Tennessee Bills

HB 2641 changes Morristown's city council election system by replacing ward-based elections with citywide at-large elections. It eliminates council wards, requiring all voters to elect all six council members (identified as Seats 1-6) and the mayor in single citywide races, rather than district-specific votes. The bill includes a transition period: current council members representing specific wards (based on their last election dates in 2021 or 2023) will retain their seats until new elections in 2026 or 2028, after which all seats will be elected citywide. The law requires approval by Morristown's legislative body to take effect.

HB 2537 terminates Tennessee's state credit union share insurance corporation and its capital fund, ending the state program that previously protected credit union members' deposits. The bill requires all Tennessee credit unions to obtain share insurance through the National Credit Union Association (NCUA) instead of the state program, unless the commissioner determines otherwise. It also modifies examination requirements for credit unions, allowing annual exams to be extended up to 24 months based on factors like management quality and risk profile. These changes directly affect all Tennessee credit unions operating under state law.

HB 2116 designates the residential burn building at the Tennessee Fire Services and Codes Enforcement Academy as the "Charles 'Charlie' J. Lewis Residential Burn Building" to honor his service to Tennessee's firefighting community. The bill requires the academy to install signage or markers identifying the building with this new name using existing resources. This is a ceremonial designation with no policy changes or financial impact, directly affecting the building's name and the academy's signage.

HB 1954 would allow healthcare providers working with correctional facilities to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder treatment, expanding current rules. It specifically modifies Tennessee law to include providers subcontracted through healthcare vendors contracted with the Department of Correction or county/municipal jails, provided other specified criteria are met. The bill amends Sections 53-11-311 and 63 of Tennessee Code to enable this expanded access within correctional healthcare settings. The bill is currently in committee review (as of February 2026) and has not yet become law. It directly affects correctional healthcare providers and incarcerated individuals receiving opioid treatment in Tennessee facilities.

SB 2003 requires all Tennessee safety rest areas with public restrooms to provide at least one family restroom by 2028. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) must fund and build these facilities using existing resources, without new taxes. TDOT must submit a construction schedule by July 2026 and complete at least one family restroom at a rest stop by July 2028. This directly affects travelers, especially families with young children or caregivers, by improving restroom accessibility at highway rest stops. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 54-21-102 and 4-3-2316.

HB 1642 removes expiration dates for specific public record exemptions in Tennessee law, amending TCA Section 10-7-504. The bill deletes five listed exemptions (including those related to law enforcement records and personnel files) that previously had set end dates. This change makes these exemptions permanent, meaning government agencies no longer need to re-evaluate their applicability after a certain period. The bill directly affects state and local government agencies that manage public records, as it alters how long certain information remains exempt from disclosure requests under the state’s open records law.

HB 2021 amends Tennessee law to clarify the scope of practice for podiatrists by updating the anatomical description of where they can treat soft tissue. The bill replaces the previous reference to "soft tissue structures extending no higher than the distal tibial metaphyseal flair" with "soft tissue of the lower leg distal to the tibial tuberosity." This change directly affects licensed podiatrists in Tennessee by defining their practice boundaries more clearly - allowing treatment of soft tissue below the tibial tuberosity (a bony bump on the shin) rather than the prior complex anatomical point near the knee. The amendment aims to simplify legal language without altering the fundamental scope of podiatry practice.

SB 1649 requires Tennessee's governor to obtain legislative confirmation (via joint resolution of both the Senate and House) before appointing members to state university boards. It also mandates that all new board terms begin on February 1 and last six years, replacing the previous practice of immediate appointment. Current board members' terms are extended to January 31 of the year following their expiration to align with the new start date. This bill directly affects state university board appointments and the timing of their service.

HB 2017 prevents local governments (cities, counties, towns) from regulating how wildlife is taken, including firearm discharge during lawful hunting. It clarifies that only the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission sets rules and proclamations for hunting methods, amending Tennessee Code Sections 39-17-1314, 70-1-206, and 70-4-107. The bill ensures hunters using Commission-approved methods during designated seasons can legally hunt with firearms in areas designated by the Commission. This shifts regulatory authority from local entities to the Commission, taking effect immediately upon enactment.

SB 2064 requires Tennessee counties, cities, towns, and special taxing districts to hold a voter referendum before increasing property tax rates that would exceed inflation plus 2% in a single year or inflation plus 6% over three years. Local governments must first secure a two-thirds vote from their governing body to trigger the referendum, which must be held during a regular November election. This rule does not apply to taxes for bond payments, comptroller actions, or utility rate changes. The bill amends Tennessee tax laws and takes effect for tax years beginning July 1, 2026.

HB 2521 extends the period employers must maintain criminal background checks for firefighters from one to two years after employment ends. It directly affects all Tennessee fire departments (both paid and volunteer) that require background checks as a condition of employment. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 68-102-308(b)(2) and related provisions in Titles 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 38, 50, and 68 to implement this two-year maintenance requirement. This change applies to current personnel and applicants for fire protection positions.

This bill changes a residency requirement for South Pittsburg's city administrator. Instead of needing to live within the city limits, the administrator must reside within a 50-mile radius of the city after 90 days of starting the job. The city council must approve this change with a two-thirds vote before it takes effect. The bill applies only to South Pittsburg under state law.