Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed HB 2194, requiring public college and university boards to create policies that distinguish tenure decisions from discipline actions for faculty members. The law also requires the disciplinary process to apply equally to tenured and nontenured faculty, aiming to prevent tenure from functioning as a shield against misconduct consequences. Critics warned the bill could weaken tenure protections by removing faculty due-process roles from certain discipline decisions. Supporters argue it preserves neutrality, free expression, and civil discourse while clarifying that tenure awards and revocations cannot be used as disciplinary tools. Institutions in Tennessee will now need to revise governance and hearing procedures for allegations of misconduct before the next academic year to align with the new statutory structure.