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SB 1912

Local Education Agencies - As introduced, makes various changes to the requirements for locally adopted internet acceptable use policies; establishes certain authorizations and prohibitions for an LEA or public charter school with regard to email addresses for students in grades pre-K-5; requires an annual audit of each LEA's and public charter school's compliance with its adopted internet acceptable use policy. - Amends TCA Title 49.

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

Tennessee SB 1912 requires each LEA and public charter school to adopt, update, and audit an internet acceptable use policy with explicit safety, filtering, parental notification,

Re-refer to Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 1912

Summary of SB 1912 (Session 114) – Tennessee

This bill, as amended, revises and expands requirements related to internet acceptable use policies (IAUPs) for local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools, with additional provisions for third-party digital materials, pre-K to 12 content safety, and audit requirements. It applies to LEAs and public charter schools, with partial alignment to the Public Charter School Commission framework.

1) Purpose and Intent

  • To modernize and strengthen the governance of students’ and staff’s use of school-provided internet and digital materials.
  • To ensure explicit safety controls, content filtering, and parental notification for inappropriate internet use.
  • To require annual third-party audits of IAUP compliance and to publish results.
  • To extend IAUP requirements to public charter schools and to digital materials marketed for pre-K–12 use.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

  • IAUP Adoption and Content (Section 2(a)):

    • Each LEA and public charter school must adopt an IAUP.
    • Minimum IAUP components:
    • Internet safety integrated into instruction.
    • Guidelines to engage parents on internet safety (utilizing existing channels like conferences).
    • Safety and security rules for internet access to email, chat, and other electronic communications.
    • Safeguards preventing use of school internet for unsafe personal data collection or dissemination.
    • Website access limitations to only those deemed acceptable by the LEA/charter, with disqualifying criteria including: harmful content, pornographic/obscene material, content with no educational value but violent or frightening for the student’s age/maturity, content promoting self-harm, or content harmful to minors (per §39-17-901).
    • IAUPs may include additional terms (e.g., parental consent for internet use, differentiation by grade level).
    • LEAs/charters must review IAUP at least twice annually and update as needed.
    • Collaboration among LEAs/charters on IAUP development is permitted.

  • Implementation and Enforcement (Section 2(b), (d), (e)):

    • Directors must implement and enforce IAUPs.
    • Providers of digital/online materials for pre-K–12 must:
    • Verify materials do not violate §39-17-902.
    • Block/filter content such as pornography, obscenity, harmful-to-minors content, or self-harm promotion.
    • Provide written verification that their tools prevent distribution of harmful-to-minors content.
    • Remove access to age-inappropriate materials within 1 business day upon request; extension by mutual consent allowed.
    • A process must be established for third-party complaints about noncompliant materials (see below).

  • Complaint Process for Third-Party Materials (Section 2(c)(2)):

    • LEAs/charters/state agencies contracting for third-party digital materials must establish a process for filing complaints about prohibited materials.
    • The contracting entity must timely review the complaint and determine if action is needed.

  • Third-Party Complaint Policy (Section 2(c)(2), (c)(1)–(c)(3)):

    • Applies to digital/online materials used in pre-K–12.
    • Does not apply to medical resources.
    • The complaint process must be established and operational; rationale is to address violations of the prohibited content provisions.

  • Email Addresses for Pre-K–5 (Section 2(d)):

    • LEAs/charters may create email addresses for students in pre-K–5 for use as an identification data point in security or grading software.
    • Students in pre-K–5 must not use (send/receive emails) via these addresses.

  • Parental Notification (Section 2(e)):

    • If a student under 18 accesses a restricted website in violation of the IAUP, the LEA/charter must notify the parent/guardian immediately.

  • Contracts and Existing Commitments (Section 2(f)):

    • Provisions do not impair contracts or agreements entered into before July 1, 2027.

  • Audit Requirement (New, Section 2 and Assessments):

    • Each local board of education and public charter school governing body must obtain an annual third-party audit of IAUP compliance.
    • A qualifying USAC (E-rate) audit may satisfy this requirement.
    • Audit results must be published on the LEA’s or public charter school’s website.
    • Effective upon becoming law for policy adoption; full effective date for other provisions is July 1, 2027 (with the 2027-2028 school year and thereafter).

  • Additional Provisions:

    • Addresses standards for filtering, safety, and prohibited content, both for student and employee use of school-provided internet.
    • References to potential employee-related IAUP restrictions and consequences (in amended fiscal notes, some versions mention employee use; core text focuses on student IAUP).

3) Who/What is Affected

  • Local Education Agencies (LEAs) across Tennessee.
  • Public charter schools (including those under the Public Charter School Commission framework).
  • Vendors/suppliers of digital or online instructional materials for pre-K–12 (subject to content restrictions and complaint processes).
  • Students (pre-K through 12, with particular rules for pre-K–5 regarding email addresses).
  • Parents/Guardians (notified when a student under 18 violates IAUP).
  • LEA/public charter school governing bodies (board/supervisory entities) responsible for IAUP adoption and annual audits.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Policy Adoption and Review:
    • IAUPs must be adopted and reviewed at least twice per year; updated as necessary.
    • Collaboration among LEAs/public charters is allowed in policy development.
  • Audit and Transparency:
    • Annual third-party IAUP compliance audit required.
    • Audit results published on LEA/charter websites.
    • A qualifying USAC e-rate audit may satisfy the requirement.
  • Effective Dates:
    • Provisions related to policy adoption take effect upon becoming law.
    • Other provisions take effect July 1, 2027, and apply to the 2027-2028 school year and thereafter.
  • Contracts:
    • Provisions do not impair contracts executed before July 1, 2027.

5) Fiscal Considerations

  • Audits: Annual third-party IAUP audits may increase local expenditures; the exact cost is unknown and depends on existing audit practices and vendors. A USAC e-rate audit could satisfy the requirement in some cases.
  • Implementation: Costs vary based on current contracts with digital materials vendors and compliance tooling. Some districts may need to renegotiate terms or purchase additional licenses or services.
  • The fiscal notes indicate that costs are indeterminate in many cases and depend on district-level decisions and contractor arrangements.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with the current IAUP law (TCA § 49-1-221) and highlight every substantive addition in plain language.

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

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