Representative Scott Cepicky moves bill to legalize one-time transfers for school athletes to next year’s calendar

Representative Scott Cepicky (Photo by the Tennessee General Assembly)

Representative Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, made what may be considered a surprising move Thursday and asked that the House move discussion of his bill to legalize a one-time transfer rule for high school athletes to its first session in 2026.

The measure would allow a student to transfer to another school without losing athletic eligibility provided the sending school does not attest the transfer was due to athletic or disciplinary reasons. The bill would put into law a move made by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) in March on an 8 to 5 vote to allow such transfers. Under previous TSSAA rules, students could not transfer to another school in a different zone for one calendar year from their last varsity game unless they had a bona fide change of address.

Cepicky told lawmakers on the House floor that he believes his bill is the only reason the TSSAA approved the one-time transfer. He says association leaders broke multiple promises to approve a change earlier in the year and only made the change in March when the bill advanced through a House subcommittee.

“The very next day I get a phone call from TSSAA saying Scott we passed a one-time transfer, withdraw your bill. I’ve been up here for seven years with you, I’m not that naïve,” said Cepicky.

The legislation passed the State Senate earlier this month but Cepicky said other lawmakers have asked that he pause the bill this year following the TSSAA’s decision.

House members granted Cepicky’s request for a pause until next year which he says will allow lawmakers the ability to monitor any future decisions the TSSAA might make.

“I filed this legislation back in November and when I did, it was to help our athletes who are a part of the school choice bill that we were going to pass in January, to have the opportunity to transfer and still have maintain their athletic eligibility and not have to give up 25 percent of their athletic career,” said Cepicky on the House floor before asking to move the legislation. “But out of respect for members here and the movement that they’ve (TSSAA) made, I want to make sure that we are able to watch them for the next year and when we come back here next year if they have monkeyed with this thing to hurt our athletes, I’m going to ask for your support next year that we come back and we tell TSSAA no, the General Assembly is going to stand with their athletes and make sure that they give them the opportunity that they’re entitled to.”