Tennessee Bills

HB 1472, titled the "Banning Bostock Act," amends Tennessee's anti-discrimination laws to explicitly exclude protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. It prohibits state and local laws from banning discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, or gender non-conforming behavior, and prevents courts from using the *Bostock v. Clayton County* Supreme Court ruling (which extended workplace protections to LGBTQ+ employees) when interpreting Tennessee's discrimination statutes. The bill directly affects LGBTQ+ residents by limiting legal safeguards in employment, housing, and public accommodations, while allowing sex-segregated facilities like restrooms and sports teams. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and would reshape how Tennessee enforces its anti-discrimination policies.

SB 1064 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to compile and submit a report by January 1, 2026, listing all psychotropic medications (as defined under current law) and their side effects. The report must be sent to the chairs of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and the relevant House health committee. This bill directly affects the Department of Health, mandating a specific data-gathering task to inform legislative committees. It does not create new laws or alter existing medication regulations but establishes a reporting requirement for transparency. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to implement this procedural obligation.

HB 846 requires Tennessee's State Board of Examiners for Architects and Engineers to publish exam schedules and passing scores on its website. This affects individuals seeking engineer intern certificates or professional engineer licenses by making exam details (times, locations, and required passing grades) publicly accessible online. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 62-2-405 (in Title 62) and related sections (Titles 49 and 63) to mandate this transparency. The provision aims to clarify licensing requirements without changing the exam content or standards.

HB 315 creates "covenant marriage" in Tennessee as a voluntary option for couples who commit to a lifelong marital relationship. To enter a covenant marriage, couples must complete premarital counseling emphasizing lifelong commitment, sign a specific declaration (including a written promise to preserve marriage), and file it with the county clerk. Divorce is only permitted if one spouse proves the other committed a "complete and total breach" of the marital covenant, unlike regular divorce which has broader grounds. This applies to new marriages starting July 1, 2025, and existing marriages that later choose to convert to covenant status.

SB 568 prohibits the sale, distribution, and importation of cell-cultured food products (lab-grown meat or seafood produced without animal slaughter) within Tennessee. It directly affects food businesses, importers, and distributors handling these products. Key provisions include a $1 million fine for violations, potential revocation of food establishment permits, and a process for the commissioner to issue stop-sale orders after a hearing. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

HB 947, "Akilah's Law," creates a new criminal offense for selling, offering to sell, delivering, or transferring a firearm to someone known to have been a patient in a mental health facility within the past five years. It directly affects firearm sellers and individuals with recent mental health institutionalization (excluding those treated solely for voluntary alcohol abuse without other conditions). The law amends Tennessee statutes to prohibit these transactions and defines "mental institution" broadly to include hospitals, clinics, and evaluation facilities. The law will take effect on July 1, 2025, and applies to all firearm transfers, not just sales.

HB 1189 updates Tennessee law by renaming "handgun carry permits" to "firearm carry permits" across multiple statutes. The bill directly affects permit holders by allowing them to carry any legally owned firearm (not just handguns) under their permit. Key provisions replace "handgun" with "firearm" in 37 sections of Tennessee Code, including definitions, permit validity, and restrictions. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, for permits issued prior to that date. This is a technical terminology update, not a new policy on gun ownership or carry.

SB 1145 requires funeral homes or government agencies handling bodies for burial to bury the body within 48 hours if they do not request an autopsy or embalming. This applies when the agency waives its right to request either procedure. The rule does not apply if an autopsy is legally required under existing laws (such as Tennessee’s Post-Mortem Examination Act in Title 38). The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, and amends multiple Tennessee code sections governing burial procedures.

SJR 422 is a non-binding resolution directing Tennessee's Governor to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a supplemental medical benefits program called the CHAMP Plan. The resolution requires the Governor to specifically assess whether Champion Health, Inc.'s proposed plan - where employees voluntarily contribute pre-tax dollars for supplemental coverage that may increase take-home pay - could be added to the state's existing health benefits for employees and retirees. The evaluation must analyze potential cost savings, ensure the program is voluntary, and report findings to the legislature within 60 days of a pilot program's conclusion, with no commitment to adopt the plan.

SB 2281 removes a regulatory requirement for nonresidential medication-based treatment centers treating opiate addiction in Tennessee. Specifically, it deletes provisions that currently mandate these centers obtain a state "certificate of need" to operate. The change takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting opioid treatment providers that offer outpatient care using medications like methadone or buprenorphine. This policy simplifies the process for these facilities to establish or expand services without prior state approval.

HB 2170 allows healthcare nonprofits serving low-income patients under Tennessee's Memphis Plan Act to file their annual reports electronically with the Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance, instead of only submitting paper copies. This bill specifically affects not-for-profit corporations that provide healthcare services to low-income individuals through the Memphis Plan Act of 1991. The key change amends Tennessee law to explicitly permit electronic filing as an option for these annual reports, while maintaining the requirement to file them. The bill does not alter the content of the reports or the entities required to submit them, only the method of submission. This change aims to modernize administrative processes for these specific healthcare providers.

HB 2473 deletes an obsolete section (TCA 68-5-114) that previously required a task force to study prevention methods for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes in Tennessee. The bill amends Titles 53 and 68 of the Tennessee Code to remove this outdated provision. It does not create new policies, programs, or affect any current health initiatives. The change solely removes a reference to a defunct task force requirement. This is a procedural cleanup with no direct impact on residents or healthcare delivery.