Tennessee Bills

HB 2231 creates the "Tennessee Vehicle Value Protection Product Act" to regulate agreements that cover diminished vehicle value after accidents, total loss, or theft. It requires providers (like dealers or third parties) to guarantee their obligations through insurance, clearly disclose terms and cancellation policies to buyers, and prohibits dealers from forcing customers to purchase these agreements as a condition of financing or vehicle sales. The bill directly affects vehicle buyers (contract holders), dealers, and providers offering these agreements, which cover scenarios like trade-ins after accidents or replacement vehicle credits. Key provisions include mandating insurance-backed guarantees, prohibiting coercion, and defining excluded products like standard service contracts.

SB 2304, the "Tennessee Fluoride-Free Water Act," prohibits public water systems from adding fluoride (including sodium fluoride, fluorosilicic acid, or related compounds) to drinking water and bans the sale of bottled water containing added fluoride. It also requires public water systems to test monthly for naturally occurring fluoride exceeding EPA safety limits, take corrective action, and notify customers, while mandating clear labeling on bottled water with natural fluoride levels above 0.7 mg/L. The bill directly affects public water providers, bottled water sellers, and retailers, with civil penalties of up to $5,000 per day for violations. The legislation is pending in the Tennessee Senate and has not yet become law.

HB 2031 standardizes regulations for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - secondary housing units like backyard cottages - across Tennessee. It directly affects homeowners in single-family or duplex zones and local governments, by prohibiting municipalities from imposing stricter rules on ADUs than on primary homes (e.g., requiring smaller sizes, banning ADUs on eligible lots, or mandating excessive parking). Key provisions include setting a minimum 850-square-foot size for ADUs, banning restrictions on ADU leasing or occupancy, and requiring local governments to approve ADU permits within 60 days without discretionary review. The bill also mandates that ADU regulations align with those for primary homes, such as setbacks and height limits, while allowing local governments to adopt more permissive standards.

SB 1917 creates a new alternative pathway for individuals to obtain a principal or instructional supervisor license in Tennessee without requiring traditional teaching experience. It directly affects candidates with an advanced education-related degree and at least three years of leadership experience in eligible schools (private, public charter, or public school districts), but who do not currently hold an educator license. The key provision requires passing an assessment, completing specific training, and holding the alternative license for four years, after which holders automatically qualify for a full instructional leader license. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and amends Tennessee education law to establish this process.

HB 1866, the "Regulate Artificial Intelligence in Health Care Act," requires health insurance companies, pharmacy benefits managers, and state health programs like TennCare to have a licensed healthcare professional review any AI-driven decision to deny, delay, or modify medical care based on medical necessity. The bill prohibits using AI alone for such decisions without this human review, which must consider the patient’s medical history, the provider’s recommendation, and individual clinical circumstances. Violations would be treated as unfair claims practices, allowing affected patients to sue for actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026, for most purposes.

HB 1915 amends Tennessee law to protect property owners with prior security interests (like mortgage holders or lienholders) during receivership proceedings. It requires courts to preserve these "superior interest" rights - defined as priority under state law, such as recorded deeds of trust or UCC filings - unless the property owner explicitly consents. The bill specifically prohibits judges from limiting, impeding, or enjoining these rights without consent and adds provisions ensuring such holders can enforce their priority without being deemed to consent to the receivership. These changes apply to receivership cases filed after the law takes effect, directly affecting property owners with documented prior claims.

SB 2022 requires Tennessee's transportation department to reimburse utility companies for costs incurred when relocating infrastructure (like power lines, water pipes, or fiber optic cables) during highway construction projects. It sets a $2.5 million minimum reimbursement for projects exceeding that cost, while allowing the transportation commissioner to approve higher payments at their discretion. The bill clarifies that modern infrastructure (including broadband and fiber optic systems) qualifies for reimbursement and ensures utilities must submit relocation plans for approval based on cost-effectiveness. This directly affects utility providers and their customers by preventing cost-shifting during highway projects, while maintaining current reimbursement practices without requiring new state funding.

HB 1855 clarifies that standard time limits for filing civil lawsuits (statutes of limitations) apply to the Tennessee state government and its local subdivisions (like counties or cities), unless a law specifically states otherwise. This directly affects individuals or entities planning to sue the state or local governments for civil claims, such as negligence or contract disputes. The key change amends Tennessee Code Section 28-1-113 to explicitly state this rule, removing ambiguity about whether state entities could use different time limits. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to all cases where the injury or cause of action occurred on or after that date.

SB 1836 requires Tennessee's Department of Transportation to study the feasibility of building a new third bridge across the Mississippi River connecting to Arkansas, including related highway infrastructure. The study must be completed by February 1, 2027, and report findings on funding sources (federal, state, or local), development timing, and legislative recommendations. This bill directly affects the Tennessee Department of Transportation, which must conduct the study and submit the report to relevant legislative committees. The bill does not fund or authorize construction but sets a process for evaluating a potential bridge project.

SB 1767, the "Tennessee mRNA Pharmaceutical Sovereignty and Safety Act," prohibits healthcare and veterinary providers from administering any vaccine or injectable solution containing mRNA technology. It directly affects medical professionals, hospitals, clinics, and animal care facilities by banning the use of all mRNA-based vaccines (like current COVID-19 vaccines) for humans and animals. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code titles to implement this prohibition, targeting the specific medical products rather than broader healthcare policies. It does not address vaccine efficacy or safety claims but mandates a legal ban on administering these specific products.

HB 2061 requires data centers in Tennessee with over 20 megawatts of power capacity to register with the Public Utility Commission (PUC) by January 1, 2027. Electric and water utilities serving these registered data centers must report monthly usage and service rates to the PUC. The PUC will compile and publish this data on its website, showing each data center’s energy consumption and utility rates. This bill directly affects large data center operators and their utility providers by creating a public reporting system for resource use.

HB 1831 prohibits using or selling personal information (like home/work addresses, phone numbers, or Social Security numbers) obtained from Tennessee government records for business purposes. It requires individuals requesting such records to sign an affidavit promising not to commercialize the data. Violating this rule is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine per person affected. The law does not apply if an individual explicitly authorizes the commercial use of their information.