Tennessee Bills

SB 2245 shortens the deadline for the executive director to certify nursing board officers to 15 days after elections or vacancies, down from 30 days. This directly affects the executive director’s office and the Board of Nursing by requiring faster processing of appointments and vacancies. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections related to nursing governance to implement this timeline change. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 2307, known as "The Frank J. Lake III Act," requires assisted-care living facilities in Tennessee to notify all residents or their representatives if the facility contacts the long-term care ombudsman. It also mandates the state health facilities commission to post a specific notice on its website when a facility is placed on probation or if disciplinary action is pending, clarifying that the notice does not admit any deficiency. Additionally, facilities must provide residents with a website link showing their current licensure status and any history of disciplinary actions before admission or contract signing. These provisions aim to increase transparency about facility oversight for residents and their families.

HB 2609 amends Tennessee's digital driver license law to clarify that participants must report lost or stolen electronic devices to the Department of Safety, not to another entity. This change directly affects individuals enrolled in Tennessee's digital driver license system. The bill modifies the existing requirement to specify "to the department" in the reporting process, ensuring clear communication with the responsible agency. (Procedural bill; summary focuses on the specific legal clarification.)

SB 2460 requires Tennessee's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to include the legislative librarian in its quarterly reports about mental health accommodations. These reports must detail the implementation and impact of available accommodations, including the number and duration of delayed admissions at state-run hospitals and treatment facilities. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (Titles 33, 4, 52, 63, and 68) to update reporting requirements. It directly affects the department's reporting process and ensures the legislative librarian receives these reports.

SB 2170 requires county workhouse wardens to submit monthly reports to the sentencing judge about prisoners in work release programs. The reports, due by the 15th of each month, must detail each prisoner's conduct and financial achievements during the previous month. This bill directly affects county workhouses, wardens, and judges who oversee criminal sentences, updating Tennessee law (TCA Titles 5, 40, and 41) to mandate this judicial reporting. The key provision shifts reporting responsibility from previous entities to the sentencing judge, enhancing direct oversight of work release participants.

SB 2182 requires court clerks to provide the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) with a written notification about the final outcome of criminal cases involving violent felonies when a DNA sample was collected. This applies specifically to cases where a person has been charged with a violent felony and a biological specimen (like a DNA swab) was taken for analysis. The bill amends existing law to change the notification method from unspecified formats to a mandatory written submission, ensuring the TBI receives consistent, documented updates. The TBI uses this information to maintain its DNA database for law enforcement purposes, such as matching DNA evidence to unsolved cases.

HB 2198, the "DEI Compliance Certification Act," requires Tennessee state departments, agencies, and public universities to annually report and certify compliance with state laws prohibiting specific diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. It defines DEI broadly to include policies based on concepts like race or sex superiority, historical racism, or mandatory identity-based discrimination, and mandates that agencies remove such practices. Each state entity must submit a January 31 report detailing DEI removal efforts and provide a sworn certification of compliance to the governor and legislature. Failure to comply risks funding loss, reorganization, or termination, with enforcement handled by the Attorney General through annual investigations and reports.

SB 2290 simplifies probate for small estates in Tennessee by allowing individuals to handle the process without a lawyer if the estate consists solely of life insurance policies (totaling $15,000 or less) intended for the decedent's burial, funeral, or final expenses. The bill requires courts to provide a standard form for these filings and clarifies that filers act as individuals - not legal representatives - to settle priority debts. This change reduces administrative barriers and costs for families managing minimal estate assets. It directly affects residents handling small estates with life insurance policies as the sole asset.

SB 2516 encourages Tennessee municipalities to study local housing needs and adopt standardized design guides for medium-density housing (such as townhouses or small apartment buildings). It requires cities to inventory housing stock, assess affordability gaps between household income and housing costs, and create "pattern books" with pre-approved designs and streamlined permitting processes. These pattern books would help developers build more housing options without altering neighborhood character by providing clear, approved layouts. The bill applies to all Tennessee cities and towns that choose to participate in these planning efforts.

HB 2238 requires Tennessee's Secretary of State to place a specific ballot question on the 2026 November general election ballot asking voters: "Should the State of Tennessee legalize the sale, possession, and use of medical cannabis?" This directly affects all Tennessee voters in the 2026 election, as the question would appear on their ballot with "YES" or "NO" options. The bill mandates the Secretary of State to compile and submit the results to the General Assembly, but explicitly states these results are non-binding. The legislation does not change current law but creates a voter referendum process to gauge public opinion on medical cannabis legalization.

SB 2243 shortens the timeframe for Tennessee's Board of Physician Assistants to review licensure applications from out-of-state applicants. It reduces the decision period from 45 to 35 days for applicants already licensed in another state. This change directly affects physician assistants seeking to practice in Tennessee who hold credentials from other jurisdictions. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to applications submitted on or after that date.

SB 2244 increases the required residency and practice period for dental hygienist members appointed to Tennessee's Board of Dentistry from five years to six years. This change applies to appointments made on or after July 1, 2026, directly affecting individuals seeking these board positions. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 63-5-103(a)(2) to reflect this updated requirement. It is a procedural adjustment to appointment qualifications with no broader policy impact beyond the board's membership criteria.