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SB 821

Education, Curriculum - As introduced, requires each local education agency and public charter school to annually implement an evidence-based substance abuse and violence prevention program in each school that serves students in any of the grades three through 12 to reduce tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use by students. - Amends TCA Title 49.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Joey Hensley

Tennessee schools must annually implement evidence-based substance abuse and violence prevention programs for grades 3-12 to reduce youth drug and alcohol use.

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Bill Summary · SB 821

Legislative bill overview

SB 821 mandates that all Tennessee public schools and charter schools serving grades 3-12 implement annual evidence-based substance abuse and violence prevention programs. The bill aims to reduce student tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use through standardized prevention curricula.

Why is this important

Substance abuse and violence among youth represent significant public health and safety concerns affecting academic performance and long-term outcomes. Mandating evidence-based prevention programs could establish consistent, research-backed interventions across all districts, though implementation costs and program effectiveness vary widely. This reflects broader national efforts to address youth substance use through school-based prevention.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation and funding costs: Schools must absorb expenses for evidence-based programs without explicit state funding allocation mentioned, potentially straining budgets across districts with varying resources
  • Program selection and flexibility: "Evidence-based" programs are defined elsewhere in law, limiting local schools' ability to tailor prevention efforts to their specific community needs and populations
  • Mandate expansion and compliance: Adding annual requirements increases administrative burden on schools already managing multiple state and federal mandates, with unclear enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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