112th TN General Assembly overview; Vanderbilt at the State Capitol

Legislation Overview

• Name, Image and Likeness: Last session, the Office of State Government Relations worked with members of the General Assembly to pass a landmark bill that allowed student-athletes at higher education institutions in Tennessee to profit from their name, image and likeness. It matched efforts from similar states last year. In the summer of 2021, the NCAA put into place an interim policy on NIL that was more expansive and opened the door to more NIL action around the country. After monitoring best practices since the interim NCAA policy was established, it was determined that a few minor tweaks to the current NIL law would provide greater flexibility for institutions and student-athletes. The law that was proposed this session, SB 2392/HB 2249 by Sen. John Stevens (R-Huntingdon)/Rep. Kevin Vaughan (R-Collierville), was the result of tremendous partnership with the Office of General Counsel and Vanderbilt Athletics. It proposed minor changes and mirrors actions that other states are taking to ensure a level playing field with peer institutions across the country. It keeps intact the numerous safeguards that were put into the original bill to provide layers of protection for institutions as well as student-athletes. It also addresses the concept of group licensing, which Vanderbilt Athletics identified as a priority and should lead to more opportunities for student-athletes at Vanderbilt. It was passed overwhelmingly by the House and Senate and was signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee on April 20. This initiative was one of the top priorities for SGR this session.
• HOPE Scholarship Changes: Lee also proposed an overhaul of the current funding levels for the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship (established and funded from the net proceeds of the state lottery). The original language would have increased amounts for all four years to $5,100 per year (currently the amount is capped at $3,500 (freshman/sophomore) and $4,500 (junior/senior). As the legislation made its way through the committee process, legislators expressed interest in retaining some type of tiered approach. The final version of the bill moves the freshman/sophomore level from $3,500 to $4,500 and the junior/senior level from $4,500 to $5,700. Vanderbilt students will be able to utilize these new funding levels for the HOPE Scholarship.
• Education Preparation Providers: SGR worked with other higher education stakeholders on a variety of bills impacting education preparation providers this session, including SB 2163/HB 2343 by Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson)/Rep. Michele Carringer (R-Knoxville). As originally filed, this bill required EPPs approved by the state board of education to require each candidate enrolled in the provider’s program to successfully complete at least one course each semester on reading instruction for the provider to retain state board approval. This would have added an extra burden for Vanderbilt students by limiting other classes that they could take based on this new requirement. SGR provided feedback to the bill sponsors, and as amended, the bill matched current practices to require that EPPs provide documentation that current curriculum being utilized aligns with proper literacy standards.
• COVID-19: Vanderbilt was one of the key proponents of legislation that was passed in 2020 that put into place protections for entities from frivolous lawsuits regarding COVID-19 if proper health and safety protocols were followed. When the law was originally passed in August of that year, the language was due to “sunset” on July 1, 2022. SGR worked closely with the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce to push for an extension this session. One of the last items that was voted on during legislative was SB 2448 / HB 2671 by Sen. Dawn White (R-Murfreesboro)/Rep. Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville), which extended those important protections until July 1, 2023.
• COVID-19: SB 2786/HB 2068 by Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma)/Rep. Bud Hulsey (R-Kingsport) would have placed restrictions on the types of COVID-19 testing protocols that private entities could have in place. Specifically, it would have not allowed Vanderbilt to test nonvaccinated employees more often than vaccinated employees. SGR pushed back on this legislation and the bill did not advance this session.
• Federally Authorized Work Permits: SGR worked with other stakeholders on SB 2464/HB 2309 by Sen. Shane Reeves (R)/Rep. Bob Freeman (D-Nashville) that would make it possible for anyone who is federally authorized to work and has a valid work permit to be eligible for professional and commercial licenses in the state. Under current Tennessee law, certain immigrants, who are authorized to be here and work in the U.S., are barred from obtaining professional and commercial licenses to work in their chosen field, including teaching, nursing, bartending, barbering and more. SGR is pleased to report that this legislation passed and became effective law on July 1, 2022.