Tennessee Bills

This bill extends the expiration date of Tennessee's Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners from its current date to June 30, 2031. It amends two sections of Tennessee law (TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 63, Chapter 3) to update the board's authorization period. The change is administrative, maintaining the board's existing authority without altering its responsibilities or regulatory scope. This routine extension ensures continuity for the board overseeing podiatric medical licensure and practice standards.

SB 2015 prohibits Tennessee state agencies from using state funds, personnel, or resources to support U.S. immigration and customs enforcement activities within the state. It directly affects state law enforcement, correctional facilities, and government departments that might otherwise collaborate with federal immigration authorities. The bill bans state funding for any activities related to immigration enforcement, including criminal investigations or enforcement of immigration laws. This is a spending restriction that would prevent state resources from being directed toward federal immigration operations. The bill applies to all state resources and takes effect upon becoming law.

HB 1927 extends a deadline for Tennessee school districts and public charter schools to qualify for funding under the Education Freedom Act of 2025 to award teacher bonuses. It allows local boards or governing bodies that missed the initial funding window to pass a required resolution and notify the Department of Education by June 1, 2026, to receive funds for bonuses paid to teachers employed during the 2024-2025 school year. Each eligible teacher receives a one-time $2,000 bonus, with unused portions redistributed to current teachers if a 2024-2025 teacher is no longer employed when funds are distributed. The bill specifically excludes teachers not employed in K-12 public schools during the 2024-2025 school year.

HB 1568 extends the committee for clinical perfusionists in Tennessee until June 30, 2031. This committee, established to address matters related to clinical perfusionists (healthcare professionals who operate heart-lung machines during surgery), was scheduled to expire earlier. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 4-29-247 and 4-29-252 to implement this extension. This procedural change ensures the committee can continue its work without requiring new legislative action.

HB 1502 authorizes the Tennessee Corrections Institute to set training standards and certify local corrections officers and training academies for jails and lock-ups. It requires local facilities to submit plans of action within 90 days after inspections to address non-safety issues, with limits on plan duration. The bill also allows the Institute's director and full-time staff to carry firearms while performing official duties. This directly affects corrections officers, local correctional facilities, and the Tennessee Corrections Institute staff.

HB 1791 expands when the Tennessee state government may appeal certain court decisions before final judgment. It specifically allows the state to appeal as of right in five situations: when courts grant or modify injunctions against the state, deny immunity claims (sovereign or qualified), or deny motions to dismiss cases challenging the constitutionality of state laws, executive orders, or administrative rules. This change directly affects the state as a legal party and state officials in civil litigation. The bill modifies Tennessee's appeal procedures by adding these specific scenarios to the state's right to seek immediate review of interlocutory court orders.

HB 1942 expands eligibility under Tennessee's 2021 Precious Cargo Act to include drivers with communication disorders like stuttering as qualifying medical conditions. It directly affects drivers who have speech, language, or fluency disorders and need to communicate with first responders during traffic stops. The bill amends the state vehicle registration system (VTRS) to add these conditions to the database, allowing drivers to indicate their need for communication assistance. This change requires no new paperwork but updates the existing system to recognize these disorders as qualifying medical conditions. The amendment takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1907 revises Tennessee's procedures for handling document requests involving the state retirement system (TCRS). It allows TCRS employees to provide copies of records (via microfilm, fax, or electronic means) instead of originals, accompanied by a custodian's affidavit confirming accuracy and authority. The bill specifies that custodians must appear in person only if a genuine dispute arises about record accuracy. It also updates rules for retirement benefit payments after death, ensuring payments for the month of death go to the retiree or beneficiary as applicable. These changes primarily affect court cases involving TCRS records and streamline administrative processes for retirement system staff.

HB 1515 extends the deadline for filing exceptions to property assessments from 20 to 25 days. It directly affects individuals and businesses assessed by Tennessee's comptroller of the treasury who wish to challenge those assessments. The bill changes the timeline so exceptions must now be filed within 25 days after the first Monday in September, providing an additional five days for review. This amendment updates Tennessee Code sections related to property assessments and appeals processes.

HB 1676 adds Claiborne, Union, and Grainger counties to the North East Tennessee Railroad Authority, expanding its membership from three to six counties (Anderson, Campbell, Scott, Claiborne, Union, and Grainger). The bill updates the authority's structure to ensure railroad service continuity and economic benefits across all six counties. It revises membership rules, requiring at least four counties to join via a two-thirds vote of their local governing bodies. This change formally extends the authority's jurisdiction to include the three newly added counties.

HB 1496 requires Tennessee's Secretary of State to exclude personal mailing addresses and telephone numbers of agency members from annual publications of agency information. This change directly affects agency members by protecting their personal contact details, which the bill designates as confidential. The law amends existing code to mandate this exclusion in the Secretary of State's annual compilation, effective July 1, 2026.

HB 1615 extends the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission's existence until June 30, 2030, by amending Tennessee Code Sections 4-29-247 and 4-29-251. This bill directly affects public charter schools and the commission itself, which oversees charter school operations and approvals. The key provision removes an outdated reference and formally defines the commission within the code, ensuring its continued authority beyond its current expiration date. The change provides long-term stability for charter school governance without altering existing charter school regulations or funding mechanisms.