Tennessee Bills

HB 2305 allows teacher training program candidates who have started but not finished required teaching practice to receive a temporary permit. It directly affects aspiring teachers enrolled in educator preparation programs (EPPs) who need to complete clinical practice hours. The bill's key provision lets these candidates combine their previously completed teaching hours with hours taught under the temporary permit to meet the full clinical practice requirement. This change modifies Tennessee's teaching credential rules in Title 49, Chapter 5 of state law. The bill aims to provide flexibility for teacher candidates during their training.

SB 2407 helps education students in Tennessee complete teaching credential requirements. It allows individuals who have started but not finished their required clinical practice hours to receive a temporary teaching permit if they meet other criteria. The bill lets these students combine their pre-permit clinical hours with teaching time under the temporary permit to fulfill their full clinical practice requirement. This change directly affects education preparation program candidates seeking teaching credentials in Tennessee.

SB 2589 reconstitutes Tennessee's Arts Commission by replacing its current structure with a new 15-member board. It changes how members are appointed: the governor selects one member from each of Tennessee's nine congressional districts, while the Senate and House speakers each appoint one member from each of the state's three regions (East, Middle, and West). Initial appointments have staggered terms (three, four, or five years) to spread out expiration dates, with future appointments set to five years. Commission members receive no salary but are reimbursed for travel expenses under standard state regulations. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.

SB 2320 allows Tennessee candidates and elected officials to spend up to $12,000 annually from campaign funds for home security at their personal residence. This spending must be reported as "residential security" with required documentation, and audit information related to these expenses is kept confidential. The bill explicitly states these expenditures are not considered personal use of campaign funds under Tennessee law. It directly affects state-level officeholders seeking to cover home security costs through campaign budgets.

HB 2647 modifies governance rules for the Town of Jonesborough. It allows the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to elect a mayor from among the aldermen to fill vacancies, replaces the requirement for the Town Recorder to be bonded with an option to carry liability insurance, and updates election schedules to align with Washington County general elections held in August. The bill specifies mayoral terms will be two years with elections in August, while alderman terms will be four years with elections every four years. It also clarifies that no person can hold both mayor and alderman positions simultaneously, requiring aldermen who want to run for mayor to resign their current position first. This bill requires approval by a two-thirds vote of Jonesborough's legislative body to take effect.

SB 2709 amends the town charter for Jonesborough, Tennessee, affecting how the town's local government operates. The bill changes the process for filling mayoral vacancies by allowing the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to directly elect a mayor from among the aldermen, rather than appointing a vice mayor to serve as mayor during vacancies. It also modifies the town recorder's requirements, allowing them to carry liability insurance instead of being bonded as previously required. Additionally, the bill updates election schedules, setting specific dates for mayoral and aldermanic elections to occur in August of even-numbered years, with terms structured to align with county election cycles. These changes would apply to the Town of Jonesborough's local government operations.

HB 2327 requires Tennessee public schools and charter schools to allow licensed private providers (like behavior analysts) to deliver applied behavior analysis services to students with autism or developmental delays during school hours, as specified in their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Schools must permit this access in classroom or educational settings without charging fees, providing necessary accommodations, and coordinating with the student's IEP team. Parents must provide written consent, choose the provider, and schools cannot discriminate against or retaliate against students receiving these services. The bill also mandates that private providers comply with licensing and background checks, and establishes a dispute resolution process if conflicts arise over service access. This policy directly affects students with specific disabilities, their families, and school staff managing service coordination.

HB 2592 modifies Tennessee state law to require the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to annually compare utility rates (telecommunications, electricity, natural gas, water, and wastewater) between Tennessee and neighboring southeastern states, then submit this report to the General Assembly. The bill specifically adds electronic submission as an option for the PUC’s report, updating existing requirements under Tennessee Code Annotated. This procedural change directly affects the PUC (which must prepare the report) and the General Assembly (which receives it), without altering utility rate policies or consumer obligations. The bill does not create new rate standards but streamlines how the PUC shares comparative data with lawmakers.

HB 2381 requires public utilities to submit written requests to the Tennessee Public Utility Commission when seeking cost recovery for innovative natural gas infrastructure projects. This technical amendment updates existing law (TCA §65-5-114(c)) to replace previous allowances for oral requests with a written submission requirement. The bill directly affects utilities seeking to recover infrastructure costs through the Commission. It does not change cost recovery eligibility or rates, only the method for submitting requests.

SB 2528 expands the Ocoee River recreation and economic development fund's allowed uses to include tourism promotion, infrastructure upgrades, and other board-approved expenses. It replaces the park manager position on the fund's board with the director of the division of state parks, effective July 1, 2026. The bill also reduces the maximum number of commercial permits for river operations from 24 to 12 after July 1, 2026, and restricts permit transfers to immediate family or business purchasers only. These changes directly affect commercial operators, local tourism efforts, and the governance of the Ocoee River management zone.

HB 2425 expands the Ocoee River recreation fund's eligible uses to include tourism promotion and economic development activities, such as funding community events and supporting nonprofit organizations. It replaces the park manager on the fund board with the director of the division of state parks and imposes new limits on commercial permits: capping permits at 24 (reducing to 12 after July 2026) and restricting future permits to business buyers or immediate family members. These changes directly affect the fund board, commercial operators on the Ocoee River, and state park management. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1966 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services to create a statewide, county-level quality assurance program by July 2027. The program must measure outcomes like child safety, permanency, and well-being - not just compliance - with each county needing a dedicated quality assurance coordinator. The commissioner must publish annual county performance grades online and submit quarterly progress reports to lawmakers starting in 2026. This directly affects county child welfare offices and the state department by shifting focus from procedural checks to data-driven service improvements.