Tennessee Bills

SB 2504 amends Tennessee law to require the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) to submit specific recommendations to the General Assembly about disaster preparedness, prevention, and mitigation strategies. These recommendations must address both eliminating emergencies or reducing their impact and improving disaster response. The bill directly affects TEMA, which must now provide these recommendations, and the General Assembly, which will review them. This changes TEMA’s existing duties under Tennessee Code Annotated, Sections 58-2-106(b) and related provisions.

SB 2367 amends Tennessee law to apply the Neighborhood Preservation Act and authorize participation in the Tennessee Local Land Bank Program specifically for Tipton County. It adjusts population thresholds in two statutes to include counties with 60,900-61,000 residents (based on the 2020 census), which matches Tipton County's population. This change directly affects Tipton County residents and local officials by enabling the county to access these existing state programs. The bill makes no new policy changes but adjusts eligibility criteria to include Tipton County for established programs.

SB 2450 allows Tennessee local governments (like cities and counties) to publish certain public notices online instead of in newspapers, starting July 1, 2027. Local governments must first adopt a policy and pass an ordinance detailing how electronic notices will be posted, ensuring they are free, accessible to all, and meet security and retention standards. The bill requires electronic notices to be available across common platforms without barriers, while maintaining newspaper publication for notices specifically mandated by law to be printed. Third-party websites hosting these notices may charge a reasonable fee for the service.

HB 2614 deletes an outdated requirement from Tennessee law that previously forced state agencies with motor vehicle fleets larger than 10 vehicles to create and implement plans to reduce gasoline and diesel use by January 2015. The bill removes Section 4-22-101 of Tennessee Code, which was no longer in effect or relevant. This change directly affects state agencies that manage vehicle fleets but has no ongoing policy impact, as the requirement was obsolete. The legislation is procedural, simply removing an outdated legal provision without creating new obligations.

HB 2496 updates Tennessee's tourism tax rules to include large mixed-use developments with performance venues (2,500+ seats) as eligible projects. It allows cities or public authorities in tourism development zones to use existing sales tax revenue - previously allocated for qualifying facilities - for these new types of projects, provided they meet a $300 million investment threshold. The bill specifically expands the definition of "qualified public use facility" in tourism financing law to cover such venues and their surrounding commercial/residential spaces. This directly affects municipalities managing tourism zones that have already secured sales tax allocations under existing law.

HB 2503 reduces from 10 to 9 business days the time health insurance carriers must provide healthcare providers with their fee schedules after a written request. The bill requires insurers to deliver these fee schedules - either partial or full versions as requested - free of charge, in a standard spreadsheet format (like Microsoft Excel) to the provider's dedicated email address. This change directly affects healthcare providers who request fee schedules, aiming to streamline access to billing information under Tennessee law. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee Code related to health insurance but does not alter coverage or benefits.

This bill allows private parties or events to serve alcohol without a license but prohibits serving to anyone under 21. It requires event organizers to submit proof they took reasonable steps to verify attendees' ages (e.g., ID checks). The law directly affects private event hosts, venues, and organizers who serve alcohol at gatherings. It amends Tennessee’s alcohol regulations to add this age verification requirement for private events.

SB 2461 creates a new certification requirement for individuals practicing assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Tennessee, directly affecting fertility clinics and ART practitioners. It mandates the Department of Health to establish a certification process for these professionals, requiring them to obtain a certificate to legally provide ART services. Key provisions include prohibiting genetic testing of embryos except for chromosomal abnormalities or fatal fetal anomalies, requiring use of standardized consent forms with specific patient disclosures, and mandating certified technologists to comply within 60 days of the rules taking effect. The bill also establishes definitions for ART and certified technologists across multiple health licensing chapters.

SB 2613 requires convention center authorities in Tennessee to submit an annual financial audit to the municipality that authorized their organization by January 1 each year. This bill directly affects convention center authorities and the local governments that granted them permission to operate. The key provision amends Tennessee law to mandate this annual audit filing, replacing the previous requirement with a specific January 1 deadline. The change applies to all convention center authorities operating under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 7, Chapter 89. The bill focuses on transparency by requiring municipalities to receive these audits annually.

HB 2509 establishes Tennessee's Community Workforce Housing Innovation Pilot Program, administered by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. It authorizes the agency to provide loans for constructing or rehabilitating workforce housing affordable to households earning no more than 150% of area median income, prioritizing projects that set aside at least 80% of units for workforce housing. The program requires applicants to form public-private partnerships and contribute at least 10% of project costs through grants or land donations, with funding targeted to all three grand divisions and projects near employment centers. Projects must demonstrate regulatory incentives (like streamlined permits) or innovative features (e.g., mixed-use design) to qualify for loans.

SB 2265 creates a registry within Tennessee’s Bureau of Investigation (TBI) for individuals convicted of specific retail theft crimes, including offenses under Tennessee Code §39-14-113 (organized retail theft) and related charges. The registry includes basic identifying information like name, date of birth, offense details, and conviction date, and is accessible only to law enforcement. Convicted individuals remain on the registry for 10 years after their most recent conviction, or until expungement or death is verified. The bill also increases minimum sentences for certain thefts involving firearms or devices that disable store security systems.

SB 2372 expands Tennessee's criminal code to treat adulterating food, drinks, or pharmaceuticals with intent to cause involuntary intoxication as a Class D felony. It directly affects individuals who intentionally spike beverages to incapacitate others and requires bars, restaurants, and alcohol licensees to provide free, rapid drug testing devices for customers to check suspected spiked drinks. The bill mandates that testing devices detect at least 10 controlled substances and 2 date rape drugs within 5 minutes, must be readily available upon request, and must be posted prominently. Licensees are protected from liability for inaccurate test results. This law aims to address beverage tampering by imposing felony penalties and creating a safety mechanism for patrons at alcohol-serving venues.