Tennessee Bills

This bill allows Tennessee counties operating under the 1957 County Purchasing Law to set their own pay for the director of accounts and budgets, overriding previous restrictions. It amends state code (TCA Title 5 and Title 8) to explicitly grant county legislative bodies this authority. The change directly affects county governments using the 1957 law, giving them control over a specific staff salary decision. The policy change is limited to compensation for this single position and does not alter other county budgeting processes.

HB 2542 amends Tennessee's unemployment law (TCA § 50-7-303) by removing a requirement that claimants' gross weekly wages from new work must equal or exceed specific percentages of their highest-earning quarter during their base period. This change directly affects unemployed workers seeking benefits who accept new jobs, as it eliminates a wage threshold that previously determined if work was "suitable" for unemployment purposes. The bill deletes specific subsections (i)-(iv) and the percentage thresholds from the existing law, simplifying the criteria for determining suitable work. The policy change aims to make it easier for claimants to accept available jobs without meeting strict wage comparisons. The bill is currently pending in the Commerce Committee as of March 2026.

HB 2204 requires Tennessee's intergovernmental relations commission (TACIR) to study state and local law enforcement officers' salaries and benefits. The study will examine how current pay affects hiring, retention, and staffing - especially in smaller cities and counties - and how state pay changes influence local departments. TACIR must complete the study using existing resources and submit a report to the governor and legislature by January 31, 2027. This bill does not change pay rates but aims to provide data for future decisions about law enforcement compensation.

HB 2328 would allow Tipton County to participate in the Neighborhood Preservation Act and the Tennessee Local Land Bank Program by adjusting state law to include counties with a population between 60,900 and 61,000 (based on the 2020 census). The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 13-6-105 and 13-30-103 to add Tipton County’s specific population range as qualifying for these programs. This change directly affects Tipton County, enabling it to access state resources for neighborhood preservation and land bank initiatives. The bill does not alter the programs themselves but expands eligibility to Tipton County based on its census population. It remains under review by the State & Local Government Committee as of March 2026.

SB 2149, the "HOPE Treatment Act," creates a framework for Tennessee to fund clinical trials using ibogaine - a compound being studied for treating mental health and substance use disorders - to accelerate research into its medical potential. It allows groups of organizations (including drug developers, universities, and hospitals) to form a "cohort" and apply for state funding to conduct FDA-approved trials for conditions like opioid addiction, PTSD, depression, and traumatic brain injury. The bill requires detailed proposals covering trial design, safety protocols, participant recruitment, and aftercare plans before funding is granted. This initiative aims to advance research on ibogaine within Tennessee, aligning with broader state and federal interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies.

SB 2318 changes Tennessee law to allow private postsecondary institutions (including religiously affiliated colleges) to establish public charter schools. It removes current restrictions that prevented such institutions from becoming charter school sponsors and permits them to apply directly to local school boards or the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. The bill also allows these institutions to give enrollment preference to children of their employees or governing body members, similar to how public universities handle such preferences. This policy directly affects private colleges seeking to operate public charter schools and their employees' families.

HB 2210 requires Tennessee's Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) to provide the state legislature with specific recommendations on disaster preparedness, prevention, and mitigation. The bill directs TEMA to propose measures aimed at eliminating emergencies or reducing their impact, as well as improving disaster response capabilities. This applies directly to TEMA, which must develop these recommendations, and the General Assembly, which will review them. The bill amends existing Tennessee law (TCA Title 58) to formalize this requirement, without creating new regulations or funding. It focuses on strengthening proactive planning rather than reactive measures.

HB 2174 would allow sitting or retired chancery, circuit, appellate, or governor-appointed judges to carry firearms in any location where law enforcement officers are permitted to carry weapons. This applies only to judges who already qualify for an enhanced handgun carry permit under existing Tennessee law. The bill amends state statutes to expand judges' carry rights to match law enforcement locations, without requiring new permits. It directly affects qualified judges seeking to carry weapons in public spaces where police officers may carry. The policy change focuses solely on location permissions, not on altering permit requirements.

HB 2426 deletes two outdated provisions from Tennessee law: a 2023-2024 pilot program that awarded grant funds to five local education agencies for preschool initiatives, and a preschool task force created to develop a strategic plan by June 2024. The bill specifically removes Section 49-6-109 of Tennessee Code, which governed these expired efforts. It directly affects the five local education agencies that previously participated in the pilot program and the task force members. This is a procedural update to remove obsolete language, not a new policy change. The bill amends Titles 4 and 49 of Tennessee Code.

HB 2446 removes two specific restrictions on grants for Tennessee's volunteer fire departments. It eliminates the requirement that annual grant funds must be equally divided among the state's three grand divisions (East, Middle, West) and removes the ban on using grant money to purchase fire trucks or vehicles. This change gives local fire departments more flexibility in how they allocate funds and use them for equipment. The bill directly affects volunteer fire departments receiving state grants under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 68. The changes apply to grants awarded after June 30, 2026.

SB 2338 changes Tennessee's grant rules for volunteer fire departments by removing two specific restrictions. It eliminates the requirement to split annual grants equally among the state's three geographic regions (East, Middle, and West Tennessee) and removes the ban on using grant funds to purchase fire trucks or vehicles. These changes give fire departments more flexibility in how they allocate and use their state grant money. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Section 68-102-154, and applies to grants awarded after June 30, 2026.

HB 2640 repeals all historical legislation (from 1949 to 2023) governing Hamblen County's Highway Department and abolishes the Hamblen County Road Commission effective August 31, 2028. It replaces the commission with an elected Road Superintendent position, to be chosen by county voters every four years starting in 2028, who will manage road maintenance and construction under state highway law. The bill requires a two-thirds vote of Hamblen County's legislative body for approval before implementation. This change directly affects county road governance, ending the commission's structure while creating a new elected role for road management.