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HB 407

Education, Higher - As introduced, requires the Tennessee higher education commission to develop a program to award full-time students enrolled in public institutions of higher education in this state a $250 grant for voluntarily obtaining testing for sexually transmitted diseases. - Amends TCA Title 10, Chapter 7 and Title 49.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Yusuf Hakeem

Tennessee bill creates $250 grants for college students who voluntarily get STD testing, aiming to increase disease screening rates among young adults.

Taken off notice for cal in s/c Higher Education Subcommittee of Education Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 407

Legislative bill overview

HB 407 directs the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to create a grant program offering full-time students at public universities $250 for voluntarily undergoing STD testing. The bill amends state education law to establish this incentive-based public health initiative aimed at increasing disease screening rates among college-age populations.

Why is this important

STD rates among young adults have risen significantly in recent years, with many cases going undiagnosed. By offering financial incentives, the bill attempts to address a public health gap while using higher education infrastructure to reach a concentrated population. The approach combines public health and education policy, potentially reducing transmission rates and long-term health complications.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and sustainability: $250 per student could create significant ongoing budgetary obligations for the state's higher education system, with unclear funding sources identified in the bill
  • Incentivizing personal health decisions: Questions about whether cash incentives for medical testing set problematic precedents or are an appropriate government role in individual health choices
  • Implementation feasibility: Ambiguity about testing frequency, verification procedures, privacy protections, and how institutions will administer the program across multiple campuses
  • Effectiveness concerns: Unclear whether one-time $250 payments will meaningfully increase testing rates or if alternative approaches (awareness campaigns, free services) might be more cost-effective

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

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