Tennessee Bills

SB 2561 changes the annual report deadline for Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation commissioner. Specifically, it moves the submission date from January 31 to January 15 each year to the chairs of the Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4 and Title 69, solely to adjust this procedural deadline. No new policies or funding are affected - this is a straightforward calendar change to the reporting requirement.

SB 2518 changes the deadline for Tennessee's Department of Transportation to submit its annual report on transportation modernization fund projects. Instead of submitting the report by January 1 each year, the department must now submit it by February 15. This procedural change affects the Department of Transportation and the specified legislative committees (Senate Transportation and Safety Committee, House Transportation Committee) that receive the report. The bill amends relevant sections of Tennessee law to reflect this new deadline.

SB 2294 amends Tennessee boating law to increase the minimum safe distance from docks or boat ramps for jet boats carrying passengers for hire. The bill raises the required distance from 50 feet to 75 feet before such boats may exceed no-wake speed. This change directly affects commercial jet boat operators transporting passengers, requiring them to maintain greater separation from shore access points. The amendment modifies Tennessee Code Annotated Title 69, Section 69-9-218(a)(3), to implement this safety adjustment.

SB 2185 amends Tennessee tourism laws to require certain tourism organizations to submit their annual audit reports to the legislative librarian, in addition to the governor and legislature. This procedural change affects organizations under the Department of Tourist Development that prepare annual audits. The bill modifies multiple sections of the Tennessee Code related to tourism (including Titles 2, 4, 5, and others) to update report submission requirements. It does not create new programs or alter funding, focusing solely on administrative reporting procedures.

HB 2225 creates a state-level "Do Not Call" registry that allows Tennessee residents to opt out of unsolicited telephone solicitations. It restricts automated calls (robocalls) and unsolicited sales calls, particularly during evening hours, and requires businesses to honor consumer opt-out requests. The Tennessee attorney general can enforce these rules, impose court-ordered fines for violations, and maintain the registry with input from federal systems. This directly affects consumers who receive unwanted calls and businesses making phone solicitations in Tennessee.

SB 2608 requires Tennessee's Department of Safety to create blue envelopes for drivers with developmental or intellectual disabilities and green envelopes for drivers with mental illness. These envelopes would hold essential documents (driver license, vehicle registration, proof of insurance, and contact card) and include communication guidelines to help law enforcement interact appropriately during encounters. The program would begin January 1, 2027, with envelopes available at all driver services centers and county clerk offices. It directly affects drivers with these specific conditions by providing a standardized way to share critical information during police interactions.

SB 2660 amends Tennessee law to limit criminal liability for threatening mass violence on school property to only "valid and credible" threats, rather than any threat. It requires schools to include a written mental health assessment by a qualified provider (such as a psychologist or school counselor, potentially via telehealth) when evaluating students exhibiting threatening behavior. This assessment must evaluate the student's welfare and be provided to the school's threat assessment team before a threat can be deemed "valid and credible" for criminal or reporting purposes. School officials must then report only such verified threats to law enforcement. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 2386 allows nonprofit or for-profit organizations operating adult high schools under contract with Tennessee local school boards to receive state and local funding based on actual student enrollment after the first year, rather than projected numbers. It requires these entities to report enrollment data at least three times yearly (August, December, April), and mandates local boards to adjust funding payments quarterly (October, February, June) based on those reports. The bill directly affects contracted adult education providers, local school boards, and adult students whose funding depends on enrollment accuracy. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49 to establish this enrollment-based funding model for subsequent years of operation, effective July 1, 2026.

HB 2600, the "Volunteer Communities Act," creates tax benefits and legal protections for small neighborhood mutual aid groups in Tennessee. It provides sales, property, and franchise tax credits/exemptions, along with liability and zoning protections for organizations that pool resources, share goods/services, or offer emergency assistance within a community. To qualify, groups must have under $100,000 in annual revenue, not file IRS Form 990, and maintain open community governance. Registered groups must file annual reports, and those exceeding revenue limits have 12 months to reduce income or obtain formal nonprofit status to retain benefits.

SB 2180 requires Tennessee's Department of Transportation to allocate federal and state transportation funds to rural planning organizations (RPOs) in equal amounts compared to metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) for transportation planning and projects. This directly affects rural communities and their planning groups, ensuring they receive funding parity with urban areas for highway and road planning. The bill mandates this equal allocation starting July 1, 2026, for funds applied for after that date. It amends Tennessee Code to define RPOs and MPOs and establishes this funding requirement as a legal standard.

SB 2552, the Tennessee Secondary Aluminum Waste Management Act, regulates how secondary aluminum waste (like smelting byproducts and recycling dust) must be disposed of in landfills. It prohibits commingling this waste with municipal trash and requires dedicated landfill units (such as separate cells or monofills) for its disposal. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation must create rules for permitting these units, including standards for liners, groundwater protection, and monitoring. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, affecting landfill operators and secondary aluminum smelting facilities.

HB 2607 limits annual property tax increases for Tennessee counties, cities, and other local taxing entities. It prevents total property tax revenue from exceeding the previous year's total plus 2%, excluding new construction or properties added to tax rolls. To exceed this 2% limit, local governments must hold a referendum requiring 60% voter approval, specify the funding purpose, and limit increases to four years. The bill applies to all local tax jurisdictions and would take effect July 1, 2026, if passed.