Tennessee Bills

SB 2063 requires the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to build playgrounds at Booker T. Washington State Park and Harrison Bay State Park by January 1, 2027, using only existing department resources. The bill mandates this specific infrastructure improvement at two named state parks without creating new funding or altering broader park management. It directly affects these two state parks and their visitors by adding playground facilities within the specified deadline. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on the construction timeline and funding mechanism for these playgrounds.

SB 1950 modifies Tennessee's driver license rules to allow certain individuals to obtain a for-hire endorsement for Class D vehicles. It specifically waives the standard two-year unrestricted driving requirement for applicants who: (1) completed a sentence of incarceration for an offense, (2) currently hold a restricted license due to unpaid fines/court costs, and (3) are making payments under a court-approved plan. This change directly affects people with past convictions who are resolving financial obligations through structured payment plans. The bill does not alter other eligibility criteria like age, vehicle type, or character requirements.

HB 1957 creates the Tennessee Council for Research of Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing Children, operating under the Department of Health. The council will consist of 17 members appointed by the governor and legislative leaders to include diverse representation from the deaf community, parents, educators, and professionals. Its primary duties include identifying the number, demographics, and language development needs of children with hearing loss (birth to age 10) and recommending accessible assessment tools and practices that comply with federal law. The council must submit a final report and recommendations by a set deadline before dissolving.

SB 1959 requires all public universities in Tennessee to create a "Charlie Kirk Memorial Courtyard for Civil Debate" on each main campus by December 31, 2026. The courtyard must measure at least 40 feet by 40 feet (1,600 sq. ft.) and feature full-text displays of the Tennessee Constitution's Article I, Ten Commandments, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence on its four sides. Each display must be at least 24"x36" with 36-point font, positioned no higher than 5 feet, and include the courtyard name and September 10, 2025 date. This bill directly affects Tennessee's public higher education institutions and their governing boards, mandating a specific physical space to display foundational documents as part of campus infrastructure.

HB 1775 requires Tennessee health plans and insurers to cover two specific cancer-related services without out-of-pocket costs: genetic testing for inherited cancer risks (for individuals with personal or family cancer history, as recommended by a doctor) and evidence-based cancer imaging (for high-risk individuals per National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines). This applies to all health plans issued, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects insurers by mandating coverage and patients with cancer risk factors by removing cost barriers to these screenings. It does not alter existing health savings account rules but ensures these preventive services are fully covered under the plan.

HB 1475 limits when Tennessee courts can exclude evidence in criminal cases. It prohibits excluding evidence unless it was obtained through deliberate, reckless, or grossly negligent conduct violating the Fourth Amendment, or recurring/systemic negligence, and refusing to exclude it would contradict a clear U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The bill also creates an immediate appeal for prosecutors to the Tennessee Supreme Court when a judge suppresses evidence, requiring the court to expedite the review. This aligns Tennessee's evidence rules strictly with federal standards, preventing state courts from imposing stricter exclusion rules than those set by the U.S. Supreme Court.

HB 2016 requires employers who make mental health evaluations a condition of employment to provide employees and job applicants with reasonable access to the results of those evaluations, including reports from mental health professionals. Employers must grant this access during normal business hours, and employees denied access can sue for a court order to obtain the results. If an employee wins such a lawsuit, they are entitled to recover court costs and attorney fees. The bill applies to both current employees and prospective hires, covering evaluations required for hiring or continued employment. It specifically targets employers who condition employment on submitting to mental health assessments.

HB 1910, the "Supporting Troopers through Advanced Retirement (STAR) Act," creates an alternative retirement plan for Tennessee state troopers. It allows current troopers hired before July 1, 2026, to elect into the STAR plan by October 2026 (paying a one-time 5% buy-in), while new troopers hired on or after that date automatically join. The plan offers enhanced benefits: 3% of average final compensation per year of service (max 75% at 25 years), with vesting at 5 years (pre-2026 hires) or 10 years (post-2026 hires). Troopers can also defer retirement up to eight additional years while their benefits accrue in an interest-bearing account, with contributions ceasing after 25 years of service.

HB 1688, "The Frank J. Lake III Act," requires assisted-care living facilities in Tennessee to notify all residents (or their guardians/representatives) if they contact the long-term care ombudsman (Section 4). It also mandates the Health Facilities Commission to post specific notices on its website when a facility faces disciplinary action, including probation or a 30-day fact-finding period (Sections 2-3). Additionally, facilities must provide written disclosure of their licensure status and disciplinary history to residents before admission (Section 5). These changes, effective July 1, 2026, directly affect residents, facilities, and the commission by increasing transparency around facility oversight.

HB 1945 creates a new "public institution athletic program fund" funded by a 25% fee paid by sports wagering vendors to the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council. The fund provides grants to Tennessee's public universities (specifically four-year institutions competing in at least three intercollegiate sports) to cover recruiting expenses like travel, lodging, meals, and materials for attracting athletes. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission administers the fund, prioritizing local universities and distributing grants based on enrollment size, with unspent funds carried forward annually.

HB 1859, the "Freedom from Medical Debt Act," requires Tennessee’s state treasurer to contract with a nonprofit entity to repay medical debt for eligible residents. It directly affects Tennessee residents with household incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level or those owing medical debt equal to 5% or more of their annual household income. The bill prohibits healthcare providers from reporting medical debt to credit bureaus starting July 1, 2026, and mandates that nonprofits remove negative credit reporting after repaying debt. Eligible debt must remain unpaid for over 120 days after billing, and repayment contracts explicitly state the state is not liable for the debt.

HB 1485 allows retired or separated Tennessee law enforcement officers to maintain annual POST certification after leaving their agency, provided they meet specific requirements. To qualify, officers must complete approved training, provide agency verification of good standing, prove Tennessee residency annually, and pay associated fees. The law explicitly prohibits pay supplements for this certification and requires retirees to notify the commission immediately if they move out of state. This directly affects former officers seeking to retain certification for potential future employment or other purposes, without altering existing certification standards for active officers.