Boards and Commissions - As enacted, prohibits the exclusion of persons from membership on state regulatory and health-related boards on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, and national origin; prohibits such boards from establishing or operating under race-based policies pertaining to their composition; removes requirement that appointing authorities strive to ensure certain boards and commissions are represented by members of racial minorities. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 21; Title 9; Title 62; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 1235 prohibits state regulatory and health-related boards from excluding members based on race, color, ethnicity, or national origin. It bans race-based policies like affirmative action or racial quotas for board composition and removes existing requirements that appointing authorities ensure racial minority representation on certain boards. The bill creates private lawsuits for violations, including a $4,000 minimum statutory damages award, and waives state immunity for such claims. This changes how boards are staffed by eliminating race-based appointment goals while establishing new non-discrimination standards.