Expanding financial assistance to disadvantaged students / Public Chapter 1018 — A new law will expand the Ben Atchley Grant, which was established in the 1990s to provide financial assistance to disadvantaged students. The measure allows for-profit, private postsecondary institutions that are accredited and domiciled in Tennessee to be able to provide the grant to its students. Just one college in the state, South College, which has locations in Knoxville and Nashville, meets these criteria. The grants will be funded by a transfer of $2 million from the Tennessee Students Assistance Award, which sees $113 million each year, of which $103 million is spent. Effective July 2022.

Divisive concepts in higher education / Public Chapter 818 – Protects students and employees at public universities from being forced to believe or embrace divisive concepts. The law stipulates that students or employees at public higher education institutions must not be penalized, discriminated against, or adversely treated due to the student’s or employee’s refusal to endorse divisive concepts. The bill also prohibits public universities from requiring training programs that include divisive concepts such as white privilege and Critical Race Theory. The law lists 15 definitions of a divisive concept that are nearly identical to those included in legislation pertaining to public K-12 schools that passed last year. It also requires public universities to conduct a biennial survey of students and employees to assess the campus climate with regard to diversity of thought and the respondents’ comfort level in speaking freely on campus. The findings would be presented to legislative committees during budget hearings. Effective April 2022.

Protecting women’s NCAA sports / Public Chapter 1005 - Legislation to extend Tennessee lawmakers’ commitment to protect female athletes was passed this year. The law seeks to maintain a level playing field in women’s sports and prohibits biological males from competing in women’s sports on the collegiate level. There have been numerous examples of biological males competing and winning in women’s sporting events throughout the country, including in the NCAA 500-yard freestyle. The new law builds on legislation passed in 2021 that prohibited biological males from participating in girls’ sports in public K-12 schools. Effective July 2022.

Expanding internships / Public Chapter 625 — High school students enrolled in community colleges or TCATs will have more internship opportunities at small and mid-size companies by lowering the minimum age from 18 years old to 16 years old of those who qualify as a work-based learning student. Previously, students who were under age 18 were not able to be covered by workers compensation insurance without additional expenses, so only large companies were able to absorb the risk of taking on younger interns. This law ensures those high school students participating in internships through dual enrollment in a TCAT or community college do not have to be covered by additional workers compensation insurance.

As always, it has been truly an honor and privilege to be your voice on Capitol Hill in these past 8 years representing the 71st District. As this will be my last Update, I thank you all for allowing and entrusting me to be a part of this humbling experience. I hope I have represented you with distinction and purpose.

Again, I thank you!

Rep. David Byrd