Tennessee Bills

SB 1979 requires all Tennessee public schools and charter schools to administer the Presidential Fitness Test annually to assess students' strength, endurance, and flexibility. The bill mandates that schools provide accommodations for students with IEPs or 504 plans, prohibits using test results for grading, and requires the state education department to report participation and award data by grade level and disability status. Schools must notify students and families 30 days before testing begins, following guidelines from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. This law directly affects every K-12 student in Tennessee public schools and their educational institutions.

SB 1573 amends Tennessee's assisted suicide law to criminalize intentionally advising or encouraging another person to commit suicide within an imminent timeframe, provided the advisor knows the person has communicated suicidal intent. This directly affects individuals who verbally encourage suicide, expanding the offense beyond merely providing means or participating in the act. Key provisions require both knowledge of the person's suicidal intent and the intent to incite immediate suicide, with sentencing set as a Class D felony (Class C if the victim is a minor). The law takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to acts committed on or after that date.

HB 1837, titled the "Tennessee Private Property Vesting Rights of 2026," entitles property owners to just compensation from public entities when land use regulations (like zoning or development rules) reduce a property’s fair market value. It applies to owners of real property acquired after the regulation’s enactment, requiring public entities to pay compensation equal to the value loss upon written demand. Key exclusions include regulations protecting public health/safety (e.g., fire codes), federal compliance, or common law nuisances, with the public entity bearing the burden to prove exemptions. Owners must file claims within three years of the regulation’s enactment or a related land use application, and can seek attorney fees if compensation isn’t paid within 90 days of demand.

SB 1810 requires businesses and public entities accepting cash payments to round transactions to the nearest nickel when exact change isn't available, directly affecting retailers, service providers, and government offices handling cash. It specifies that amounts ending in 1-2 cents or 5-6 cents round down, while 3-4 cents or 7-9 cents round up, using the hundredths place to determine the rounding point. The rule applies only to cash transactions, excluding electronic payments and mixed-tender payments (where only the cash portion is rounded). It explicitly preserves exact sales tax calculations and does not alter non-cash payment systems or tax remittance requirements.

SB 2099 establishes Tennessee's statewide "Court Appearance Reminder Program" to reduce missed court appearances. It requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to automatically send free text, email, or mail reminders (at least three total, including one the day before) to defendants with upcoming out-of-custody criminal or traffic court dates. The program must use plain language, include court details and consequences of missing, allow opt-out, and provide post-missed-appearance guidance. It includes strict privacy protections (contact info cannot be used for investigations or bail decisions) and mandates data collection to evaluate effectiveness.

SJR 620 proposes a constitutional amendment to Tennessee's Article I, prohibiting the state from forcing any person to undergo medical treatment - even during a declared emergency. It defines "medical treatment" broadly to include procedures, drugs, vaccinations, or other interventions for diagnosing or treating physical or mental conditions. The amendment would require due process before any medical intervention, while allowing the Tennessee General Assembly to pass laws to implement this protection. This change would directly affect all Tennessee residents by restricting state-mandated medical actions.

SB 1971 requires federal immigration officers to obtain a judicial warrant before entering private business locations in Tennessee, such as offices or factories not open to the public. It prohibits state and local agencies from assisting with immigration enforcement without a warrant, including sharing employee records or allowing access to non-public areas. Business owners and employees cannot be penalized for refusing entry without a warrant, and evidence gathered unlawfully is inadmissible in state courts. The law specifically applies to private workplace areas, leaving federal enforcement with valid warrants unaffected.

HB 1629 would amend Tennessee law to designate February of each year as "Tennessee Songwriters Month," recognizing songwriters' contributions to the state's musical heritage. This symbolic designation, added to state code, requires the state to formally observe this month annually without creating new legal obligations or benefits. The bill affects no specific individuals or entities, as it solely establishes a commemorative observance in the state's calendar.

SJR 614 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Tennessee's General Assembly to direct the state lottery entity to develop and operate specific lottery games whose revenue is exclusively dedicated to funding veterans' services. This would amend Article XI, Section 5 of the Tennessee Constitution to create a new, dedicated funding stream for veterans' programs, separate from current lottery revenue allocations. The amendment requires approval by the legislature and then by voters to become part of the state constitution.

HB 1766 requires fiduciaries (like guardians or conservators) managing the affairs of a person with a disability to include the date of their last contact with that person in their annual court reports. This change applies to all guardianship and conservatorship cases overseen by Tennessee courts. The bill mandates that these reports also state whether the person still needs the fiduciary's services, without disclosing confidential medical details. The requirement takes effect on July 1, 2026.

SB 2142 deletes an outdated requirement that previously mandated three Tennessee state agencies - the administrative office of the courts, department of children's services, and commission on children and youth - to jointly submit a report on juvenile justice data collection by January 1, 2019. This procedural bill removes a statute from Tennessee law that had no current application, as the reporting deadline passed years ago. The change affects only the agencies previously required to submit the report, with no new obligations or policy changes. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and is a routine cleanup of obsolete legal language.

SB 2056 creates a new criminal court (designated as "Part IX") in Tennessee's 30th judicial district, effective September 1, 2026. The governor will appoint a judge to serve until September 2028, after which voters in the district will elect a judge in the August 2028 general election for an eight-year term. This change directly affects residents of the 30th judicial district by expanding criminal court capacity and altering the election timeline for that specific court position. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 16, Chapter 2, to establish this new court structure and its appointment/election process.