Medical Occupations - As enacted, enacts the "Tennessee K-9 Emergency Medical Care and Transport Act." - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 2; Title 44, Chapter 17; Title 63, Chapter 12 and Title 68, Chapter 140.
SB 2069, the "Tennessee K-9 Emergency Medical Care and Transport Act," allows emergency medical personnel (like ambulance crews) to provide immediate care and transport to injured police, military, or search-and-rescue dogs ("canine first responders") that are working under authorized officers. The bill requires specific training for EMS staff and establishes licensed veterinarians as "emergency veterinary medicine service directors" to oversee care. It grants legal immunity to EMS personnel acting in good faith to treat or transport these dogs, provided no human patient requires urgent transport at the time. This law directly affects K-9 units and EMS providers by creating a formal pathway for canine emergency care within existing emergency response protocols.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Feb 2, 2026
Signed Apr 16, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
24
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Apr 16, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Apr 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Apr 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 2, 2026
Amended
Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0724)
lower
Apr 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed H., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0757)
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 31, Nays 0
upper
Mar 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 1 PNV 0
upper
Mar 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/17/2026
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/17/2026
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/16/2026
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Bo Watson
RRepublican
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