SB 1665 Tennessee Senate · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Civil Procedure - As enacted, clarifies that the same immunities from civil liability, adverse action, and disciplinary action, and duties, that apply to this state, state employees, public schools, LEAs, public school students, public school teachers, public school employees, public school contractors, public institutions of higher education, public higher education students, public higher education faculty, public higher education employees, and public higher education contractors with regard to the use of a pronoun consistent with an individual's sex apply when using an honorific that is consistent with an individual's sex. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 50; Title 49, Chapter 7, Part 24 and Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 51.

SB 1665 amends Tennessee law to explicitly include "honorifics" (such as "Mx." or "Dr.") alongside names and pronouns in prohibitions against requiring students, teachers, state employees, or contractors to use or provide specific identifiers. The bill updates multiple sections of the Tennessee Code (including education, employment, and contractor regulations) to replace phrases like "names and pronouns" with "names, pronouns, and honorifics." This change means state entities cannot mandate the use of specific honorifics, just as they cannot mandate preferred names or pronouns. The law affects all public education staff, state workers, and state contractors in Tennessee.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Signed May 22, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
9
Committee
3
Amendments
1
May 22, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
May 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Apr 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
Concurred, Ayes 22, Nays 4 (Amendment 1 - HA1079)
upper
Apr 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA1079)
lower
Apr 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed H., as am., Ayes 70, Nays 18, PNV 1
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, Ayes 26, Nays 6
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/4/2026
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
upper
Jan 15, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Paul Rose
Paul Rose
RRepublican
TN
32