Under a new law, all Tennessee high schools will be required to have devices on hand to address cardiac arrest emergencies. Governor Bill Lee and National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell praised the law during an event at Pearl-Cohn High School. The law mandates that automated external defibrillators be placed within 1,000 feet of any high school sports activity in the state. Schools must also maintain an athletic emergency plan for serious medical events, aligning with an NFL initiative to prevent sudden cardiac arrest deaths among high school athletes.
Tennessee is now one of 14 states to adopt all three policies recommended by the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, including accessible AEDs, emergency action plans, and CPR/AED training for coaches. Another law signed by Governor Lee signals a potential bid by Tennessee to host a Super Bowl at the new Titans stadium once completed. This law allows the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development to keep some public records secret if they are “sensitive” to protect negotiations for large events. While Governor Lee has not officially pitched hosting a Super Bowl to the NFL, he has expressed a desire to work together on the possibility.
Governor Lee has been advocating for hosting a Super Bowl in Tennessee since he took office. With the new stadium being constructed, there is increased optimism about the city’s potential to host the major event. While open government advocates have raised concerns about the secrecy allowed under the new law, Governor Lee remains hopeful and vocal about the prospect of bringing the Super Bowl to Tennessee.