Tennessee Bills

HB 852 extends the timeframe for handgun permit holders to challenge a suspension or revocation from 30 to 60 days. It directly affects individuals whose Tennessee handgun carry permits have been suspended or revoked by the Department of Safety, allowing them more time to petition a state court for review. The bill amends Tennessee Code Section 39-17-1354 to change the deadline for filing such petitions. This is a procedural adjustment with no new requirements or restrictions on permits. The change takes effect July 1, 2025.

HB 1248 extends the deadline for permit holders to notify the Tennessee Department of Safety of a new address from 60 to 90 days after changing their principal residence. This change applies to various permit holders covered under multiple Tennessee Code sections (including Titles 4, 8, 10, 13, 16, 29, 33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 47, 49, 50, 52, 55, 58, 62, 65, 68, and 70). The bill directly affects individuals holding permits regulated by these sections who relocate. It requires no new requirements - only delays the existing notification deadline by 30 days. The change takes effect July 1, 2025.

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.

SB 420 prohibits insurers, pharmacy benefits managers, and third-party administrators in Tennessee from altering health plan coverage terms - such as cost-sharing or benefit design - based on whether a patient has access to prescription drug assistance programs (like manufacturer coupons or patient aid). This directly affects health plan enrollees who use such programs to lower drug costs. The bill requires insurers to calculate cost-sharing contributions based on actual patient payments, not external assistance, and applies to plans entered into or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. It aims to prevent insurers from penalizing patients for utilizing available drug cost-saving resources.

HB 1394 requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to maintain copies of all original investigative materials - such as audio/video recordings, transcripts, documents, and digital media - with each case file. This applies to all materials generated by the TBI that are relevant to an investigation. The bill mandates this record-keeping for every TBI investigation, amending specific Tennessee Code sections to formalize the requirement. The policy change directly affects the TBI's internal procedures for handling case documentation.

HB 1395 restores voting rights for Tennessee residents convicted of an "infamous crime" once their sentence (including incarceration, probation, or parole) ends, without requiring them to pay restitution, court costs, or be current on child support. The bill removes previous barriers by automatically reinstating voting rights upon sentence completion, rather than requiring court approval or full citizenship restoration. It specifically affects individuals with such convictions who have served their sentences, clarifying that only voting rights - not full citizenship - are restored. The law updates voter registration forms and election codes to reflect this change, ensuring eligibility is determined solely by sentence completion. This policy change applies to convictions both before and after May 18, 1981.

HB 723 amends Tennessee law to change the deadline by which the fiscal review committee must report inflation-adjusted criminal fine ranges. Instead of reporting by January 15, the committee must now submit its annual report by February 15, using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index data to calculate compounded cost-of-living adjustments for statutory fines. This bill affects all criminal offense classifications covered under Tennessee’s criminal codes (Titles 16, 36-40, 49, 55, and 65) by establishing a standardized process for periodically updating fine amounts to reflect inflation. The change only modifies the reporting timeline and calculation method - no current fine amounts are altered. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

HB 1064 requires courts to order GPS monitoring for defendants accused of specific serious offenses as a condition of bail, including cases involving firearms, domestic assault, vehicle burglary, reckless driving, drag racing, or repeat offenses. It directly affects individuals charged with these offenses who are released before trial. Key provisions mandate GPS monitoring unless the court finds the defendant no longer poses a threat, require monthly court reporting on monitored defendants, and update bail condition procedures. The bill also modifies related laws to clarify victim protections and reporting requirements for violations.

HB 931 amends Tennessee law to create a legal presumption that a homeowner acted in self-defense when using force likely to cause death or serious injury against an armed intruder. This presumption applies specifically when the intruder is unlawfully on the property (but outside the main home structure) and armed with a deadly weapon. The bill directly affects homeowners who use force against such intruders, shifting the burden to prosecutors to disprove self-defense in these scenarios. It does not change general self-defense rules but adds this specific presumption for armed intruders on property outside the home's enclosed structure.

HB 625 creates an automatic presumption requiring emergency detention and mental evaluation for defendants charged with specific serious crimes (those carrying 85% mandatory sentence time before parole eligibility) who are ordered by a court to undergo a mental evaluation for competency or mental state at the time of the crime. This presumption can only be overturned by "clear and convincing evidence" showing the person poses no immediate risk of serious harm. The bill directly affects criminal defendants in Tennessee facing certain violent or severe offenses who are undergoing court-ordered mental health assessments. It amends Tennessee law in Titles 33, 40, and 52 to establish this new standard for emergency detention.

HB 1444 increases penalties for aggravated cruelty to animals in Tennessee, raising the offense from a Class E to a Class D felony. It also adds this crime to the list of offenses that can lead to juveniles being classified as "serious youthful offenders" under state law. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of severe animal cruelty (including juveniles) and takes effect July 1, 2026. These changes amend Tennessee Code Sections 39-14-212 (criminal penalties) and 37-1-131 (juvenile classification).