SB 1935 extends Tennessee's homestead exemption - a property tax protection - to adult children (18+ years old) with developmental or intellectual disabilities when a head of household dies. Currently, the exemption covers surviving spouses and minor children; this bill adds eligible adult children who live in the home as their primary residence. The law uses existing definitions of "developmental disability" and "intellectual disability" from state code, and ensures that if property can't be protected as homestead, $35,000 in proceeds must be allocated to the adult child or spouse. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects families with disabled adult children facing potential loss of their home after a parent's death.
SB 1858 amends Tennessee law to extend the timeframe for the state legislature to fix redistricting plan defects from 15 to 90 calendar days after a court identifies issues. This change directly affects courts and the Tennessee General Assembly when addressing problems in legislative or congressional district maps. The bill modifies Tennessee Code Annotated § 20-18-105(a) to require courts to provide the legislature with a 90-day window to correct redistricting flaws, rather than the previous 15-day period. The legislation is procedural, focusing solely on adjusting the deadline for legislative action without altering redistricting standards or outcomes.
SB 1881 would make certain records held by Tennessee's Office of Homeland Security about critical infrastructure confidential, preventing public access through standard public records requests. Specifically, it exempts three types of records: security analyses and warnings for infrastructure systems (like power grids or water facilities), threat prevention and defense efforts, and any records designated by the agency as relating to critical infrastructure. This bill amends Tennessee's public records law (TCA Title 10, Chapter 7, Part 5) to add these specific exemptions. The change directly affects the public's right to access this information and the Office of Homeland Security's disclosure obligations.
SB 1888 clarifies eligibility for burial in Tennessee's state veterans' cemeteries for military service members, veterans (including National Guard and reserve component members), and their spouses and children. It specifies that eligible veterans must have been honorably discharged after completing their service obligation, and requires specific documentation like NGB Forms, DD Forms, or discharge orders to verify service. The bill prohibits fees for burial for eligible veterans, their spouses, and dependent children as defined by federal law. It ensures compliance with federal regulations to protect state veterans' cemetery funding.
SB 1904 would lower Tennessee's minimum age requirement for becoming a licensed bid caller auctioneer from 18 to 16 years old. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 62, Chapter 19, Section 62-19-111(a)(1)(A), directly affecting young residents aged 16-17 who wish to pursue this specific career. The change only modifies the age eligibility threshold - other licensing requirements like training or exams remain unchanged. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee after passing initial legislative steps.
SB 1981 modifies Tennessee's workers' compensation law to protect employees in medical disputes. It specifically waives an employer's or their workers' compensation carrier's right to recover attorney fees or claim a subrogation lien if the employer contested medical aspects of the injury (causation, permanency, or extent) using a medical opinion different from the employee's C-42 panel physician. This change directly affects employees who successfully recover from third parties after such disputes. The bill also increases certain benefit percentages from 66⅔% to 75% and clarifies permanent disability benefit rules, but the core provision focuses on preventing employers from recouping costs when they dispute medical evidence.
HB 1640 would amend Tennessee's public records law to make specific records held by the Office of Homeland Security confidential. It directly affects public access to records related to critical infrastructure security, including threat analyses, infrastructure protection plans, and responses to security threats. The bill exempts three categories of records from disclosure: those describing protected critical infrastructure, records about preventing or responding to threats against infrastructure, and records designated confidential by the commissioner. This change would prevent public requests for these specific homeland security documents under Tennessee's open records law. The bill is currently pending review by the State & Local Government Committee.
SB 2087 requires Tennessee school principals to notify parents or guardians when a classroom evacuation occurs due to another student's violent, aggressive, or severely disruptive behavior. Parents must receive a notification by the end of the school day, including a brief explanation of the incident and safety steps taken, without disclosing the student who caused the disruption or violating privacy laws like FERPA. Schools must also maintain written records of each evacuation, including notification details. This bill directly affects parents of students in classrooms evacuated for safety reasons and applies to all Tennessee public schools.
SB 1914 prevents Tennessee's Department of Correction from moving state inmates out of local jails into state facilities if they're in a work release or re-entry program, unless the inmate fails program requirements or has disciplinary issues. This directly affects inmates participating in these community-based programs who might otherwise face sudden relocation. The bill adds a specific legal prohibition requiring the department to maintain these inmates in local jails during program participation, barring only documented failures or misconduct. It creates a concrete policy change to support continuity in rehabilitation programs by limiting arbitrary transfers.
HB 1839 prevents Tennessee's Department of Correction from moving inmates from local jails to state facilities if they're in work release or re-entry programs. The bill specifically prohibits relocation unless an inmate fails to meet program requirements or has disciplinary issues that warrant removal. This directly affects inmates participating in these community-based programs, ensuring they can continue their supervision in local jails without unnecessary transfer. The law amends Tennessee statutes to enforce this restriction, focusing on maintaining program stability for eligible participants.
SB 1931 requires Tennessee's public charter school commission to notify the chairs of the state Senate and House education committees whenever a new "opportunity public charter school" opens in the state, including the school's location. This notification requirement amends existing state law (TCA Title 49) governing charter schools. The bill directly affects the commission, which must provide this information to legislative leaders, and the education committees, which would receive the updates. It does not change school operations or funding but adds a procedural step for legislative oversight. The bill is currently in the committee review stage.
SB 550 amends Tennessee law to require the Senate Speaker to appoint one medical cannabis commission member as a substance abuse prevention specialist, selected from a list of three names provided by the Prevention Alliance of Tennessee. This change directly affects the medical cannabis commission composition and the Prevention Alliance of Tennessee, which must submit the candidate list. The appointment must occur on or after July 1, 2025, and replaces the previous requirement for this commission role. The bill updates Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 7, regarding commission membership criteria.
