Tennessee House Bill HB1833

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/21/26
• Refer: 2/2/26
• Refer: 2/18/26
• Refer: 3/31/26
• Chaptered: 5/1/26
• Passed: 5/1/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 14; Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9, relative to higher education.

Impact

The legislation is designed to positively impact state laws governing higher education by establishing clearer guidelines for the governance and financial practices of public universities and community colleges. By mandating that online course tuition cannot exceed 75% of that of in-person courses where applicable, the bill aims to promote more affordable access to education. The introduction of metrics for 'on-time graduation' also encourages institutions to work towards improving their graduation rates, ultimately benefiting students and the higher education landscape in Tennessee.

Summary

House Bill 1833 seeks to amend various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated concerning higher education. Specifically, the bill focuses on setting regulations for the appointment of voting members to the governing boards of public higher education institutions. It introduces provisions for defining 'on-time graduation' and sets a framework for calculating and publishing target graduation rates at state institutions. Furthermore, it aims to ensure that tuition for online undergraduate courses remains comparable to that of in-person offerings, preventing excessive charges based on the mode of delivery.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB1833 appears to be cautiously optimistic. Many stakeholders in the education sector support the bill as it aligns with the goals of increasing transparency in tuition rates and enhancing graduation outcomes. However, there are concerns about the potential for state overreach in educational governance that could interfere with the autonomy of individual institutions. Overall, the mood seems to balance support for the bill's intentions with a careful watch on how the regulations will be implemented.

Contention

Some notable points of contention in discussions around HB1833 include the potential impact on funding mechanisms derived from out-of-state tuition and how revenue will be allocated to support in-state students. Critics may argue that the set limits on online course fees could undermine the financial viability of offering such courses if not handled carefully. Additionally, some stakeholders express concerns over the implications of the defined measures of success for institutions, fearing they may narrow the focus of education quality improvements.