Senate passes critical race theory, 'divisive concepts' bill aimed at Tennessee colleges

Originally Published on Tennessean

The House passed the measure earlier this month but differences with the Senate version remain.

Tennessee Republicans passed a bill targeting what they call "divisive concepts" in higher education.

The bill, supported by leadership in the House and Senate, would give college students and staff at state universities the ability to sue them for discriminating against them for not accepting "divisive concepts."

The legislation defines "divisive concepts" along the same lines as a bill passed last year, which banned public K-12 schools from teaching critical race theory and white privilege. Although last year's bill did not cite critical race theory by name, its supporter pointed to it when urging passage of the legislation.

The bill, HB 2670, will also require colleges to conduct a survey every other year to "assess the campus climate with regard to diversity of thought and the respondents' comfort level in speaking freely on campus, regardless of political affiliation or ideology."