Bill > HB0622

This bill, known as the "Dismantle DEI in Employment Act," aims to prohibit all levels of Tennessee government - including county and municipal governments, local education agencies (LEAs), public higher education institutions, and state government - from making employment decisions based on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) metrics. The bill mandates that all hiring practices must be based solely on individual merit, qualifications, veteran status, or lawful eligibility criteria, and cannot consider an applicant's race, ethnicity, sex, age, or other demographic characteristics. To provide flexibility, the bill allows governmental entities to seek an exemption from these requirements if complying would result in a loss of federal funding, which requires submitting a written notice to the state comptroller and renewing the exemption annually. The legislation also voids any existing policies that promote educator diversity based on demographic characteristics and explicitly states that employment decisions encompass a wide range of actions including hiring, firing, promotion, compensation, and training. Notably, the bill does not prohibit actions required by existing state or federal employment laws, providing a narrow exception to its broad restrictions on considering demographic characteristics in employment practices.