Tennessee Bills

SB 1800 requires Tennessee's cosmetology and barber licensing boards to assign unique student identification numbers instead of Social Security Numbers (SSNs) for tracking instructional hours. It directly affects cosmetology and barber students, instructors, and applicants who need to document training hours before taking exams or receiving licenses. The key provision prohibits using SSNs as public-facing identifiers on forms or reports, mandating the use of the new student ID system throughout the licensing process. This change applies specifically to filings under Titles 62, Chapters 3 and 4 of Tennessee law, aiming to reduce public exposure of sensitive SSN data.

HB 1758 (Tennessee) amends school bus driver medical requirements by allowing drivers to choose between an annual physical/mental exam or annually verifying they hold a valid Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) medical certificate proving they are medically qualified to operate commercial vehicles. This directly affects school bus drivers and local school boards in Tennessee, which must now accept either the traditional exam or the FMCSA certificate as proof of medical fitness. The key provision replaces the current mandatory annual physical exam requirement with an alternative verification method using existing federal medical certification. The bill updates Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49 and Title 55, to align with this change in verification process.

HB 2107 would require the Tennessee Board of Nursing to deny a nursing license or refuse renewal if the applicant or licensee has a recent conviction for specific alcohol-related offenses that caused injury to another person. This applies to convictions within five years for offenses like DUI causing injury, vehicular assault, or vehicular homicide when alcohol concentration was at least twice the legal limit. The bill establishes a "rebuttable presumption" of denial, meaning the board must deny the license unless the applicant provides evidence to overcome this rule. If the board approves the license despite these conditions, it must provide written reasons for its decision.

HB 2236 creates Tennessee's "First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program," administered by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. It provides up to $20,000 in assistance to qualifying first-time homebuyers for down payments, closing costs, or permanent interest rate reductions on qualifying mortgage loans for homes priced at or below $450,000. Homebuyers must use the funds within 60 days of purchase, and if they sell or refinance before their mortgage term ends, they must repay 50% of their home equity gain or the assistance amount, whichever is lower. The program applies only to homes in Tennessee that meet specific ownership and construction criteria. The bill is currently pending review by the Cities & Counties Subcommittee.

HB 2340 encourages Tennessee municipalities to study housing affordability and inventory by requiring them to: (1) conduct a detailed housing stock inventory, (2) assess current/future housing needs based on demographics and income gaps, and (3) create a pre-approved "pattern book" of medium-density housing designs. This pattern book would include standardized floor plans, building layouts, and streamlined permit processes for "missing middle" housing - mid-sized developments between single-family homes and large apartment buildings (under 12 units). The bill directly affects local governments and developers by aiming to make housing construction more efficient and affordable within existing neighborhoods. It does not mandate adoption but provides a framework for communities to address housing shortages through planning. The bill is currently pending committee review in the Tennessee General Assembly.

SB 2400 clarifies that Tennessee's Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 does not apply to materials available through the Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL). The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 49-6-3803 and 10-1-301 to explicitly exclude TEL resources from the Act's requirements. This directly affects the TEL's digital collection, ensuring its materials (like e-books and databases) remain exempt from age-appropriate content restrictions. The key provision adds a specific exemption to the law's coverage, maintaining access to these educational resources without requiring age verification. The bill does not change the Act's application to other public or school libraries.

HB 2421 directs Tennessee's advisory commission on intergovernmental relations (TACIR) to study homelessness in the state and develop strategies to address rising homelessness. The bill requires TACIR to complete this study using existing resources and submit a final report - including any policy recommendations - to specific legislative committees and the legislative librarian by January 31, 2027. This is a procedural bill focused solely on directing a study; it does not create new laws or directly affect residents. The study aims to inform future legislative action on homelessness, but the bill itself has no immediate policy impact.

HB 2325 sets maximum property tax rates for Tennessee counties and municipalities. It caps county property tax rates at $3.00 per $100 of assessed value and municipal rates at $2.50 per $100. These limits will take effect January 1, 2027, and apply to all local governments setting property tax rates. The bill directly affects county and municipal governments by restricting their authority to set higher tax rates. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 5, to establish these specific rate caps.

HB 2235, the "Tennessee Fair Chance Housing Act," prohibits housing providers (like landlords, property managers, and real estate agents) from discriminating against applicants based solely on criminal history. It establishes time limits: housing providers can only consider misdemeanor convictions within the past 3 years and felony convictions within the past 10 years. For sex offense convictions, providers must conduct an individualized assessment to determine if there's a direct safety risk before denying housing. The bill also bans questions about arrests that didn't result in conviction and requires written evaluations considering factors like rehabilitation efforts and the nature of the offense.

SB 2667 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to study whether to create a licensure program for physicians who have graduated from medical school, passed the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE), but haven't completed residency training. The report, due by January 1, 2027, would examine if such physicians could practice medicine under a formal supervision agreement with a licensed doctor. This would directly affect medical graduates without residency who seek to provide care in Tennessee. The bill does not create the program but directs a feasibility study to inform future policy decisions.

HB 2556 increases the required residency and practice period for dental hygienists appointed to Tennessee's Board of Dentistry. Specifically, it raises the minimum requirement from five years to six years of living and working in Tennessee prior to appointment. This change applies only to dental hygienist members appointed on or after July 1, 2026. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 63-5-103(a)(2) and related provisions in Titles 4, 56, 63, 68, and 71. It directly affects future dental hygienist appointees to the state dental board.

SB 2298 prohibits school boards and public charter school governing bodies from removing library materials during evaluation. The bill requires materials to remain in school libraries until an evaluation determines if they are appropriate for students' age and maturity and consistent with the school's educational mission. This applies to all public schools in Tennessee and takes effect on July 1, 2026. The law prevents premature removal while evaluations are ongoing, ensuring decisions are made after full review.