Tennessee Bills

HB 2299 shortens the deadline for courts to schedule depositions preserving testimony in elder abuse cases from 60 to 45 days after a motion is filed. This applies directly to courts handling cases involving alleged offenses against elderly or vulnerable adults. The key change reduces the timeframe for setting deposition dates to help preserve witness testimony more promptly. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 39-15-504 and 71, effective July 1, 2026.

HB 2124 changes the annual reporting deadline for school safety compliance in Tennessee. It amends state law to shift the date when the education and safety commissioners must jointly submit their report on the "Schools Against Violence in Education Act" from February 1 to October 1 each year. This directly affects the education commissioner and safety commissioner, who must now submit their annual compliance report later in the year. The bill makes no substantive changes to school safety requirements, only the timing of the reporting deadline.

HB 2222 changes the deadline for the Tennessee Department of Education to publish a directory of apprenticeship program contacts for public high schools, moving the required date from September 1 to November 1 annually. This affects the Department of Education, which must now compile and post the directory by November 1 instead of September 1, and directly impacts public high schools whose contact information is included in the publication. The bill only modifies the timing of this publication requirement without altering the content or scope of the directory. It is a procedural change to administrative deadlines under Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49.

HB 2486 allows the Tennessee Duck River Development Agency to submit its annual reports electronically instead of in paper form. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 64-1-606 to explicitly permit electronic transmission of these reports. This procedural change simplifies administrative requirements for the agency without altering report content, frequency, or substantive obligations. The update applies specifically to the Duck River Development Agency's reporting process.

HB 2288 extends the deadline for inspecting installed manufactured homes from 20 to 25 business days after the Department of Commerce and Insurance receives the installer's report. This technical amendment to Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 68-126-406 modifies the timeline for required safety inspections without changing safety standards. The bill directly affects manufactured home installers and the Department of Commerce and Insurance by providing a slightly longer window for completing inspections. It is a procedural change with no new requirements or funding impacts.

HB 2280 removes an outdated requirement for Tennessee's public universities. It deletes a provision that previously forced each institution's governing board to submit a report by July 1, 2025, on how they implemented research security policies to legislative education committee chairs. This bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 49-7-188 and related provisions, eliminating a procedural task that is no longer necessary. The change directly affects public universities by reducing administrative reporting obligations.

HB 2447 requires Tennessee county election commissions to notify individuals who file recall, referendum, or initiative petitions about any defects in their documentation before the petition is certified. This amendment to election law (TCA Title 2) gives commissions the authority to alert filers of missing or incorrect information that must be corrected. The bill directly affects petitioners seeking to initiate these election processes by providing a clearer path to fix errors. It is a procedural change focused on improving petition processing, not altering election outcomes.

HB 2497 requires Tennessee state agencies responsible for healthcare facilities to study emergency mitigation strategies at the governor's direction. These studies must be incorporated into the state and local comprehensive emergency management plans. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections (including Titles 58 and 64) to explicitly include "healthcare facilities" in emergency planning requirements alongside public works and land use. This change ensures healthcare facilities are specifically addressed in emergency preparedness efforts, directly affecting state agencies and local emergency management plans.

HB 2484 requires all Tennessee elementary and secondary schools to prominently display the Department of Children's Services' toll-free child abuse and neglect reporting phone number on their school websites. This applies directly to every public and private K-12 school in the state, mandating a visible online posting by July 1, 2026. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49 to establish this specific posting requirement as a new provision for school websites.

HB 2197 allows individuals seeking health care licenses in Tennessee to request a pre-application eligibility check based on criminal history both in writing and electronically, not just in writing. It updates the process by clarifying that the 30-day window to challenge a disqualification notice in court begins when the notice is received - whether sent by mail or electronically. This directly affects people with criminal records applying for health care licenses (e.g., nurses, pharmacists). The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 63-1-130(b) and (c) to implement these procedural changes.

HB 2590 requires the presiding officer of a local government planning advisory committee in Tennessee to immediately notify the appointing authority when a committee member misses three consecutive meetings. This applies to all such committees statewide, directly affecting committee members who miss meetings and the local authorities that appoint them. The bill amends Tennessee law to specify that this notification must be prompt, creating a clear reporting process for attendance issues. It does not change the attendance requirement itself but adds a mandatory step for committees to address absenteeism.

HB 2508 changes the deadline for clerks and masters in Tennessee to notify mineral interest owners. It extends the timeframe from 10 calendar days to 10 business days after receiving a complaint about abandoned mineral interests. This notice, sent by certified mail, informs owners their interest may expire if not claimed within 60 days of a required newspaper publication. The bill directly affects mineral interest owners in counties where such claims are filed, providing a more practical timeline for official communications.