TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Jul 8, 2025

Local governments and state universities are adjusting their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies to comply with new state laws, the Nashville Post reports. In the most recent legislative session, Tennessee lawmakers passed several laws targeting DEI practices. The first, the Dismantling DEI Departments Act, bans departments that work to promote diversity or equity. The second, the Dismantle DEI in Employment Act, bans the use of hiring practices based on an applicant’s race, ethnicity, sex, age or other demographic. Finally, a third bill eliminates race-based preferences in state board appointments. In response, Metro Nashville, Middle Tennessee State University, Shelby County and the City of Memphis have made changes. Read more from the paper.