Tennessee Bills

SB 2509, the "Tennessee Child Care Red Tape Reduction Act," requires local governments to expedite child care agency permit applications (processing complete applications within 90 days) and gives the state fire marshal exclusive authority to conduct fire safety inspections for licensing, replacing duplicate local inspections. It establishes statewide uniform fire safety standards, prohibits local governments from imposing additional fire safety requirements beyond these standards, and allows child care agencies to operate as "use by right" in most commercial and residential zones without special permits. The bill directly affects child care providers (who face fewer delays and standardized inspections), local governments (which must adjust permitting processes), and the state fire marshal (which gains oversight responsibility). Key changes include mandatory 5-day initial review timelines for permits, a 30-day deadline for fire inspections, and banning local inspections that duplicate state requirements.

HB 2491 eliminates fraud and economic crimes fees in Tennessee counties that have implemented a $12.50 court cost. It requires district attorneys to return existing funds collected under those fees to the original county government once the new $12.50 court cost fund balances equal the old fraud fund. The bill directly affects counties using the $12.50 fee and district attorney offices holding these funds. It changes how criminal prosecution funding is allocated by redirecting resources back to local governments when the new system meets the old fund's balance.

HB 2277 requires all Tennessee public schools to annually report every local assessment they administer - including its purpose, subject, grade level, and schedule - to the state education department. This bill eliminates schools' ability to use non-state universal screeners (like reading assessments) and mandates they use only the state-provided Tennessee universal reading screener for K-3 students. The department must create an online database showing all local assessments by school, grade, and subject, making the data publicly accessible before each school year. It also establishes an assessment review board of nine classroom teachers to evaluate the state’s TCAP tests. The bill directly affects every public school and charter school in Tennessee.

SB 2228 modifies Tennessee's education laws by ending the Dyslexia Advisory Council and directing the existing Advisory Council for Students with Disabilities to handle dyslexia-related matters. It also terminates the Energy Efficient Schools Council and creates a new Office of Energy Efficient Schools within the Department of Education. The bill expands eligibility for individualized education accounts, which allow families to use public funds for approved educational services. These changes affect students with dyslexia or disabilities, families using education accounts, and the Department of Education's administrative structure, while amending multiple education-related statutes.

HB 2485 updates Tennessee's definition of "economically disadvantaged" students to include those directly certified for free school meals (without household applications) and students from households receiving SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, or Medicaid benefits. This change affects school districts (LEAs) receiving state education funding under the TISA formula, as it alters how student need is measured for allocation purposes. The bill requires the state to provide additional funds to any district whose TISA allocation decreases due to fewer identified disadvantaged students under the new definition, ensuring funding levels match prior years for the 2027-2028 school year through 2029-2030. It also mandates the state seek federal approval to update its ESSA plan to align with this revised definition.

HB 2110 removes the licensing requirement from Tennessee health facilities for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) machines when used **exclusively for non-diagnostic purposes** (such as research or wellness programs, not medical diagnosis). This change directly affects healthcare facilities operating these machines without diagnostic use, exempting them from oversight by the Health Facilities Commission. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 68-11-204(a) and related titles to explicitly exclude non-diagnostic MRI/PET from licensing rules. The policy takes effect July 1, 2026, streamlining regulations for non-diagnostic medical imaging services.

HB 2530 transfers oversight of land surveyors from the state board of examiners for land surveyors to the state board of examiners for architects and engineers. It removes the registration requirement for interior designers and eliminates a funding mechanism that previously allocated contractor licensing fees to the Go Build Tennessee Act. These changes affect land surveyors, interior designers, and contractor licensing programs by altering regulatory oversight and financial provisions. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections related to occupational licensing boards, streamlining oversight for certain professions.

HB 2402 requires Tennessee local government chief executives (like mayors or county commissioners) to order all flags at public buildings to fly at half-mast for at least one day whenever a first responder from their local emergency management agency dies in the line of duty. This bill amends Tennessee law to establish this mandatory flag protocol for such deaths, directly affecting all local governments with emergency management agencies. The key provision specifies that the half-mast display must occur for a minimum of one full day following the death of a qualifying first responder. The bill focuses solely on this ceremonial recognition, with no other policy changes or funding provisions.

HB 2507 changes the deadline for metropolitan airport authority presidents to submit their annual operating budget to the board for approval. Instead of submitting at least 60 days before the fiscal year begins, they must now submit it 75 days in advance. This amendment to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 42, affects airport authorities across the state by providing the governing board with additional time to review budgets before the fiscal year starts. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 2173 requires the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's executive director to post a list of off-highway vehicle (OHV) areas on the Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission's website. The list must include each area's acreage and estimated trail length. This bill directly affects OHV users and the agency by making location and trail information publicly accessible online. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 70, Chapter 9, to standardize this disclosure without changing OHV usage rules. The bill is pending in the Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee.

SB 2403 requires Tennessee public schools to annually report all local assessments (including purpose, subject, grade level, and administration schedule) to the state Department of Education. This information must be published online for public access by July 2027, allowing parents and students to compare assessments across schools. The bill eliminates schools' ability to use non-state universal reading screeners for kindergarten through third grade, mandating instead the state-provided Tennessee universal reading screener. Additionally, it creates an Assessment Review Board of nine classroom teachers to evaluate the state's assessment program tests from the previous school year.

HB 2196 authorizes Putnam County and its incorporated cities (with specific population ranges) to regulate sober living homes for substance abuse recovery, provided rules comply with the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act. The bill amends Tennessee law to define eligible local governments based on 2020 census population thresholds (county: 366,200-366,300; cities: 79,800-79,900). It directly affects sober living homes operating in Putnam County and its cities by establishing their regulatory framework. The key provision ensures local regulations cannot violate federal civil rights protections for residents seeking recovery housing.