HB 952, the "Small Business Growth and Empowerment Act," creates tax credits for small businesses that hire locally or provide workforce training, and establishes grants for minority-owned and women-owned businesses in underserved areas. The bill authorizes a dedicated fund (managed by the Department of Economic and Community Development) to provide grants for activities like site development, infrastructure, training, and technology improvements that directly support these businesses. Grants must be used in underserved communities - defined as areas with historical barriers to capital, such as rural or inner-city neighborhoods - and recipients must be local governments, economic development organizations, or nonprofits. The fund requires quarterly public reporting of grant recipients, amounts, and project descriptions to ensure transparency. This legislation directly affects small businesses, minority/women business owners, and communities seeking economic development resources.
HB 1155 would ban the sale, distribution, and import of cell-cultured food products (like lab-grown meat or seafood made from animal cells without slaughter) in Tennessee. It directly affects businesses producing, importing, or selling these products within the state, including food manufacturers and retailers. Key provisions include a $1 million fine per violation, potential revocation of food business permits, and a process where the commissioner must issue a written notice with a 10-day hearing window before penalties apply. The law requires the Department of Agriculture to create implementing rules and takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 1175 requires Tennessee's Department of Education to publish annually on its website, by July 31, a list of school districts designated as "high performing" for the upcoming school year. The list must include each district's current designation status and the duration they will maintain that status before needing to requalify under the existing criteria. This bill directly affects Tennessee public school districts that receive high-performing designations, adding a transparency requirement for how long their status will last. The law does not change the criteria for high-performing status but mandates public disclosure of the designation timeline.
SB 1163 requires Tennessee school districts (LEAs) and public charter schools to include at least two hours annually of evidence-based training in positive behavioral interventions, conflict prevention, de-escalation, and conflict management within their staff behavior intervention programs. This replaces previous voluntary language with a mandatory requirement, directly affecting all K-12 school staff in Tennessee. The training hours may count toward existing annual in-service training requirements. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49, Section 49-10-1304, and would take effect July 1, 2025.
HB 75 allows Tennessee students to use scores from the Classic Learning Test (CLT) instead of or alongside the ACT or SAT to qualify for state lottery-funded scholarships and college admissions. It directly affects Tennessee students seeking financial aid for higher education, public colleges and universities, and the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation. The bill amends multiple sections of state law to replace "ACT or SAT" with "ACT, SAT, or CLT" for scholarship eligibility requirements and college admissions standards. It also requires the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation to provide students with CLT testing dates when sharing scholarship information. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 471 requires individuals acting as agents for governments of China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran to register with the Tennessee Ethics Commission. It also mandates registration for political organizations receiving funding from these foreign entities. Registration involves disclosing detailed information about the agent's business, funding sources, and political activities. The law aims to increase transparency about foreign influence in Tennessee politics, specifically for activities related to state policies or elections.
HB 993 amends Tennessee law to change the composition of industrial development corporation boards. It removes a restriction preventing county officers from serving on these boards and requires the county assessor of property and county trustee to be added as ex-officio, non-voting members. This change directly affects county officials who will now automatically serve on these boards, aligning their membership with their elected terms. The bill does not alter the corporations' economic development functions but specifies who must be included on their governing boards. The amendment takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 912 deletes outdated sections (c)-(h) from Tennessee's school grading system implementation law (TCA § 49-1-228). This bill directly affects the administrative framework for school grading by removing obsolete language that no longer applies. The key mechanism is a simple deletion of specific legal provisions without creating new requirements or changing how schools are graded. It is a procedural update to streamline existing law, not a policy change. The bill does not alter school grading standards or affect students, schools, or educators.
HB 476 increases financial requirements for insurance companies providing workers' compensation coverage in Tennessee. It raises the mandatory bond amount from $50,000 to $100,000 and the alternative deposit amount from $100,000 to $200,000 with the Labor Commissioner. These changes apply specifically to insurers operating in Tennessee's workers' compensation market and take effect January 1, 2026. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections related to insurance regulation (Title 50, Section 50-6-404).
HB 1121 amends Tennessee's financial aid law to expand eligibility for dual enrollment grants, allowing sophomores in high school to qualify if admitted to a postsecondary institution. Previously, only juniors and seniors were eligible, but this bill adds sophomores to the qualifying student categories. The change affects high school students seeking to take college courses while still enrolled in high school through dual enrollment programs. The amendment takes effect July 1, 2025, and updates Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 4.
HB 982 raises the maximum dollar amount for civil cases handled by Tennessee's general sessions courts from $25,000 to $50,000. This change directly affects individuals and small businesses filing civil lawsuits under $50,000, allowing them to resolve disputes in lower-level courts instead of higher courts. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 16-15-501(d)(1) and takes effect July 1, 2025.
This bill requires individuals under domestic violence protection orders who transfer firearms to a third party (not prohibited from owning guns) to list the third party's name and full address on the firearms dispossession form. It also mandates that the third party sign the form to confirm receipt of the firearms. The changes apply specifically to cases where firearms are transferred rather than surrendered to law enforcement. The bill aims to create a clear, documented record of firearm transfers in domestic violence cases to enhance safety transparency. (Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6)
