Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed legislation requiring public colleges and universities to create policies distinguishing tenure decisions from disciplinary actions for faculty. The bill also requires disciplinary policies to apply equivalently to tenured and nontenured faculty, according to the summary of House Bill 2194. Supporters said the law prevents tenure from being used as a shield against misconduct consequences, while critics argued it weakens tenure by limiting faculty due process protections for disciplinary outcomes. The law also includes requirements related to institutional neutrality, free expression, and campus climate safeguards, alongside posting policy details on institutional websites. For faculty governance and higher education compliance teams, the measure changes how institutions design disciplinary procedures, staffing roles in hearings, and the internal decision chain for termination or suspension based on alleged misconduct.