Image Credit: Say Yes To Recess
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
An effort by Clarksville moms has born great fruit as a bill increasing required physical activity times for elementary students has passed both the House and Senate and will now head to the Governor to sign into law.
Originally spurred by a few local moms petitioning the Clarksville Montgomery County School Board, the group was dubbed the “Recess Moms” as they organized efforts to get their kids moving more during the school day. Using scientific and research-based evidence of the benefits of increased physical activity, they won the support of the Clarksville School Board who voted to increase recess times from 15 or 20 minutes to 30 minutes a day.
Capitalizing on the momentum of their local success, the Recess Moms took their crusade statewide, launching the group “Say Yes To Recess”, which now boasts chapters across multiple states, and working with state lawmakers to craft legislation to benefit kids across Tennessee.
Per Rep. Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka-District 64) in his House floor introduction, HB0085 will take the current recess requirements for elementary school students from 15 minutes per day to 40 minutes as more physical activity will help, “combat childhood obesity, learn better skills on the playground of socializing with their peers, lead to less disruptions in the classroom, and the data suggests more recess will get us better academic results in our elementary schools.”
The only discussion on the bill was Rep. Lee Reeve’s (R-Franklin-District 65) sharing that his nine-year-old son who, “doesn’t know a thing about what I do up here, but he does know about the recess bill, and he’s looking forward to getting it passed.”
The final vote was a unanimous 95-0, one of the few bills to have experienced such strong bipartisan support this session.
The Senate companion, SB0158, carried by Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald-District 28), experienced similar support as Senators spoke in favor of the bill, which passed 28-1. The single dissenting vote came from Republican Senator Todd Gardenhire.
Rachel Bush, an original Recess Mom and founding member of Say Yes To Recess, provided The Tennessee Conservative with a comment on the bill’s passage, saying, “We are absolutely thrilled for all the children who will benefit from this important legislation. We’re incredibly grateful to the parents, community members, and advocates who helped amplify our voices. This decision not only supports children’s physical health, but also contributes to their mental well-being and improves learning retention. We extend our sincere thanks to the legislators who listened and voted in support of this vital cause.”
But the team also believes the work is not over yet. “We recognize that adjusting school schedules can be challenging, but it’s absolutely doable. We’re asking districts to rethink long, uninterrupted blocks of instruction, particularly in the early grades. Expecting young kids to sit still for 90 minutes without a break is simply not developmentally appropriate. Kids need time to move and recharge—not just for their well-being, but for better learning. We strongly support academics, but more classroom time doesn’t guarantee better test scores. In fact, research shows the opposite: balanced schedules that include adequate breaks lead to stronger academic outcomes. It’s about quality over quantity. We encourage parents to stay involved with their counties and continue being a positive force in this movement,” Rachel championed.
With full support from both chambers of the General Assembly, the bill now awaits Governor Lee’s signature to officially change the law, set to take effect July 1, 2025.
Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
