HB 825 - SB 811
FISCAL NOTE
Fiscal Review Committee
Tennessee General Assembly
March 8, 2025
Fiscal Analyst: Alan Hampton | Email: alan.hampton@capitol.tn.gov | Phone: 615-741-2564
HB 825 - SB 811
SUMMARY OF BILL: Enacts the Teen Social Media and Internet Safety Act. Requires the
Department of Education (DOE) to develop curricula, including instructional materials, for the
instruction of social media and internet safety for students in grades six through twelve (6-12) who
are enrolled in a school in a local education agency (LEA) or public charter school by January 1,
2026. Establishes requirements for the social media and internet safety curricula. Requires the DOE
to publish the instructional materials on the department's website.
Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, requires each LEA and public charter school that enrolls
students in any of the grades 6-12 to instruct students in grades 6-12 using the curricula and
instructional materials developed by the DOE. Requires each LEA and public charter school that
enrolls students in any of the grades 6-12 to notify the parents or guardians of students that the
instructional materials developed by the DOE are available on the department's website and the
LEA's or public charter school's website.
Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, requires each LEA and public charter school to prohibit
students from accessing social media through the use of internet access provided by the LEA or
public charter school, except when expressly authorized by a teacher and solely for educational
purposes. Adds minimum requirements to the required internet acceptable use policy for LEAs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
OTHER FISCAL IMPACT
Due to multiple unknown factors, including the cost of providing local education agencies with
necessary classroom materials, a precise fiscal impact cannot be reasonably determined. If the
Department of Education elects to purchase digital or traditional textbooks for all students in grades
6-12, the increase in state expenditures is estimated to range from $21,993,900 to $43,979,300.
Assumptions:
• The Textbook and Instructional Quality Materials Commission approves instructional
materials and LEAs are required to adopt from the approved list.
• The proposed legislation requires the DOE to develop curriculum and instructional
materials for students in grades 6-12 on social media and internet safety.
• It is unknown if the DOE will need to purchase textbooks for students in grades 6-12 to
support instruction on a social media and internet safety curriculum.
HB 825 - SB 811 2
• There are an estimated 517,404 students in grades 6-12. The average cost of middle school
and high school textbooks is approximately $85.
• If the DOE were to purchase textbooks for each student in grades 6-12 to support the
instruction of a social media and internet safety curriculum, the one-time increase in state
expenditures is estimated to be $43,987,840 (517,504 x $85).
• Schools utilize a variety of instructional support materials including traditional materials
such as textbooks and printed materials, but also access resources and class materials online.
Many textbook publishers offer digital content that are generally less expensive than
textbooks, often costing up to 50 percent less.
• Purchasing or subscribing to digital textbooks for each student in grades 6-12 to support
the instruction of a social media and internet safety curriculum may be $21,993,920
($43,987,840 x 50%) less than a traditional textbook.
• If the DOE determines that textbooks will be necessary for the instruction, the increase in
expenditures is estimated to range from $21,993,920 to $43,987,840.
• The development of curricula and instructional materials for the instruction of social media
and internet safety to students will result in an increase in state expenditures. However, due
to multiple factors, including whether the DOE will elect to purchase textbooks or offer
digital content and the cost and number of various materials ultimately provided to LEAs,
the increase in state expenditures cannot be precisely determined.
• LEAs will be able to provide the instruction on social media and internet safety for students
in grades 6-12 within existing resources such that any fiscal impact is estimated to be not
significant.
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Bojan Savic, Executive Director