Tennessee Bills

SB 2232 establishes clear rules for distributing funds from Tennessee's governor's response and recovery fund after disasters. It requires that the governor and local governments declare a state of emergency, federal aid must be unavailable or insufficient, and costs must exceed specific thresholds before funds can be provided. The bill specifies that funds can cover debris removal, emergency protective measures, and repairing infrastructure like roads, bridges, and public utilities - excluding damage already covered by insurance - but cannot be used for public property damage. Eligible local governments (counties, cities, etc.) and individuals must prove residency, need, and meet cost criteria, with local cost-sharing required for grants based on a county's economic status.

SB 2225 modifies Tennessee's child abuse investigation process. It requires child protective teams handling human trafficking cases to include a representative from a non-governmental agency specializing in combating commercial sexual exploitation of minors (previously permitted but not required). The bill also extends the deadline for determining if reported abuse was indicated or unfounded from 60 days to 90 days for most cases, and to 180 days for child fatality cases (with possible 180-day extensions for good cause). These changes directly affect child protective teams, state departments handling abuse reports, and children involved in trafficking or severe abuse investigations.

SB 2167 integrates Tennessee's TennCare program into the statewide planning and policy council by adding the director of long-term care services and a managed care organization representative to the council's membership. The bill expands the council's advisory and reporting duties to specifically include TennCare's director, services, and waiver implementation, alongside existing department programs. It amends Tennessee Code to update references from "the department" to include "the bureau of TennCare" in council functions and reporting requirements. This structural change affects the council, TennCare operations, and managed care organizations that contract with TennCare. The bill does not alter TennCare's policies or funding but changes how the program is coordinated within the state's planning structure.

HB 2187 would enable Tennessee to participate in a federal tax credit program that allows individuals to deduct donations to scholarship organizations. The bill requires the state education department to certify qualifying organizations and publish their list, aligning with federal rules under Section 25F of the Internal Revenue Code. These certified organizations could then provide scholarships covering K-12 education expenses, including homeschooling costs, as permitted by federal law. The program would become available for tax years beginning after December 31, 2026.

SB 2138 requires that individuals convicted of vehicular homicide caused by intoxication **and** leaving the scene of the accident (a hit-and-run) be sentenced as a minimum "Range II" offender under Tennessee law. This bill directly affects people facing dual convictions for these specific traffic-related crimes. The key provision mandates that the sentencing range for vehicular homicide cannot be set below the second-lowest tier (Range II) if the person is also convicted of fleeing the scene. The law will take effect July 1, 2026, and amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-13-213, 40-20-102, and 55-10-101.

HB 1982 lowers the minimum age to become a licensed bid caller auctioneer in Tennessee from 18 to 16 years old. This change directly affects 16- to 17-year-olds seeking to work in auctioneering by allowing them to apply for a license earlier. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 62, Chapter 19, specifically updating Section 62-19-111(a)(1)(A) to replace "eighteen (18)" with "sixteen (16)". The law would take effect upon becoming law, with no specified implementation details beyond the age adjustment.

SB 1861 amends Tennessee workers' compensation law to allow the Bureau of Workers' Compensation to use funds from the "subsequent injury and vocational recovery fund" for costs related to implementing and maintaining a computer system. The bill updates specific sections of the law (TCA Title 50, Chapter 6, Part 2) to clarify fund usage, change procedural terms like replacing "petition" with "file a motion," and adjust language about impairment ratings and physician certifications. It directly affects the Bureau of Workers' Compensation and its administrative operations, not workers or employers. The key change is authorizing computer system costs as a permissible use of this existing fund, with the bill taking effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1870 requires specific fire investigators in Tennessee to hold a current certification from the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST) before they can exercise police powers - such as making arrests - in arson or suspected arson cases. This applies directly to the Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance and their deputies, municipal fire investigators, and salaried county fire investigators when using police authority. The bill does not require certification for routine fire origin investigations conducted without police powers. Certification must be obtained by January 1, 2027, and includes meeting police officer qualifications and completing approved training. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 68-102-127 and 38-8-107.

SB 1741, the "Charlie Kirk Act," requires Tennessee's public universities to adopt and post two specific statements on their websites. First, it mandates that each institution incorporate the University of Chicago's free expression policy into its bylaws, including its core principles about protecting debate even when ideas are offensive. Second, it requires adoption of the 1967 University of Chicago Kalven Report on universities' role in political action, emphasizing that institutions should not take collective political positions. The bill applies directly to all public higher education institutions in Tennessee and imposes legal remedies (like injunctions) for noncompliance.

HB 1909 updates Tennessee's legal terminology by changing all references from "marital and family therapists" to "marriage and family therapists" across multiple state code sections (including licensing, practice standards, and definitions in Titles 4, 8, 33, 36, 52, 56, 63, and 68). This primarily affects licensed therapists, state licensing boards, and healthcare facilities by standardizing professional titles and aligning with common industry terminology. Key provisions include revising licensing reciprocity rules (Section 16) and clarifying practice boundaries for therapists (Section 20), ensuring consistency in how the profession is referenced in law. The bill makes no substantive policy changes beyond terminology adjustments and does not alter therapist qualifications or patient protections.

SB 2076 expands the scope of practice for Tennessee optometrists by allowing them to perform specific minor surgical procedures under local anesthesia, such as removing small eyelid lesions or treating minor lacerations. It directly affects licensed optometrists in Tennessee who meet certification requirements for administering local anesthetics. The bill permits procedures like excising non-malignant skin lesions under 5mm or draining eyelid abscesses, but explicitly prohibits more complex surgeries like cataract removal, LASIK, or retinal procedures. These changes are codified in amendments to Tennessee Code Annotated § 63-8-102, with all new surgical authority subject to board approval and strict limitations.

HB 1635 clarifies eligibility for burial in Tennessee's state veterans' cemeteries, expanding access to include National Guard and reserve component members (such as Army or Air National Guard) who completed their service obligations, along with their spouses and children. The bill specifies required documentation for verification, including military discharge forms like DD-214 and NGB forms, and ensures the state accepts federal documentation standards. It also mandates that the state waive burial fees for eligible veterans, their spouses, and minor or dependent children. The changes aim to align Tennessee's policies with federal criteria while ensuring no disruption to federal funding for veterans' cemeteries.