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Gov. Bill Lee signed Senate Bill 16 into law on Feb. 23, paving the way for Tennessee high school athletes to gain immediate eligibility after one transfer effective July 1.
The law will allow student-athletes in grades 6-8 and 9-12 to gain immediate eligibility after transferring schools one time without having to make a bona fide change of address. That's as long as the transfer is in the summer between school years and other eligibility requirements are met.
The TSSAA, which governs high school sports in Tennessee, collaborated with bill sponsors to craft the language. The TSSAA is expected to present specific bylaw revisions to its Legislative Council in April in order to comply with the law. The rule is expected to go into effect for the 2026-27 school year.
After the TSSAA amends its bylaws and the new rules go into effect, athletes will no longer have to submit information required under the association’s current transfer rule, which allows one transfer but only for significant academic, social-emotional, environmental or mental health needs. The current rule also mandates that the sending schools attest the move is not for athletic or disciplinary reasons.
More: TSSAA working with Tennessee legislature on one-time transfer rule for any reason
More: Tennessee lawmaker says he's no longer interested in dissolving TSSAA
There are exceptions to the new law that defer to other TSSAA eligibility standards, but overall, it’s a seismic shift from the transfer rules the TSSAA had previously upheld since its inception 1925. Other state high school associations have traditionally denied immediate eligibility to student-athlete transfers unless they physically moved into another school’s district.
Some states are shifting to one-time transfer policies, in some cases due to government involvement. During Tennessee's 2025 legislative session, Senator Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, filed bill SB16 and had it co-sponsored in the house by Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, with HB25 pushing for looser transfer rules. The TSSAA responded by loosening its transfer restrictions with its current rule.
An amended bill was brought to the floor during the current session and was passed for the governor to sign.
Student-athletes are permitted one transfer during grades 6-8 and one during grades 9-12 between school years.
Under the law, student-athletes cannot transfer more than once during those periods unless they make a bona fide change of address or receive a hardship waiver. Transfers are also restricted if student-athletes are ineligible due to other school or TSSAA policies, including but not limited to, academic ineligibility, disciplinary reasons, violation of the TSSAA’s recruiting or coaching link rules, the TSSAA’s age-limit rule or semester rule.
The law states that the TSSAA is allowed to determine “the content, scope, and requirements of any rule or policy adopted by the association for purposes of implementing the immediate eligibility requirement; and (establish) standards, requirements, and procedures for determining a student's eligibility to participate in interscholastic athletics.”
While the TSSAA challenged previous legislative involvement in its transfer rules, the association collaborated with lawmakers after 60% of Tennessee high school principals, surveyed by the TSSAA, said they were in favor of a one-time transfer rule for any reason.
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at [email protected] and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
He also contributes to The Tennessean's high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Gov. Bill Lee signs transfer law for TSSAA athletes. What it means
Continue reading...
The law will allow student-athletes in grades 6-8 and 9-12 to gain immediate eligibility after transferring schools one time without having to make a bona fide change of address. That's as long as the transfer is in the summer between school years and other eligibility requirements are met.
The TSSAA, which governs high school sports in Tennessee, collaborated with bill sponsors to craft the language. The TSSAA is expected to present specific bylaw revisions to its Legislative Council in April in order to comply with the law. The rule is expected to go into effect for the 2026-27 school year.
After the TSSAA amends its bylaws and the new rules go into effect, athletes will no longer have to submit information required under the association’s current transfer rule, which allows one transfer but only for significant academic, social-emotional, environmental or mental health needs. The current rule also mandates that the sending schools attest the move is not for athletic or disciplinary reasons.
More: TSSAA working with Tennessee legislature on one-time transfer rule for any reason
More: Tennessee lawmaker says he's no longer interested in dissolving TSSAA
There are exceptions to the new law that defer to other TSSAA eligibility standards, but overall, it’s a seismic shift from the transfer rules the TSSAA had previously upheld since its inception 1925. Other state high school associations have traditionally denied immediate eligibility to student-athlete transfers unless they physically moved into another school’s district.
Some states are shifting to one-time transfer policies, in some cases due to government involvement. During Tennessee's 2025 legislative session, Senator Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, filed bill SB16 and had it co-sponsored in the house by Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, with HB25 pushing for looser transfer rules. The TSSAA responded by loosening its transfer restrictions with its current rule.
An amended bill was brought to the floor during the current session and was passed for the governor to sign.
Who is eligible under Tennessee new one-time transfer law
Student-athletes are permitted one transfer during grades 6-8 and one during grades 9-12 between school years.
Under the law, student-athletes cannot transfer more than once during those periods unless they make a bona fide change of address or receive a hardship waiver. Transfers are also restricted if student-athletes are ineligible due to other school or TSSAA policies, including but not limited to, academic ineligibility, disciplinary reasons, violation of the TSSAA’s recruiting or coaching link rules, the TSSAA’s age-limit rule or semester rule.
The law states that the TSSAA is allowed to determine “the content, scope, and requirements of any rule or policy adopted by the association for purposes of implementing the immediate eligibility requirement; and (establish) standards, requirements, and procedures for determining a student's eligibility to participate in interscholastic athletics.”
While the TSSAA challenged previous legislative involvement in its transfer rules, the association collaborated with lawmakers after 60% of Tennessee high school principals, surveyed by the TSSAA, said they were in favor of a one-time transfer rule for any reason.
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at [email protected] and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
He also contributes to The Tennessean's high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Gov. Bill Lee signs transfer law for TSSAA athletes. What it means
Continue reading...
