Tennessee lawmakers will research possibility of dissolving or taking control of TSSAA

Tennessee legislators this summer will research the possibility of dissolving the governing body for Tennessee high school athletics, or bringing it under the control of the state government.

Lawmakers have been at odds with the TSSAA, a 501c non-profit that has governed high school sports in Tennessee since 1925, over the association’s previous transfer rule going back to 2023.

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Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, and Senator Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, now say their interest goes beyond the rule. Cepicky and Lowe said during a joint April 21 press conference that they believe the TSSAA has not been trustworthy during discussions over the past six months and questioned the association’s Legislative Council.

More: Tennessee lawmakers pause one-time transfer bill aimed at TSSAA until 2026

More: Why out-of-state athletes can utilize TSSAA’s new one-time transfer rule

Cepicky and Lowe co-sponsored bills this session that were originally written to force the TSSAA to adopt a rule that allowed student-athletes one free transfer without eligibility restrictions. Those bills were eventually amended to reflect a bylaw the TSSAA amended on March 3 that allows students one free transfer to another school due to reasons of significant academic, social-emotional, environmental or mental health needs. That’s if the sending school’s administration attests the move is not for athletic or disciplinary reasons.

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The bill was one step from becoming law after its Senate version SB16 passed, 25-4, on April 7. When HB25 reached the House floor on April 17, Cepicky acknowledged that many House members wanted him to drop the bill, so he moved it to the next calendar date in February 2026.

Cepicky and Lowe say the TSSAA didn’t take action on loosening students’ ability to transfer until the legislature became involved. Cepicky believes the TSSAA held out on passing its rule to see if the two lawmakers would drop their bills.

“Rep. Cepicky, myself, members of leadership are having very active conversations to consider whether or not there needs to be legislative oversight of this entity, or of the activity of our public school students’ athletic participation,” Lowe said.

Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for him? Reach Tyler at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83. He also writes The Tennessean’s high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to the newsletter here.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee lawmakers looking into dissolving TSSAA after one-time transfer spat