Senate Bill 2141, also known as House Bill 2095, proposes significant amendments to the Tennessee Code Annotated related to higher education and apprenticeship programs. The bill establishes a two-year black fly suppression program to be managed by the University of Tennessee, focusing on the biological and socioeconomic impacts of the initiative. It also revises the financial assistance award criteria set by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC), including new definitions for "eligible postsecondary institution" and the conditions under which institutions may face restrictions or suspensions from state financial aid programs due to noncompliance. Furthermore, the bill emphasizes that financial assistance awards must be based on students' financial need and mandates the creation of transfer pathways for undergraduate majors to facilitate credit transfers between institutions.

In addition to these provisions, the bill introduces a new requirement for institutions seeking transfer designation to submit a written request to the executive director of the commission. It also adds a subdivision to Section 49-7-2004(a) that exempts education provided to apprentices through registered apprenticeship programs approved by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The bill defines key terms related to this exemption, such as "apprentice" and "apprenticeship program." Notably, it deletes several subsections from various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated, including those in Sections 49-7-1310, 49-7-2701, 49-8-1401, and 49-9-301. The amendments will take effect upon becoming law for certain sections, while others will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 43-6-502, 49-4-204, 49-4-301, 49-4-302, 49-4-303, 49-4-304, 49-4-306, 49-4-705, 49-4-903(b), 49-4-903, 49-4-913(a), 49-4-913, 49-4-919, 49-4-933(d)(2), 49-4-933, 49-4-943(c)(1)(A), 49-4-943, 49-7-112(e), 49-7-112, 49-7-121, 49-7-202(r), 49-7-202, 49-7-204(d), 49-7-204, 49-7-210(e), 49-7-210, 49-7-1310(c)(3), 49-7-1310, 49-7-2004(a), 49-7-2004, 49-7-2701, 49-8-1401, 49-9-301