Tennessee Bills

HB 2554 shortens two certification deadlines for Tennessee's nursing board. It reduces from 30 to 15 days the timeframe for the executive director to certify newly elected board officers to the governor after elections, and to certify vacancies in board positions. This change affects the executive director's administrative duties and the governor's appointment process for the nursing board. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law (Titles 4, 7, 33, 38, 53, 55, 63, and 68) and takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 2675 exempts licensed school social workers in Tennessee from needing parental consent to provide preventative and developmental counseling to minors. The bill directly affects school social workers (licensed by the state board of education) and the students they serve in public schools. It amends Tennessee law to remove the requirement for parental consent specifically for these types of counseling services, while maintaining consent requirements for other medical or therapeutic interventions. This change applies to counseling focused on prevention and student development, not general medical treatment.

SB 2195 requires Tennessee to elect participation in a federal tax credit program that allows individuals to claim tax benefits for donations to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). The bill directs the Tennessee Department of Education to annually publish a list of qualifying SGOs operating in the state and submit this list to the federal government by January 1 each year. This enables Tennessee residents who contribute to approved SGOs to claim the federal tax credit for scholarship donations. The law applies directly to Tennessee taxpayers making qualifying scholarship contributions and aligns the state with federal requirements under Section 70411 of the federal law.

HB 2132 requires all newly installed public storm drains and culverts built after July 1, 2026, to have safety covers if openings are large enough for a child to fall into (typically exceeding 12 inches in diameter). It directly affects municipalities, counties, and contractors working on public infrastructure projects funded by state or local governments. The bill mandates covers must be durable, secure against removal, and designed to prevent child entry while allowing proper drainage. These requirements apply to all new installations under public works contracts, with implementation rules to be developed by the state department.

HB 2575, known as the "Reckless Bullet Prevention Act," makes it a Class A misdemeanor to recklessly discharge a firearm into the air, ground, water, or nearby objects when people are present. It directly affects anyone who discharges a firearm carelessly in public or populated areas, with specific exceptions for law enforcement, military personnel, hunters, and self-defense scenarios. The bill requires all handgun safety courses to include instruction on this new offense starting July 1, 2026, and applies to actions occurring on or after that date. Key exceptions cover official duties, wildlife control, and defense against animal attacks.

HB 2306 prevents homeowners' associations from enforcing rules that block licensed family or group child care homes in residential properties, as long as the provider has the required state license and local permits. It also prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to tenants operating licensed child care homes in residential dwellings. The law makes such restrictions invalid and allows providers to seek actual damages plus up to $1,000 in punitive damages if HOAs or landlords violate it. This affects child care providers, homeowners' associations, and landlords across Tennessee, applying to new HOA rules and rental agreements after the law takes effect.

HB 2168 amends Tennessee's public records law to require disclosure of specific information related to carrying out a death sentence. It makes the names of individuals directly involved in executions, the identity of suppliers providing execution drugs, and records of payments to suppliers or contractors public. However, it protects sensitive personal details like addresses, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers of supplier employees. The bill aims to increase transparency in execution processes while maintaining safeguards for private information.

SB 2448, the "Tennessee Career Readiness Enhancement Act," requires public high schools (grades 11-12) to integrate free, nationally recognized career readiness tools into at least one career technical education course starting in 2026-2027. These tools provide stackable credentials in soft skills, employability, and digital literacy, with students earning up to three elective credits or a $100 micro-grant for obtaining three credentials. The bill mandates teacher training on these tools, establishes a pilot program (2027-2028) to gather employer feedback on credential relevance, and requires annual reporting of credential data by school district and student demographics. It directly affects Tennessee high schools, students, and local businesses through workforce-aligned education pathways.

SB 2379, the "Reckless Bullet Prevention Act," makes it a Class A misdemeanor to recklessly fire a gun into the air, ground, water, or nearby objects where people might be present. It directly affects individuals who discharge firearms in public or crowded areas, with specific exceptions for law enforcement, military personnel, hunters, and self-defense situations. The bill requires all state-approved handgun safety courses to include instruction on this offense starting July 1, 2026. It does not apply to activities like hunting during open seasons, shooting at licensed ranges, or defensive use against animal attacks.

HB 2576 removes an outdated billing requirement in Tennessee law that previously restricted reimbursement for certain medical tests (anatomic pathology services) to only gastroenterologists' billing after July 1, 2014. This technical amendment updates multiple sections of the Tennessee Code (Titles 8, 47, 56, 63, 68, and 71) to eliminate the obsolete reference, which no longer applied to any current billing practices. The change directly affects healthcare providers who bill for these services, removing a redundant rule that was no longer relevant. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment, streamlining billing regulations without creating new requirements or impacting patient care.

HB 2555 shortens the timeline for Tennessee's Board of Physician Assistants to process license applications from out-of-state applicants. It reduces the processing deadline from 45 to 35 days for decisions or requests for additional information. This change directly affects physician assistants licensed in other states seeking to practice in Tennessee. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to applications submitted on or after that date.

HB 2610, titled the "Restoring State Sovereignty Through Nullification Act," proposes a process for Tennessee's legislature to declare federal statutes, regulations, executive orders, or agency actions unconstitutional and null within the state. It claims such federal actions exceed constitutional limits - arguing only Congress holds lawmaking power under the U.S. Constitution - and would establish specific steps for the General Assembly to issue these nullification declarations. As a procedural measure, the bill does not directly affect residents but would create a state-level mechanism to challenge federal actions. The bill is currently under review by the State & Local Government Committee.