Student-athletes in Tennessee who transfer schools between academic years will now be granted athletic eligibility immediately, thanks to a bill signed into Law by governor Bill Lee.
According to Yahoo Sports, the law will go into effect on July 1 and apply to student-athletes in grades six to 12. The new law will only apply to the first transfer by the student-athlete, not any subsequent school transfers.
Tennessee lawmakers worked with the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association to craft the language of the bill and update the organization’s bylaws to comply with the new law.
“While the ‘one-time transfer’ law represents a significant shift, we are grateful for the opportunity to have been at the table during the drafting process,” said TSSAA executive director Mark Reeves. “This collaboration ensured that other vital eligibility rules that could affect eligibility (coaching links, recruiting, etc.) remain intact, in alignment with the member school’s wishes. The TSSAA will continue to uphold the three fundamental principles found in our bylaws, which we believe align with the spirit and intent of this new legislation. As a result of our positive collaboration with members of the general assembly, the general principles have now been codified in state law.”
According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the one-time transfer law comes just one year after the TSSAA updated the guidelines that allowed student-athletes to transfer schools in the first place. Those guidelines for transferring previously included “academic, social-emotional, environmental or mental health” needs. Transferring solely for athletics was not previously permitted.
Student-athletes who pursue second or third school transfers will be held to the original TSSAA guidelines.
Based on TSSAA’s data, the number of student-athletes who transferred schools before the start of the 2025-26 academic year was more than double the transfer rate prior to the 2024-25 academic year.
"Our willingness to adapt is rooted in the feedback of those we serve," Reeves said. "Equally important to our position with the legislature was the input received from the Student Advisory Committee. A majority of these student leaders expressed support for this change."
