Tennessee Bills

HB 1131 clarifies that Tennessee's Department of Children's Services must report annual child support information to the General Assembly and governor by January 31 each year. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections (including Titles 4, 8, 33, 34, 36, 37, 41, 49, 68, and 71) to update the reporting deadline from a dated reference ("January 31, 1998, and annually thereafter") to the current annual requirement ("on or before January 31 of each year"). This is a procedural clarification affecting the Department of Children's Services' reporting obligations, not a substantive policy change. The bill failed in committee on April 9, 2025.

HB 454 amends Tennessee law to require the Commissioner of Correction to send the annual report on state correctional facility operations to the legislative librarian, in addition to the General Assembly. This change directly affects the legislative librarian, who will now receive copies of these reports alongside lawmakers. The bill modifies specific sections of Tennessee Code (Titles 3, 4, 8, 9, 27, 29, 38, 39, 40, and 41) to add the legislative librarian as a designated recipient. It is a procedural update to reporting requirements, not a substantive policy change to correctional operations.

HB 463 changes retirement benefits for Tennessee General Assembly members. It requires legislators who joined on or after July 1, 2014, to switch from the hybrid retirement plan to the legacy plan after 10 years of service. The bill also mandates that retired legislators with 10+ years of service receive retiree health benefits starting July 1, 2024. These changes apply to service completed on or after July 1, 2024, and take effect July 1, 2025.

SB 965 allows tourism development authorities in Tennessee to request that a municipality deannex property they own. Specifically, these authorities can petition a city to remove their property from municipal boundaries, provided the deannexation doesn't create a "surrounded" unincorporated area. The bill requires petitioners to submit a map, gives municipalities 30 days to assess any debt owed, and sets a 60-day timeline for the deannexation to take effect. This would shift jurisdictional responsibility from the city to the authority for the excluded property, except for debts incurred after annexation. The bill was withdrawn on April 9, 2025, before final passage.

HB 845 amends Tennessee's open meetings law to extend the deadline for the Office of Open Records Counsel from 30 to 45 days to review and approve local government bodies' compliance plans for electronic meetings. This change directly affects city councils, school boards, and other local governing bodies that must submit detailed plans for conducting meetings via internet forums. The bill’s key provision adjusts the timeline for official review of these plans, providing more time for local entities to align with electronic communication requirements. The amendment applies to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 44, and does not alter the underlying requirements for public meeting accessibility.

HB 526 changes Tennessee's Business Tax Act to require that business tax returns be due no sooner than 60 calendar days after the end of the tax period, instead of the current two-month standard. This applies specifically when the commissioner of revenue adjusts a business's tax period to match their fiscal year. The bill directly affects Tennessee businesses that file annual or periodic business tax returns by standardizing the filing deadline to a clear 60-day window. The amendment takes effect July 1, 2025, with no change to the overall filing timeline (as 60 days approximates two months).

HB 1074 removes two notification requirements related to prior authorization for healthcare services in Tennessee. It eliminates the obligation for healthcare providers to inform patients when communicating with insurers about missing information for prior authorization requests, and it removes the requirement for utilization review organizations to notify patients when providers fail to submit needed information within seven days. The bill directly affects patients, healthcare providers, and insurance entities by changing communication protocols during the prior authorization process. These changes amend Tennessee Code Sections 63-1-171(b) and 56-6-705(a), effective upon becoming law (Public Chapter 125, enacted April 8, 2025).

HB 1000 modifies Tennessee's TennCare program by shortening the deadline for implementing the annual coverage assessment from seven to five days. This change directly affects the TennCare program and hospitals receiving directed payments, as it streamlines the timeline for assessing coverage. The bill's key provision is the specific deadline adjustment in TCA Title 71, Chapter 5, Section 71-5-2005(d)(2)(D). The bill became law as Public Chapter 115 on April 8, 2025.

Senate Resolution 6, introduced by Senator Oliver, is a non-binding statement affirming that the American Dream - defined as opportunity, prosperity, and upward mobility for all - belongs to every Tennessean, not just the wealthy. It links this principle to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, highlighting historical civil rights milestones like the 1964 Civil Rights Act as foundational to expanding access to opportunity. The resolution encourages state, local, and private institutions to adopt DEI practices that remove barriers, foster inclusion, and ensure equal participation in society. It does not create new laws or obligations but expresses the legislature’s position supporting DEI as essential to achieving shared prosperity.

SB 418 increases caps on lawsuits against local Tennessee governments under the Tort Liability Act. It sets new limits: $750,000 for injury/death of one person, $1.5 million for all injuries/deaths in an incident, and $250,000 for property damage. These changes would apply to claims filed on or after July 1, 2025. The bill failed in the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 8, 2025, so it did not advance to become law.

HB 308 would allow counties in Tennessee with over 900,000 residents (based on the 2020 census) to raise their local sales tax rate from a maximum of 2.75% to 3.75%. The revenue from this tax increase must be used exclusively for building a new county jail or paying off debt related to jail construction, including principal, interest, and expenses. The higher tax rate would apply for up to eight years or until the jail debt is paid off, whichever comes first. If the debt is paid early, the county must notify the state within 10 days. After the eight-year period or debt payoff, the tax rate would revert to 2.75%.

HB 1413 would allow Gallatin's city council to impose impact fees on new development projects to cover costs for related infrastructure. The bill specifies fees could fund street repairs, water systems, storm drainage, emergency services, and administrative costs tied to new construction. It requires a two-thirds vote approval by Gallatin's city council to take effect, with the city council having full authority to set fee amounts. The bill failed in committee on April 8, 2025, and remains inactive.