Tennessee Bills

HB 2188 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services (DCS) to create a formal agreement with the Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) to improve support for children in state custody or at risk of entering custody who have intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD). The bill mandates DDA to evaluate children with suspected I/DD, recommend appropriate placements, oversee service quality, develop staff training, and coordinate disability-specific care. It directly affects children with I/DD in or near state custody, DCS staff, and service providers. The law also requires DCS to submit annual reports to legislative committees detailing referrals, evaluations, placements, oversight findings, and training status by January 1, 2027, and annually after.

HB 2012 creates a new civil cause of action for Tennessee residents whose intimate images (photos or videos of intimate body parts or sexual conduct) are shared without consent. It allows victims to sue for damages including $150,000 in liquidated damages, actual harm (like emotional distress), and attorney fees, while clarifying that consent to create an image doesn’t cover its distribution. The bill defines "intimate image" broadly, requires valid consent for distribution to be in writing with clear terms, and excludes certain cases like law enforcement reporting or good-faith assistance. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to incidents occurring on or after that date.

HB 1822 requires Tennessee public schools and colleges to include specific historical examples of religion's "positive impacts" on American history during American history classes. It directs educators to teach 19 listed topics, such as Pilgrims' religious origins, religious references in the Declaration of Independence, George Washington's religious views, and the role of faith in the Civil Rights Movement. The bill states this instruction is consistent with the First Amendment and not proselytization. It directly affects teachers in Tennessee's public K-12 schools and public universities. The law does not mandate these topics but permits their inclusion in American history curriculum.

HB 1786 prohibits recreational boat owners from securing (mooring) their vessels for more than 14 consecutive days at any single location along reservoir water edges or within one mile of the water's edge. It also bans blocking navigation access in reservoirs and establishes temporary moorage restrictions in Tennessee River navigation channels. Violating these rules would be a Class C misdemeanor, though federal permit holders for permanent mooring are exempt. The law directly affects recreational boaters using reservoirs managed by federal agencies, aiming to prevent long-term vessel accumulation and maintain water access.

HB 1273 creates a new felony charge for recklessly threatening mass violence against child care centers, preschools, or religious institutions, and a misdemeanor for failing to report such threats. The law requires immediate reporting of threats to both local law enforcement and the affected institution, with specific details needed in the report. Violators face penalties including up to 6 years in prison for the felony threat and up to 6 months for failing to report. The bill defines "property" to include buildings and grounds of these institutions and mandates restitution for disruption caused by threats.

HB 1798 amends Tennessee law to require sheriffs or other authorized individuals serving garnishments to collect fees in advance before performing the service. This change directly affects debt collection processes by shifting payment timing from post-service to pre-service. The bill updates TCA Title 8, Chapter 21, Part 9, clarifying that all garnishments are treated as "original" for fee purposes and explicitly authorizes advance payment demands. The provision applies to all garnishment services performed by designated officials under existing state law.

HB 30 allows English language learner (ELL) students in Tennessee public schools to receive the same language assistance services during standardized tests (like TCAP or end-of-course exams) that they received in their regular classroom during the school year. This applies only to students who already received such support in class and ensures the assistance won’t invalidate their test results. The bill defines "language assistance services" as either help from teachers with ESL endorsements or approved accommodations provided by general education teachers. It takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond.

SB 777 would amend Tennessee election law (Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Section 2-1-116) to shorten the time candidates have to remove campaign signs, posters, and placards after an election from three weeks to two weeks. This change directly affects candidates and their campaign teams, requiring them to clear election materials more quickly. The bill’s key provision replaces the current "three weeks" timeframe with "two weeks" in the statute. The legislation was introduced in the Tennessee Senate but failed in committee in April 2025.

SB 1389 prohibits healthcare providers participating in Tennessee's TennCare or CoverKids programs from refusing to treat patients solely because they decline vaccines or immunizations. It requires the state to stop reimbursing providers who violate this rule and mandates the TennCare director to create implementing regulations. The law excludes oncology and organ transplant specialists from the prohibition. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, with rules to be established under state administrative procedures.

HB 2585 would cap noneconomic damages at $1 million in medical malpractice lawsuits involving obstetric or maternity negligence that causes a pregnant or postpartum woman's death or permanent injury. It directly affects patients (or their families) who might file such lawsuits and healthcare providers facing these claims. The bill amends Tennessee law to limit compensation for pain, suffering, and emotional distress (noneconomic damages) to $1 million in these specific cases, while leaving economic damages (like medical bills) unaffected. This is a concrete policy change to restrict damage awards in a defined subset of medical liability cases.

SB 1958 removes the right for individuals to seek court orders (declaratory or injunctive relief) challenging the constitutionality or legality of state government actions, including state statutes. It directly affects people or groups trying to legally challenge state laws or actions in court. The bill preserves Tennessee’s sovereign immunity (meaning the state cannot be sued) and creates a limited exception only for challenges against *local* governments (like cities or counties), but still prohibits lawsuits seeking damages or challenging state laws. It amends specific Tennessee Code sections to clarify these restrictions.

HB 562 prohibits state or local governments from declaring lawful businesses or occupations "non-essential" during emergencies (or at any time) through orders, rules, or regulations. It directly affects businesses operating legally under Tennessee law, ensuring they cannot be unjustly shut down based solely on such classifications. The bill allows harmed businesses to sue for actual damages or a court declaration of rights, with prevailing parties awarded legal fees. This law applies to all state emergencies starting July 1, 2025, but does not prevent restrictions for violations of state or federal law.