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HB 515

Local Education Agencies - As enacted, requires an LEA and public charter school that provides parents or guardians of K-12 students with information on immunizations, infectious diseases, medications, or other school health issues to include information about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes published by the department of education; directs the department, in cooperation with the department of health, to publish and make available to LEAs and public charter schools for free on its website certain information about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 68.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by John Gillespie

Tennessee schools must include state-published diabetes education materials in parent health information packets to increase awareness among K-12 families.

Comp. became Pub. Ch. 172
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Bill Summary · HB 515

Legislative bill overview

HB 515 requires Tennessee local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools to include information about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes when they provide parents with school health information. The bill directs the Tennessee Department of Education, working with the Department of Health, to create and distribute free diabetes educational materials for schools to use.

Why is this important

Diabetes affects approximately 2.9 million Tennessee residents, including children. Early awareness and education about diabetes symptoms, management, and risk factors can lead to earlier diagnosis and better health outcomes. Standardizing diabetes information across schools ensures consistent, evidence-based education reaches all families regardless of their school district.

Potential points of contention

  • Information overload: Schools already manage extensive health information requirements; adding diabetes materials may increase administrative burden without corresponding resources or funding
  • Educational scope creep: Some may question whether specific disease education should be mandated through schools versus handled by healthcare providers and family doctors
  • Implementation clarity: The bill doesn't specify how extensively diabetes information must be covered, potentially creating inconsistent implementation across districts with varying capacity

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

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