Tennessee Bills

HB 2496 updates Tennessee's tourism tax rules to include large mixed-use developments with performance venues (2,500+ seats) as eligible projects. It allows cities or public authorities in tourism development zones to use existing sales tax revenue - previously allocated for qualifying facilities - for these new types of projects, provided they meet a $300 million investment threshold. The bill specifically expands the definition of "qualified public use facility" in tourism financing law to cover such venues and their surrounding commercial/residential spaces. This directly affects municipalities managing tourism zones that have already secured sales tax allocations under existing law.

HB 2503 reduces from 10 to 9 business days the time health insurance carriers must provide healthcare providers with their fee schedules after a written request. The bill requires insurers to deliver these fee schedules - either partial or full versions as requested - free of charge, in a standard spreadsheet format (like Microsoft Excel) to the provider's dedicated email address. This change directly affects healthcare providers who request fee schedules, aiming to streamline access to billing information under Tennessee law. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee Code related to health insurance but does not alter coverage or benefits.

SB 2654 deletes an outdated requirement that previously forced certain state agencies with motor vehicle fleets larger than 10 vehicles to create plans reducing petroleum use by January 1, 2015. The bill removes Section 4-22-101 from Tennessee Code Annotated Title 4, which contained this obsolete mandate. This change affects the legal code but has no current operational impact, as the requirement's deadline (2015) has long passed. The bill amends Titles 3, 4, 8, and 9 of the Tennessee Code to eliminate the expired provision.

This bill allows private parties or events to serve alcohol without a license but prohibits serving to anyone under 21. It requires event organizers to submit proof they took reasonable steps to verify attendees' ages (e.g., ID checks). The law directly affects private event hosts, venues, and organizers who serve alcohol at gatherings. It amends Tennessee’s alcohol regulations to add this age verification requirement for private events.

SB 2461 creates a new certification requirement for individuals practicing assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Tennessee, directly affecting fertility clinics and ART practitioners. It mandates the Department of Health to establish a certification process for these professionals, requiring them to obtain a certificate to legally provide ART services. Key provisions include prohibiting genetic testing of embryos except for chromosomal abnormalities or fatal fetal anomalies, requiring use of standardized consent forms with specific patient disclosures, and mandating certified technologists to comply within 60 days of the rules taking effect. The bill also establishes definitions for ART and certified technologists across multiple health licensing chapters.

SB 2613 requires convention center authorities in Tennessee to submit an annual financial audit to the municipality that authorized their organization by January 1 each year. This bill directly affects convention center authorities and the local governments that granted them permission to operate. The key provision amends Tennessee law to mandate this annual audit filing, replacing the previous requirement with a specific January 1 deadline. The change applies to all convention center authorities operating under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 7, Chapter 89. The bill focuses on transparency by requiring municipalities to receive these audits annually.

SB 2229 amends Tennessee's Prevailing Wage Act to require that workers on non-state construction contracts for public highway projects funded by federal or state highway funds receive the prevailing wage rate. This expands the existing requirement (which previously applied only to state contracts) to cover non-state contracts for projects on public highways using public funds. The bill also updates the process for determining prevailing wages by adding "the commissioner's designee" to the development procedure. These changes apply to contracts entered into, amended, or renewed on or after the effective date.

HB 2509 establishes Tennessee's Community Workforce Housing Innovation Pilot Program, administered by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. It authorizes the agency to provide loans for constructing or rehabilitating workforce housing affordable to households earning no more than 150% of area median income, prioritizing projects that set aside at least 80% of units for workforce housing. The program requires applicants to form public-private partnerships and contribute at least 10% of project costs through grants or land donations, with funding targeted to all three grand divisions and projects near employment centers. Projects must demonstrate regulatory incentives (like streamlined permits) or innovative features (e.g., mixed-use design) to qualify for loans.

SB 2317 deletes outdated language in Tennessee's education code about the format of standardized tests (TCAP) administered during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, specifically removing Section 49-6-6013, which contained obsolete requirements for assessment formats. This is a technical correction to update the state's education code, not a new policy. It directly affects how the state's assessment program is documented in law but does not change testing procedures or requirements. The bill is procedural and focuses solely on removing redundant language from the code.

SB 2265 creates a registry within Tennessee’s Bureau of Investigation (TBI) for individuals convicted of specific retail theft crimes, including offenses under Tennessee Code §39-14-113 (organized retail theft) and related charges. The registry includes basic identifying information like name, date of birth, offense details, and conviction date, and is accessible only to law enforcement. Convicted individuals remain on the registry for 10 years after their most recent conviction, or until expungement or death is verified. The bill also increases minimum sentences for certain thefts involving firearms or devices that disable store security systems.

SB 2410 establishes Tennessee's Community Workforce Housing Innovation Pilot Program, administered by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. The program provides loans for constructing or rehabilitating housing affordable to families earning no more than 150% of the area median income (adjusted for household size), prioritizing projects setting aside at least 80% of units for workforce housing and 50% specifically for essential services personnel (like teachers, first responders, and healthcare workers). It requires applicants to form public-private partnerships, meet minimum funding contribution thresholds (10% of costs or $2 million), and demonstrates innovative design or regulatory incentives. The agency must fund at least one project in each of Tennessee’s three grand divisions (East, Middle, West) by March 2027, with interest forgiveness available for projects meeting affordability and set-aside targets.

SB 2372 expands Tennessee's criminal code to treat adulterating food, drinks, or pharmaceuticals with intent to cause involuntary intoxication as a Class D felony. It directly affects individuals who intentionally spike beverages to incapacitate others and requires bars, restaurants, and alcohol licensees to provide free, rapid drug testing devices for customers to check suspected spiked drinks. The bill mandates that testing devices detect at least 10 controlled substances and 2 date rape drugs within 5 minutes, must be readily available upon request, and must be posted prominently. Licensees are protected from liability for inaccurate test results. This law aims to address beverage tampering by imposing felony penalties and creating a safety mechanism for patrons at alcohol-serving venues.