States civics test, which consists of 100 questions derived from the civics test used for naturalization. The Tennessee Department of Education is tasked with preparing and administering this test, and those who pass will receive a certificate of completion. To pass, candidates must correctly answer at least 70 questions.

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, emphasizing the importance of civics education in preparing teachers to effectively engage students in understanding their constitutional rights and civic responsibilities.