Local Education Agencies - As enacted, requires a director of schools to refer to juvenile court certain students who were formerly enrolled in the LEA, who were receiving certain truancy interventions, who withdrew from the LEA, and who did not transfer to another LEA; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 37, Chapter 1, Part 1; Title 49, Chapter 1; Title 49, Chapter 2 and Title 49, Chapter 6.
SB 1968 requires Tennessee school districts to count unexcused absences from a student's previous school when they transfer to a new district, so those absences contribute to truancy determinations at the new school. It also mandates that school directors refer students who withdrew without transferring to juvenile court if they had received truancy interventions and accumulated unexcused absences. The bill directly affects students, school districts, and juvenile courts by changing how attendance records are handled across school transfers. Key provisions include carrying forward prior absences to the new school and requiring documentation for juvenile court referrals.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Feb 2, 2026
Signed Apr 27, 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
21
Key actions
8
Committee
3
Amendments
1
Apr 27, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Apr 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Apr 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Amended
Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA1024)
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed H., Ayes 66, Nays 24, PNV 5
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0542)
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 30, Nays 0
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 2/25/2026
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Adam Lowe
RRepublican
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