SB 2139

ON MARCH 23, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2139, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill and revises the requirements for electronic participation in school board meetings under certain circumstances. Present law generally prohibits conducting a school board meeting with electronic participation unless a quorum of members is physically present at the location of the meeting. This amendment adds an exception to present law so that a board meeting may be conducted with electronic participation without a quorum of members being physically present at the location of the meeting in cases where inclement weather or a natural disaster makes the physical presence of a quorum of members at the location of the me eting impractical or unsafe; provided, that a board meeting must not be conducted with electronic participation without a quorum of members being physically present at the location of the meeting more than three times per year. This amendment also adds a requirement that all school board members participating in a board meeting conducted with electronic participation must be visually identified in the meeting. ON APRIL 9, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 2139 FOR HOUSE BILL 2096, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2139, AS AMENDED AMENDMENT #2 adds to this bill by changing present law concerning the application of the open meetings law to charter school governing bodies. Present law generally requires that the meetings of the governing body of a public charter school be held in compliance with the open meetings law. Present law authorizes the board of directors of a charter management organization (CMO) to conduct a boa rd meeting concerning a public charter school located in this state by teleconference, videoconference, or other electronic means. This amendment revises the present law exception to the open meetings law for the board of a CMO. This amendment instead authorizes the governing body of a public charter school to conduct a scheduled board meeting by electronic means in the same manner local boards of education may conduct, and local board of education members may participate in, board meetings by electronic means. This amendment also authorizes a member of a governing body of a public charter school who does not reside in Tennessee t o participate in all scheduled board meetings via electronic means. ON APRIL 13, 2026, THE SENATE CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENT #2.