# Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-1101: Prohibitions on mandatory implicit bias training - Section definitions

> Tennessee · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T49_C5_S49-5-1101

## Section

- **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-1101
- **Heading:** Prohibitions on mandatory implicit bias training - Section definitions
- **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** TN Code / Title 49 / Chapter 5 / Section 49-5-1101

## Text

(a) An LEA or public charter school shall not: (1) Require an educator or other employee of the LEA or public charter school to complete or participate in implicit bias training; or (2) Take an adverse employment action against an educator or other employee of the LEA or public charter school for the educator's or employee's failure or refusal to complete or participate in implicit bias training. (b) The state board of education and the department of education shall not require an educator to complete or participate in implicit bias training as a requirement for educator licensure, professional development, program participation, or otherwise. (c) As used in this section, "implicit bias training" means a training or other educational program designed to expose an individual to biases that the training's or educational program's developer or designer presumes the individual to unconsciously, subconsciously, or unintentionally possess that predispose the individual to be unfairly prejudiced in favor of or against a thing, person, or group to adjust the individual's patterns of thinking in order to eliminate the individual's unconscious bias or prejudice. Added by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 438, s 1, eff. 5/17/2023.
(a) An LEA or public charter school shall not: (1) Require an educator or other employee of the LEA or public charter school to complete or participate in implicit bias training; or (2) Take an adverse employment action against an educator or other employee of the LEA or public charter school for the educator's or employee's failure or refusal to complete or participate in implicit bias training.
(1) Require an educator or other employee of the LEA or public charter school to complete or participate in implicit bias training; or
(2) Take an adverse employment action against an educator or other employee of the LEA or public charter school for the educator's or employee's failure or refusal to complete or participate in implicit bias training.
(b) The state board of education and the department of education shall not require an educator to complete or participate in implicit bias training as a requirement for educator licensure, professional development, program participation, or otherwise.
(c) As used in this section, "implicit bias training" means a training or other educational program designed to expose an individual to biases that the training's or educational program's developer or designer presumes the individual to unconsciously, subconsciously, or unintentionally possess that predispose the individual to be unfairly prejudiced in favor of or against a thing, person, or group to adjust the individual's patterns of thinking in order to eliminate the individual's unconscious bias or prejudice.
Added by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 438, s 1, eff. 5/17/2023.

## Nearby sections

- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-101 Basic requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T49_C5_S49-5-101.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-102 Alternative licensure for instructors who have taught for military community college](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T49_C5_S49-5-102.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-103 Award of additional professional development points for certain teachers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T49_C5_S49-5-103.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-104 Director of schools](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T49_C5_S49-5-104.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-105 Alteration of licenses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T49_C5_S49-5-105.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-106 Temporary teaching permits - Limited license to continue teaching pursuant to current temporary permit](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T49_C5_S49-5-106.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-107 Blind or visually limited teachers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T49_C5_S49-5-107.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-108 Jurisdiction of state board of education](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T49_C5_S49-5-108.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-109 Reciprocity](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T49_C5_S49-5-109.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-110 Eligibility requirements for practitioner occupational teaching license](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T49_C5_S49-5-110.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-111 Educational assistants](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T49_C5_S49-5-111.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-112 Licensure to teach in grades nine through twelve for person who has taught at eligible postsecondary institution](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T49_C5_S49-5-112.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-113 Petition for waiver of requirement for renewal of teacher's license](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T49_C5_S49-5-113.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-5-114 Temporary teaching permits - Eligibility for temporary permits - Examination for issuance of permit - Clinical requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T49_C5_S49-5-114.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T49_C5_S49-5-1101. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.