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HB 2364

Local Education Agencies - As introduced, allows certain school employees to conduct physical searches of students and searches of vehicles, containers, packages, lockers, or other enclosures used for storage by students or visitors in certain circumstances; narrows, from all threats of violence or significantly disruptive behavior at a public school that are reported to a state or local law enforcement agency to only those first determined by the LEA to be credible, the threats or behavior for which an LEA must notify parents and guardians within 48 hours. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by David Hawk

Expands student/property searches by school staff and limits parent notification to only "credible" threats, reducing transparency about school safety incidents.

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Bill Summary · HB 2364

Legislative bill overview

HB 2364 expands school employee authority to physically search students and their belongings (vehicles, lockers, containers) under certain circumstances. It also modifies parent notification requirements by limiting them to threats of violence or disruptive behavior that school officials first determine to be "credible," rather than notifying parents of all reported threats.

Why is this important

This bill directly affects student privacy rights and parental communication about school safety incidents. The changes could increase school officials' latitude in conducting searches while potentially reducing the information parents receive about concerning incidents on campus, fundamentally altering the balance between school safety protocols and individual protections.

Potential points of contention

  • Search authority scope: Expanding physical search powers raises Fourth Amendment concerns and questions about what "certain circumstances" means—critics may argue this is vague and could enable arbitrary searches, while supporters may claim it's necessary for school safety.
  • "Credible threat" determination: Shifting from all reported threats to only those deemed credible by school officials removes an objective standard; parents and law enforcement may disagree with schools' credibility judgments, potentially delaying critical information about genuine risks.
  • Parental notification delays: Narrowing notification requirements could leave parents unaware of incidents involving their children, complicating their ability to address behavioral or safety concerns and potentially conflicting with existing state and federal notification laws.

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

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