Tennessee: SB1979

Bill Summary

TN SB 1979 (now Public Chapter 598) requires every local education agency and public charter school in Tennessee to administer the reestablished Presidential Fitness Test to students to assess strength, endurance, and flexibility. The test is tied to the national standards set by the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition under President Trump’s executive order reviving the program, and schools may administer it during PE or other required physical activity periods. The Department of Education must provide guidance on test requirements and Presidential Fitness Award criteria, ensure students with IEPs or 504 plans receive reasonable accommodations and are excused if participation would be unsafe, and report on participation and awards if federal authorization changes. Student performance on the test cannot negatively affect grades, emphasizing health promotion over punishment.

Why It Matter to MAHA

The Make America Healthy Again Movement supports TN SB 1979 because it embeds the Presidential Fitness Test—central to MAHA’s national fitness agenda—into every Tennessee public school, making objective measures of strength, endurance, and flexibility a routine part of student life. By pairing statewide testing with clear award standards, protections for students with disabilities, and no grade penalties, the law encourages schools and families to prioritize training and conditioning rather than sedentary habits, aligning with MAHA’s goal of reversing obesity and metabolic disease through daily movement. The requirement also creates a consistent fitness data stream that can be used to evaluate the impact of other MAHA‑aligned reforms, like better school food and expanded recess.