SB 189 would create a $250 grant program for full-time undergraduate students at Tennessee's public colleges and universities. To qualify, students must voluntarily provide proof of STD testing to their school, with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) managing the program and ensuring HIPAA-compliant confidentiality. Grant funds must cover tuition, mandatory fees, textbooks, or course materials at the student's enrolling institution. The program would be funded through a dedicated account in the state general fund, pending legislative appropriation.
HB 738 amends Tennessee's Tennessee Promise scholarship program to include career-focused schools accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS) as eligible institutions. It requires students seeking this scholarship at a NACCAS school to first confirm there are no available spots in a local Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) for their desired program. The bill directly affects students pursuing career training at NACCAS-accredited institutions, prioritizing TCAT enrollment when available. The changes apply to scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year and beyond.
HB 378 exempts commissioned reserve deputy sheriffs and auxiliary police officers from Tennessee's private security licensing requirements when they work as guards, patrols, or watchpersons under contracts with state-licensed private businesses. The bill amends Tennessee Code (Titles 38, 39, and 62) to create this specific exemption for officers receiving compensation through such contracts. It directly affects reserve law enforcement personnel employed in private security roles under valid state-licensed agreements. This change removes a regulatory barrier for these officers while maintaining that their private business contracts must already hold state licensure.
SB 1570, a proposed Tennessee bill, would have changed how livestock owners receive compensation when animals are destroyed to prevent disease spread. It would have required payments based on the animal’s value (subject to available funds) and made the state responsible for covering disposal costs of dead animals when ordered by officials. The bill also clarified that the state, not the animal’s owner, bears disposal costs and emphasized that no funds would be spent without specific legislative approval. However, the bill was withdrawn on January 20, 2026, before becoming law.
SB 1674 expands Tennessee's safe haven law by adding 24-hour ambulance stations to the list of facilities where parents can safely leave newborns without legal consequences. The bill modifies existing statutes (TCA §68-11-255) to require that ambulance stations, like hospitals and fire departments, have staff continuously scheduled 24/7 to accept surrendered infants. This directly affects parents seeking to relinquish custody of newborns under the state's safe surrender program. The key change clarifies that facilities must meet specific staffing requirements (24/7 coverage by licensed providers) to qualify as safe surrender locations.
SB 1705 requires Tennessee public schools to include unexcused absences from a student's previous school when they transfer to a new school or home school, using these combined absences to determine if a student meets habitual truancy thresholds. It mandates that school directors report students who were previously enrolled in public school (and received truancy interventions) but are now in home school to juvenile court if they accumulate 5+ unexcused absences. The bill also requires schools to apply progressive truancy plans and document interventions before reporting. This bill was filed for introduction in January 2026 but was withdrawn on January 20, 2026, and did not become law.
HB 1490 would have made the addresses on nominating petitions for judges, chancellors, district attorney generals, and public defenders confidential in Tennessee. The bill aimed to prevent these addresses from being publicly accessible under existing law. It sought to amend Tennessee Code Sections 2-5-102 and 10-7-503 to establish this confidentiality requirement. The bill was introduced on January 8, 2026, but was withdrawn on January 15, 2026, before becoming law.
SB 1484 creates a new civil cause of action allowing victims of crimes committed while on bail to sue the person who posted bail for the defendant (excluding professional bondsmen and those with "bailable interest," like family members or employers). If the defendant is later convicted for a crime that occurred while released on that bail, the victim can seek compensation for property damage, injury, or death resulting from that crime. The bill amends Tennessee law to add this provision to the bail process, effective July 1, 2026. It directly affects third parties who post bail for defendants and victims of subsequent crimes committed during that release.
SB 1476 creates a new "law enforcement officer recruitment fund" within Tennessee's general fund to help local agencies hire officers. It directly affects city, county, or municipal law enforcement agencies with 10% or more open officer positions by allowing them to apply for grants to cover recruitment costs. The Department of Finance and Administration will manage the fund, setting application rules, grant criteria, and reporting requirements to track how funds are used. Grants can only be spent on recruitment activities, and the fund may accept private donations but requires separate annual appropriations to operate. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
SB 1676 would have amended Tennessee zoning law by removing the requirement that rebuilt structures must conform to current zoning regulations. Instead, rebuilding would have followed the zoning rules in effect when the original structure was built, affecting property owners after losses like fire or demolition. The bill deleted specific language from two sections of Tennessee’s zoning code (TCA Title 13, Chapter 7) related to construction requirements. However, the bill was withdrawn on the day it was filed and never became law.
SB 1634 removes court fees for two specific legal processes in Tennessee: restoring citizenship (for individuals like veterans who lost rights) and obtaining a certificate of employability (to help people with criminal records secure jobs). It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 40-29-103(f) and 40-29-107(c) to state that "there is no cost to a petitioner" for these proceedings. The bill directly affects applicants seeking these legal remedies by eliminating associated court costs. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and is not a procedural resolution but a policy change removing financial barriers.
SJR 544 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Beverly Bell, founder and director of Optimum Hope! in Lebanon, for her work establishing a nonprofit wellness program supporting Parkinson's patients in Tennessee. It recognizes her 31-year career as a physical therapist, founding Optimum Hope! in 2016 (which now serves over 65 participants), and her volunteer efforts without salary. The resolution was introduced in 2025, passed initial steps, but was withdrawn in 2026. It has no policy impact - it solely serves as a formal commendation.
