Tennessee Bills

HB 2133 creates the "Tennessee Secondary Aluminum Waste Management Act" to regulate disposal of aluminum recycling byproducts. It directly affects landfill operators and aluminum recycling facilities by prohibiting mixing secondary aluminum waste (like dross or furnace dust) with regular trash and requiring dedicated landfill units for this waste. The law mandates new rules for landfill permits, liner design, and environmental protection, with the Department of Environment and Conservation developing these standards. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to all such waste disposal after that date.

SB 2449 prohibits Tennessee's state board of education from requiring fully online, self-paced private schools to administer annual standardized English and math tests to all students. Instead, it directs the state board to require such private schools to administer these tests only to high school students who have completed 50% or 90% of their program (if under 18), unless they finish the full program within one year (then tested once). The bill amends Tennessee law to create this tiered testing requirement specifically for private high school programs. It takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year.

HB 2213, the "Anti-Retaliation for Reporting Unsafe Work Act," prohibits Tennessee employers from firing, demoting, or threatening to report an employee's immigration status because they reported unsafe working conditions, wage theft, or other labor violations. It directly affects workers who report workplace issues and requires employers to provide remedies like reinstatement, back pay, and punitive damages for violations. Key provisions include creating a legal cause of action for affected employees, modifying the burden of proof in retaliation cases, and allowing recovery of attorney fees. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to claims arising after that date.

HB 2513 requires certain tourism-related organizations under Tennessee's Department of Tourist Development to submit their annual audit reports to the legislative librarian, in addition to the governor and general assembly. This bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee Code (including Titles 2, 4, 5, and others) to update the reporting requirement. It directly affects organizations that prepare annual audits for the department, ensuring the legislative librarian receives these reports. The change is procedural, adding a new recipient for transparency without altering the content or purpose of the audits. The bill does not create new policy or financial obligations.

SB 1809 requires all Tennessee public school districts to provide free breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill mandates local school boards to establish these programs and directs the state to reimburse districts for meal costs after all available federal nutrition funds (like the National School Lunch Program) are applied. This applies to every student in public schools under a district's jurisdiction, with reimbursement covering costs not covered by federal programs. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49.

HB 2057 requires Tennessee social media platforms to delete all personal information linked to a user's account when that account is deleted. This applies to data collected directly through the account by the account holder or other users, but excludes de-identified data and publicly available information. The law preserves existing data deletion rules under Tennessee's Information Protection Act (TIPA) for users who don't delete accounts, and allows lawsuits for violations with potential damages, attorney fees, and injunctions. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, impacting both social media companies operating in Tennessee and their users who delete accounts.

HB 1547 requires Tennessee state and local criminal justice agencies (like police departments and courts) to share specific criminal justice data with qualified researchers. This includes personal details, demographic information, and records about stops, arrests, sentencing, and supervision programs. To qualify, researchers must have institutional review board approval, agree to use data only for research, and maintain strict security protocols to protect sensitive information. The bill does not make data publicly available but creates a formal process for researchers to access it for studies aimed at improving criminal justice outcomes. Agencies must comply by January 2027, though they may charge reasonable fees for data retrieval.

HB 1843 prohibits Tennessee utilities (electric, water, wastewater, or natural gas providers) from raising rates for customers aged 65 or older who qualify through a verification process established by the Tennessee Public Utilities Commission (TPUC). It requires the TPUC to create an age verification and notification system via rule, and mandates that utilities notify all customers about this rate cap program within 90 days of the TPUC’s final rule. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and utilities failing to comply face TPUC-imposed sanctions. This directly affects senior citizens receiving utility services across Tennessee.

HB 1923 would require new notaries in Tennessee to complete a 6-hour approved training course covering state notary laws, document authentication, and ethics, and pass a written exam administered by the Secretary of State. It also adds a county commission review step to verify applicants' character and fitness before the Secretary of State can issue a commission. The bill aims to strengthen standards for notaries following concerns about fraudulent documents, as stated in its preamble. These requirements would directly affect individuals seeking to become or renew their notary commission in Tennessee.

SB 1978 updates Tennessee's education freedom scholarship program (school vouchers) by setting new eligibility rules and oversight requirements. It limits scholarships to students from families earning no more than 300% of the income threshold for free/reduced lunch, and requires voucher students to take the same state standardized tests (TCAP) as public school peers. Private schools receiving voucher funds must undergo annual audits, disclose admissions data and test outcomes publicly, and report student progress to parents twice yearly. The bill directly affects low-income families seeking scholarships and private schools participating in the program, adding transparency and accountability measures to the existing scholarship system.

HB 1983 sets a maximum hardwater level of 180 mg/L (measured as calcium carbonate) for public water systems in Tennessee. It requires systems receiving state funds for major upgrades (costing $25,000+) after July 1, 2026, to comply with this standard upon completion. Systems affected by seasonal runoff (e.g., snowmelt) may temporarily exceed the limit if they notify authorities within 10 days, provide documentation, and submit a remediation plan - though exemptions cannot exceed 120 days annually without approval. All affected systems must monitor and report hardwater levels in annual water quality reports. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 221, Part 7, and takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1519, the "SHARE Act," requires courts to add extra fines for certain traffic violations and DUI convictions. For non-commercial vehicles, a $25 fine is added for moving traffic violations; for commercial vehicles, it's $50. DUI convictions incur an additional $100 fine, which replaces any separate moving violation fine. All collected fines go directly into the state highway fund to pay for road maintenance and infrastructure improvements on state highways and interstates. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, for offenses committed on or after that date.