Tennessee Bills

SB 2059 authorizes Tennessee's Public Utility Commission (PUC) to provide its annual report electronically to the state General Assembly. The report covers the PUC's operations, utility company activities under its jurisdiction, and meeting minutes from the previous year. This bill amends Tennessee Code sections to update the reporting requirement from physical to electronic delivery, streamlining how lawmakers receive this information. It directly affects the PUC (which must issue the report) and the General Assembly (which receives it), but does not change the content or substance of the report itself. The change is purely procedural, making report distribution more efficient.

SB 1936 creates a new licensing system for facilities providing nonresidential care to medically dependent children under 20 who require technology-based nursing care (e.g., ventilators or feeding tubes). These "prescribed pediatric extended care centers" must serve four or more unrelated minors and provide care for no more than 12 hours per day. The bill requires TennCare (Tennessee’s Medicaid program) to seek federal approval to cover services from these licensed centers. It defines key terms like "medically dependent minor" and sets requirements for facility licensing, including background checks and facility zoning compliance.

SB 2010, the "Regulate Artificial Intelligence in Health Care Act," requires health insurance companies to have licensed healthcare professionals review AI-driven decisions about whether medical care is medically necessary before denying or delaying treatment. It directly affects health insurance issuers - including TennCare, pharmacy benefits managers, and large insurers - that use AI tools for prior authorization decisions. The bill prohibits AI systems from making final medical necessity determinations alone, mandating that licensed providers evaluate each case based on patient history and clinical details. Violations are considered unfair claims practices, allowing affected individuals to sue for damages, including attorney fees, and the law takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1737 modifies Tennessee's firearm laws by removing specific criminal penalties related to firearm possession. It eliminates offenses for individuals convicted of stalking or DUI in certain circumstances (previously barred from carrying firearms), as well as for people under 25 who were adjudicated delinquent for certain juvenile offenses. The bill also removes the criminal prohibition against possessing or carrying weapons in public parks, playgrounds, and recreational areas. These changes amend multiple sections of Tennessee Code Annotated, including Title 39 (criminal procedure), Title 16 (criminal justice), and others, to update firearm possession restrictions.

SB 2071 prohibits businesses from requiring customers to use programmable money (digital currency with built-in transaction rules) for payments and bans digital payment providers from denying transactions based on protected characteristics like race, religion, political views, or medical history. If a transaction is denied, providers must explain the reason within 90 days upon request. Violations are treated as breaches of Tennessee’s Consumer Protection Act, enabling legal action and remedies. This law directly affects digital payment services and consumers using programmable money in Tennessee.

HB 2062 raises Tennessee's legal threshold for marijuana possession that triggers a Class A misdemeanor from 1/2 ounce to 5 ounces. For first-time possession of less than 5 ounces, the penalty would be a $500 fine; repeat offenses would incur a $1,000 fine. This bill directly affects individuals possessing marijuana between 1/2 ounce and 5 ounces, which previously faced misdemeanor charges at the lower threshold. The changes, effective July 1, 2026, apply to Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-17-418 and § 39-17-417.

SB 1807 prohibits businesses in Tennessee from using computer algorithms to set prices for specific goods or services based on personal data about individual consumers. This directly affects companies like ride-sharing apps, e-commerce platforms, or retailers that adjust prices using personal information such as location, browsing history, or purchase patterns. The bill exempts insurance companies, financial institutions under federal law, and existing subscription agreements. Violations would be treated as unfair business practices under Tennessee’s Consumer Protection Act, subject to penalties and remedies under that law, effective July 1, 2026.

SB 1796 requires Tennessee's Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance to publish a report by October 1, 2026, detailing alleged violations of pharmacy reimbursement laws (specifically §56-7-3124) by pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) during the prior fiscal year. The report must include the total number of reported violations, the commissioner's investigation findings, and any penalties imposed for violations. This bill directly affects PBMs (who manage prescription drug benefits for insurers) and pharmacies that may face delayed reimbursements, by mandating transparency in enforcement actions without creating new penalties or requirements.

SB 2044 directs Tennessee's Department of Health to study health concerns and barriers to care specifically for people whose biological sex is female. The bill requires the department to identify obstacles in receiving better healthcare and submit a final report to the Tennessee General Assembly by January 1, 2027. It amends multiple sections of Tennessee law (Titles 28, 29, 49, 56, 63, and 68) related to definitions of biological sex. This is a procedural bill focused solely on mandating a study and report, with no immediate policy changes or direct impacts on healthcare services.

SB 604 requires pharmacy services organizations (like administrative groups that handle pharmacy data) to destroy any pharmacy cost information they receive within five business days of a written request from the pharmacy that shared it. This applies directly to pharmacies and the organizations they contract with for services. The bill amends Tennessee law to prevent these organizations from retaining or disclosing shared pharmacy data without the original pharmacy's explicit consent for destruction. It creates a clear, time-bound process for pharmacies to control their own shared information.

SB 1185, the "Small Business Growth and Empowerment Act," creates a state fund to provide grants for minority-owned and women-owned businesses in underserved areas. The bill authorizes grants for specific economic development activities like site development, training, and infrastructure, and establishes a 50% tax credit for qualifying small businesses that hire locally or provide workforce training. It directly affects minority- and women-owned businesses in communities with limited access to capital, defining "underserved areas" as rural, inner-city, or historically disadvantaged regions. The fund must be managed to ensure spending aligns with program goals, with quarterly public reporting on grant recipients and amounts. The bill amends Tennessee Code to establish this fund and the tax credit mechanism.

HB 850 requires government officials (including police, inspectors, and wildlife officials) to obtain a search warrant identifying the specific person or property targeted before entering private property for a search. This applies to all federal, state, and local government employees or contractors conducting searches, with exceptions only for judicially recognized warrant exceptions like emergencies. Officials who fail to get a valid warrant when required would face a Class C misdemeanor charge. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to implement this warrant requirement, effective July 1, 2025.