Bill > HB1271

This bill declares that the policy of Tennessee is that there are only two sexes, male and female, defined by immutable characteristics of a person's reproductive system, determined by anatomy and genetics at birth. It mandates that by January 1, 2027, all local and state governmental entities must revise their existing rules, policies, and procedures to reflect this definition of sex or gender, and prohibits them from adopting new ones that do not adhere to it starting July 1, 2026. If a local governmental entity fails to comply, citizens can file a complaint in chancery court, which can order compliance and potentially make the entity ineligible for state grants if it remains non-compliant. Similarly, for state governmental entities, complaints can be filed with the comptroller of the treasury, who can investigate and, if non-compliance is found, trigger consequences such as ineligibility for state grants or withholding of general fund revenue, with escalating penalties for repeated violations. Importantly, neither local nor state entities are considered non-compliant solely for accepting valid birth certificates or other lawfully issued identification, and state entities are not required to violate federal law.