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HB 291

Education, Higher - As introduced, requires the institute of American civics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to develop materials and curricula for a course in a baccalaureate degree program including American government or American history; requires each student enrolled in a public institution of higher education to complete a course of instruction that includes such curricula prior to the student obtaining a baccalaureate degree. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Ron Gant

Tennessee requires all public university students to complete a UT-Knoxville-developed civics course before earning bachelor's degrees, centralizing civics curriculum statewide.

Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 291

Legislative bill overview

HB 291 mandates that the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Institute of American Civics develop standardized civics curricula, and requires all students earning bachelor's degrees from Tennessee public universities to complete a course incorporating this material before graduation. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee's higher education code to enforce this requirement across all public institutions.

Why is this important

This legislation directly affects approximately 150,000+ undergraduate students annually across Tennessee's public university system. It represents a statewide shift in graduation requirements and reflects ongoing national debate about civics education, curriculum standardization, and institutional autonomy in higher education.

Potential points of contention

  • Curriculum control: Centralizing civics curriculum development at one institution may limit pedagogical diversity and individual campus discretion in course design and content emphasis
  • Implementation burden: Requires curriculum revision across multiple institutions and programs, potentially creating coordination challenges and compliance costs
  • Definitional ambiguity: The bill doesn't specify precise content standards for the civics course, potentially leading to disputes over what constitutes adequate "American civics" instruction
  • Degree completion impact: Adding mandatory course requirements could delay graduation timelines for students with full schedules or create bottlenecks in course offerings

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

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