Tennessee Bills

SB 1926 amends Tennessee law to allow the Board of Dentistry to provide its annual report to interested parties in electronic format instead of only physical copies. This change directly affects dental professionals, patients, and other stakeholders who access these reports. The bill modifies Section 63-5-106 of the Tennessee Code by adding that "Copies of the annual report may be provided in electronic format." It does not alter dental practice standards or create new regulations, only updating the reporting method for transparency. The bill is procedural and focuses solely on administrative accessibility.

SB 1585 removes an outdated reporting requirement from Tennessee law that the Department of Education previously had to follow regarding literacy practices and standards. The bill deletes Section 49-1-908 of the Tennessee Code Annotated, eliminating a redundant administrative task that no longer served a purpose. This change affects the Department of Education by streamlining its reporting obligations without altering any education policies or requirements. The bill is procedural, amending multiple code sections to reflect the removal of the obsolete provision.

SB 1513 extends the existence of Tennessee's Department of Children's Services (DCS) until June 30, 2029, instead of allowing it to sunset earlier. It requires DCS to report to the Government Operations Committee by December 31, 2026, on its progress addressing issues identified in a December 2025 performance audit. The bill amends specific Tennessee Code sections (Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 37, Chapter 5) to implement these changes. This directly affects DCS operations and its accountability to the specified legislative committee, with no immediate changes to child welfare services or public eligibility.

SB 1668 authorizes Tennessee municipalities and metropolitan governments to adopt tiered monetary penalties for repeat violations of the same local ordinance by the same person or business within a 12-month period. This bill amends state law (TCA Sections 6-54-306, 6-54-308, and 7-3-507) to allow local governments to create escalating fines through their own ordinances, without requiring state-level specification of penalty amounts. The policy change would take effect on July 1, 2026, applying to violations occurring on or after that date. It directly affects local governments seeking to strengthen enforcement and individuals/businesses with repeated ordinance violations.

SB 1728 prohibits local governments in Tennessee from charging fees, fines, or costs against the owner of a shopping cart found on public property - such as sidewalks or streets - unless the cart was specifically removed from a retail store's premises or parking area by the owner or their employee. This directly affects retail businesses and customers who might otherwise face penalties for carts left in public spaces. The law amends Tennessee Code Sections 5-1-101 and 6-54-101 to block local ordinances that impose such fees, ensuring carts left unattended in public areas cannot be penalized. It takes effect July 1, 2026, applying only to actions after that date.

SB 1786 exempts affiliate brokers and brokers licensed under Tennessee's Real Estate Broker License Act from additional licensure requirements and classroom training hours when working as designated agents for vacation lodging service firms. The bill requires that all vacation lodging services under these exemptions must be supervised by a principal broker from an affiliate broker, broker, or firm. This change modifies Tennessee Code § 62-13-104(b)(3)(B) to clarify the exemption while maintaining supervisory oversight. The bill directly affects real estate professionals operating in the vacation lodging sector within Tennessee.

SB 1587 (Tennessee) makes it a Class A misdemeanor for a person without legal immigration status to operate a commercial motor vehicle in Tennessee. It requires law enforcement to notify federal immigration authorities when arresting such individuals and creates civil liability for employers who knowingly allow undocumented workers to drive commercial vehicles, or state officials who issue licenses to them. The bill allows the state attorney general to sue violators for at least $1 million in penalties and permits private citizens (qui tam plaintiffs) to file lawsuits on behalf of the state. This bill directly affects undocumented immigrants, employers, and state officials involved in commercial vehicle operations.

SB 1766 amends Tennessee's infrastructure development district laws to clarify procedures for establishment and management. It updates public hearing requirements for district approval (requiring joint hearings when multiple municipalities are involved), sets a 30-year maximum term for infrastructure bonds (allowing phased issuance per project phase), and permits districts to allocate special assessments toward administrative costs like property tax collection. The bill also revises dissolution rules, requiring districts to end no later than 30 years after the last special tax is levied, rather than from the district's start date. These changes directly affect municipalities creating or operating infrastructure districts for public improvement projects.

SB 1915 requires all Tennessee local governments (counties, cities, and towns) to verify that applicants over 18 for public benefits are U.S. citizens or lawfully present in the U.S. This applies to state, local, and health department programs administering benefits. The bill mandates verification before benefit distribution, with local governments implementing the requirement after July 1, 2026, when updating forms or systems. It also authorizes the attorney general to investigate violations and requires agencies to maintain verification records. The law updates existing rules to expand verification duties beyond state agencies to include all local governments.

SB 1620 requires Tennessee's Alcoholic Beverage Commission to create an annual report listing individuals convicted of alcohol-related offenses involving vaporizing devices. The report must be submitted to specific legislative committee chairs by December 1 each year, starting December 1, 2026. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 57 to establish this reporting requirement, affecting the Commission and legislative committees, but does not change existing alcohol laws or penalties.

SB 1898 directs Tennessee's TACIR to study the state's emergency communications system. The study requires TACIR to analyze funding models, emergency communications district (ECD) structures, organizational charts, and potential improvements like consolidation or standardized protocols, with a final report due by December 2026. This bill does not change current laws but will inform future legislative decisions.

SB 1692, the "Military Families Licensing Recognition Act," allows Tennessee to issue occupational licenses to active or retired military members and their spouses/dependents who hold valid licenses in another state or the military. It requires applicants to confirm they held a license in good standing for at least one year, meet education/experience standards, and have no disqualifying criminal records or pending complaints. Licensing boards must issue licenses within 10 business days after verifying the applicant’s claims under penalty of perjury. The law does not override state regulations or allow out-of-state work under interstate compacts, and licenses are valid only within Tennessee.