Tennessee Bills

HB 2560 amends Tennessee's emergency management code to require the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and its director to submit written reports to the governor or their designee during emergencies, in addition to existing reporting methods. This change directly affects TEMA and its leadership by clarifying their communication obligations under emergency conditions. The bill specifically updates Section 58-2-104(c) of Tennessee Code Annotated to add the written-reporting requirement. It does not create new policies or funding but standardizes emergency reporting procedures. The legislation focuses solely on procedural clarity for emergency management communications.

SB 2705 ends Hamblen County's Road Commission and replaces it with an elected Road Superintendent position, effective August 31, 2028. The bill repeals all historical laws governing the county's highway department (Chapter 313 of the 1949 Private Acts and its amendments) and creates a new elected role to manage roads, bridges, and sanitation oversight. This change directly affects Hamblen County residents through their local government structure, as the Road Superintendent will be elected by county voters every four years starting in 2028. The bill requires approval by a two-thirds vote of Hamblen County's legislative body to take effect.

SB 2703 creates an elected position for Hamblen County Attorney, replacing the previous appointment system. The bill requires the Hamblen County Commission to annually elect the County Attorney at its September meeting and sets a $1,200 annual retainer fee, with additional pay for legal services. It mandates that the bill cannot take effect without a two-thirds vote approval from Hamblen County’s legislative body. The changes directly affect Hamblen County residents by altering how their local legal representative is selected and compensated.

SB 2633 expands eligibility for tourism-related tax revenue by adding mixed-use developments containing performance venues with 2,500+ seats to the definition of "qualified public use facility" under Tennessee's tourism tax laws. It allows municipalities or public authorities that have financed such facilities within tourism development zones to use allocated sales tax revenues for authorized purposes, including these new developments. The bill specifically targets large-scale projects requiring $300 million+ in public and private investment, covering venues alongside retail, hotel, or residential components. This change directly affects local governments managing tourism zones seeking to fund qualifying developments through existing tax allocation mechanisms. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 7-88-114 and 67-4-3002.

HB 2422 deletes outdated language in Tennessee law (TCA 49-6-6013) that previously described the format for state assessment tests during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. The bill directly affects Tennessee's education code by removing obsolete references no longer applicable to current testing procedures. This administrative change does not alter current assessment requirements or the structure of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) for future school years.

SB 2557 shortens the deadline for health insurance companies to provide fee schedules to healthcare providers from 10 to 9 business days after receiving a written request. The bill requires that fee schedules be delivered free of charge, in a standard digital format (like Microsoft Excel), and can be provided as either a partial or full version as requested by the provider. This change directly affects all health insurance carriers in Tennessee and healthcare providers who need timely access to billing information for administrative and billing purposes. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee's health insurance code to implement this time reduction.

SB 2419 changes the deadline for submitting written applications for public fireworks permits in Tennessee from 10 calendar days to 10 business days before a display. This affects individuals and organizations seeking permits for public fireworks events. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 68 to shorten the submission window by excluding weekends and holidays from the required timeframe. The change aims to streamline the permitting process while maintaining a clear, consistent deadline.

SB 2707 amends Winchester's utility governance by expanding the Board of Public Utilities to include wastewater treatment systems and requiring the mayor to serve as a permanent board member during their term. It establishes four-year terms for the other four board members (with rotating expirations), mandates City Council approval for appointments, and requires the City Council to review and approve utility rates and annual budgets. These changes directly affect Winchester residents through the city's utility services, as the board now oversees water, wastewater, electricity, and other public utilities. The bill also clarifies that utility revenues must cover operational costs, debt, and infrastructure needs, with any surplus deposited into the city's general fund.

SB 2646 allows Tennessee industrial development corporations (IDCs) to merge with other corporations using the same process as public benefit corporations under Tennessee law. Specifically, it amends state code to let IDC boards initiate mergers following procedures outlined in Title 48 (Nonprofit Corporation Act), streamlining how these entities can combine. This directly affects IDCs, which are nonprofit organizations that develop industrial sites to support economic growth. The bill creates a clear legal pathway for IDCs to merge, without changing their core mission or creating new programs.

SB 2224 transfers oversight of land surveyors from the state board of examiners for land surveyors to the state board of examiners for architects and engineers. It removes the registration requirement for interior designers and adjusts how fees from contractor licensing are used, eliminating a specific funding mechanism tied to the Go Build Tennessee Act. The bill affects land surveyors, interior designers, and contractor licensing programs by changing regulatory oversight and fee allocation. These changes streamline occupational licensing by consolidating related boards and removing certain registration and funding requirements.

SB 2293 amends Tennessee law to expand the definition of "consumable material" to include all liquid nicotine solutions (natural or synthetic) and nicotine analogues used in vapor products. This change directly affects vapor product retailers and manufacturers, as it brings these nicotine liquids under the state's existing vapor product taxation rules. The bill also shifts enforcement authority: the Alcoholic Beverage Commission, rather than courts, will now issue fines for selling vapor products to anyone under 21. Additionally, it updates definitions to clarify that vapor products include e-cigarettes and related cartridges, while excluding products regulated under federal food/drug law. These provisions aim to modernize regulatory scope and enforcement for nicotine-containing vapor products.

SB 2614 would allow Tennessee county legislative bodies to set the salary for the director of accounts and budgets in counties operating under the County Purchasing Law of 1957. The bill amends state law to explicitly permit county legislative bodies to establish this compensation level, overriding any conflicting existing provisions. This change directly affects county governments using the County Purchasing Law and the specific county employees holding the director of accounts and budgets position. The bill does not apply to counties not operating under this purchasing law.