Tennessee Bills

SB 1571 modifies Tennessee's anatomical gifts law to allow genome sequencing data collected during federally compliant clinical trials or biomedical research to be stored outside the U.S. or remotely accessed by foreign adversaries. This exception applies specifically to data gathered under federal rules (28 CFR Part 202) and directly affects researchers and institutions conducting such studies in Tennessee. The bill adds this exception to existing regulations governing how anatomical gift data may be handled. It does not change other aspects of the law or impose new requirements on data storage.

SB 1600 requires data centers in Tennessee with over 20 megawatts of power capacity to register with the Tennessee Public Utility Commission (TPUC) starting January 1, 2027. Electric and water utilities serving these registered data centers must report monthly usage and service rates to the TPUC, which will compile and publish this data on its website. The law imposes penalties of up to $1,000 per day (capped at $25,000) for late registration or failure to update registration details. This bill directly affects large data center operators and their utility providers, creating a public reporting system to track energy use and costs for these facilities.

HB 1460 would require the Tennessee Department of Transportation to replace a highway sign on I-40 eastbound near mile marker 405.4 that currently references a stadium no longer located off Exit 407. The bill mandates changing the sign to read "The Island in Pigeon Forge," directing travelers to a current local attraction. This policy change updates highway signage to reflect present-day destinations rather than outdated references, amending Tennessee transportation code (Title 54) to implement the specific sign replacement. The bill directly affects drivers using I-40 in that area and the Department of Transportation as the agency responsible for executing the sign change.

SB 1472 amends Tennessee property tax law to require cities and counties to accept the disputed portion of a property tax bill if the taxpayer pays the full amount due before the delinquency date. This directly affects property owners appealing their tax assessments, as it changes the current option ("allows") to a mandatory requirement ("requires"). The key provision removes discretion from local tax officials, ensuring that timely payment of the full tax obligation triggers acceptance of the disputed amount. The bill does not alter tax rates or create new fees, only clarifying the process for taxpayers who pay before the deadline.

SB 1007 would have regulated the sale of "smoking hemp" (hemp sold for smoking, distinct from other hemp-derived products) and hemp-derived cannabinoid products in Tennessee. It required businesses to obtain licenses, imposed a tax on selling these products, and mandated specific labeling - including child-resistant packaging, safety warnings, QR codes linking to potency test results, and one-year expiration dates. The bill also prohibited sales within 500 feet of K-12 schools unless the business was already selling such products at that location before the law took effect. This bill was introduced in February 2025 but withdrawn in December 2025 and never became law.

This bill urges Tennessee's Department of Agriculture to study the effects of vapor product sales, distribution, and use among youth under 21 years old. It directs the department to make recommendations to the legislature for reducing such use, without imposing new restrictions. The bill amends state law to require this study and reporting process, focusing specifically on underage access and consumption. It does not create new regulations but sets up a review mechanism for potential future action.

SB 1113 would shorten the deadline for the Tennessee Treasurer to submit an annual report on unclaimed property operations. Currently, the Treasurer has four months after the fiscal year ends to submit this report; the bill reduces that period to three months. The report covers the operation of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act and must be sent to the governor, comptroller of the treasury, and legislative leaders. This change requires the Treasurer to submit the report one month earlier each year.

SB 40, the "Employee Ownership, Empowerment, and Expansion Act," creates a state tax credit for businesses transitioning to employee ownership structures like employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), employee ownership trusts, or worker cooperatives. The credit covers up to 50% of transition costs (capped at $25,000 for trusts/cooperatives or $100,000 for ESOPs) for tax years 2026-2030, with businesses required to apply through the state tax department. The bill also exempts employee-owned businesses from certain state taxes and mandates outreach to minority-owned businesses about the credit. Unused credits can be carried forward for up to 25 years.

SB 381 changes the annual deadline for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation commissioner to submit water quality reports to legislative committees from January 31 to February 15. This adjustment applies specifically to reports required under the Water Quality Control Act of 1977. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to update this reporting timeline and was scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.

SB 379 directed Tennessee's intergovernmental relations commission (TACIR) to study how state firearm laws impact county-level firearm sales, criminal offenses, and self-defense use. The study would identify similarities and differences in these impacts across all counties, requiring cooperation from state agencies. TACIR was required to complete the study and submit a report to lawmakers by January 1, 2026. The bill was introduced in February 2025 but withdrawn on December 1, 2025, and did not become law.

HB 324 limits the governor's emergency powers by amending Tennessee law to prohibit executive orders, proclamations, or rules from "contravening, suspending, or conflicting with a provision of the Tennessee Constitution" (TCA § 58-2-107(a)(2)). It also restricts the governor from suspending "procedural provisions" of laws, orders, rules, or regulations during emergencies, requiring strict compliance with procedural requirements unless strict adherence would prevent necessary emergency action (TCA § 58-2-107(e)(1)). This directly affects the governor's authority to issue emergency directives under TCA Title 4 and Title 58, Chapter 2. The bill ensures emergency actions cannot override constitutional requirements or bypass standard procedural safeguards for state business.

SB 845 creates a process for Tennessee's Attorney General to review local government actions (such as ordinances, policies, or regulations) that may violate state law or the Tennessee Constitution. If a state legislator requests this review, the Attorney General investigates within 30 days and notifies the local government of any violation, giving it 30 days to fix the issue or face potential withholding of state funds. This directly affects counties and cities/towns, as they must comply with state law or risk losing state-shared tax revenues and other state funds. The bill also requires legislators to first notify local governments of alleged violations before requesting an investigation, with a 60-day window for local resolution before formal review.