Bill > HB1886

This bill, effective July 1, 2027, requires every Local Education Agency (LEA), which refers to public school districts, and public charter schools in Tennessee to adopt and enforce an internet acceptable use policy that includes specific internet safety protocols for students, guidelines for parental communication on internet safety, rules to protect students using direct electronic communication, and safeguards against the disclosure of student personal information. The policy must also prohibit access to content deemed harmful, pornographic, obscene, excessively violent, promoting self-harm, or harmful to minors, and apply these prohibitions to both students and school employees, with measures for violations. Additionally, providers of digital or online resources for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade must verify their materials comply with these content restrictions, filter harmful content, and have a process for removing inappropriate materials upon request, though this does not apply to medical resources. The bill also allows LEAs and public charter schools to create email addresses for students in pre-kindergarten through 5th grade solely for administrative purposes like security or grading software, but prohibits these young students from sending or receiving emails. If a student under 18 violates the acceptable use policy, the school must immediately notify their parent or guardian.