House Bill 1701 amends Tennessee law to require each local education agency (LEA) and public charter school to install and maintain a video camera surveillance system in every special education classroom. This system is intended to promote student safety by continuously monitoring students, teachers, and staff during the provision of special education or related services. However, the use of such surveillance is contingent upon obtaining written consent from the parents of a majority of the students in the classroom.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that any photographs or video footage collected can only be viewed by the parents of the students featured in the recordings, in compliance with relevant privacy laws. Local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies are required to adopt policies regarding the implementation of this surveillance system, including how long the footage will be maintained. The act will take effect upon becoming law for policy development, while the full provisions will be effective starting July 1, 2026, and will apply to the 2026-2027 school year and beyond.