Tennessee Bills

HB 2364 allows designated school employees (who complete specific training) to conduct physical searches of students and their belongings like lockers or vehicles in certain safety situations. It changes parent notification rules: schools must now only inform parents within 48 hours of a threat if the school district determines it's credible after a threat assessment, not for every reported threat. The bill also clarifies that reporting threats to school resource officers or security staff doesn't trigger the 48-hour notification requirement. This applies to all Tennessee public schools and requires school districts to report quarterly on the number of credible threats that required parent notification.

SB 1953 requires Tennessee public schools and charter schools to show a state-approved civics instructional video at least once per year to students in grades 6-8 and 9-12 as part of their social studies curriculum, starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The video must be historically accurate, avoid political advocacy, and specifically cover the Declaration of Independence preamble and the religious beliefs of founding fathers. Schools must use a video approved by the state board of education by July 2027, which cannot be created for this purpose. This bill directly affects all Tennessee public and charter schools serving those grade levels.

SB 1718 designates November 2nd of each year as "James K. Polk Day" in Tennessee, honoring the 11th U.S. President who was born in North Carolina but moved to Tennessee as a child and served as Tennessee's governor. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 15, Chapter 2, to add this annual observance to the state's list of designated days of special significance. It does not create new laws or obligations; it simply establishes a symbolic recognition of Polk's service to Tennessee and the U.S. This commemorative measure affects all Tennesseans by designating a specific date for observance.

SB 1942 designates the third Sunday in June of each year as "Fathers' Day" in Tennessee. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 15, Chapter 2, to formally establish this day of observance in state law. It does not create new obligations or change existing policies, but aligns Tennessee's recognition with the national observance date for Fathers' Day. The designation applies to state agencies and official communications, honoring fathers' roles in families without altering other legal requirements.

SB 1685 removes a requirement that structures rebuilt on a site must follow the current zoning regulations in place when construction begins. This change allows property owners and developers to rebuild using the zoning rules that applied when the original structure was built, rather than adapting to updated regulations. The bill specifically amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 13-7-208(d)(1) and (i) by deleting the referenced language. It directly affects individuals and businesses seeking to reconstruct damaged or demolished properties in areas where zoning has changed since the original building was constructed. The law would take effect upon becoming enacted.

SB 1841 clarifies that the criminal offense of "desecrating" a venerated object includes unauthorized removal of objects from burial sites. It specifically defines "desecrate" to cover removing items from burial places by anyone other than the deceased’s family or a cemetery’s authorized representative. This amendment to Tennessee law (affecting Titles 39 and 46) directly impacts individuals who disturb burial sites without proper authorization. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, and does not create new offenses but refines existing definitions.

SB 1785, as introduced, would create a temporary sales tax exemption for groceries and food ingredients purchased by Tennessee residents aged 65 or older between July 1 and September 30, 2026. This exemption applies only to regular retail sales (excluding vending machines and micro markets) during that specific period. The bill amends Tennessee tax law to establish this targeted relief for senior citizens on eligible food purchases. It remains a proposed bill pending legislative action as of the provided dates.

HB 1537 creates a Tennessee Assessor of Property Certification Board to review and certify qualifications for candidates seeking the office of county assessor of property. The board, composed of five appointed members (including representatives from state offices and professional associations), will establish certification standards and require candidates to submit documentation 14 days before qualifying deadlines. Candidates must receive board certification before appearing on ballots, and write-in candidates must be certified 64 days prior to elections. County election commissions must publish the board’s rules 60 days before qualifying deadlines for public review.

SB 1845 requires people ordered to use an ignition interlock device (for DUI offenses) to provide the court clerk with documentation proving they qualify for financial assistance from specific state or federal programs on the date they were ordered to use the device. This applies directly to individuals facing financial barriers to accessing ignition interlock services. The bill adds a mechanism where the state treasurer must work with agencies to verify eligibility through memoranda of understanding, and providers must submit this documentation to the state treasurer. It does not change eligibility criteria but streamlines verification for the electronic monitoring indigency fund.

SB 1624 requires political advertisements using deepfake technology (fake audio or video depicting a candidate) to include a clear disclaimer stating the content is not real. For audio ads, the disclaimer must appear at the start and end; for video ads, it must be visible throughout the entire ad. The law applies to ads falsely portraying a candidate speaking or acting in a way they did not actually do, with a 120-day window before elections for non-incumbent candidates. Violating this requirement is a Class C misdemeanor, and the affected candidate can seek financial damages and court-ordered relief.

SB 1698 increases the penalty for impersonating a law enforcement officer from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony when the impersonation occurs during the commission or attempt of a crime of violence. This change directly affects individuals who falsely pose as police officers while committing or attempting violent crimes. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-16-301, to establish this higher penalty level. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026.

SB 2108 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies and local governments to submit quarterly reports about individuals not lawfully present in the U.S., including arrests for immigration violations and criminal offenses. It also mandates the Department of Finance and Administration to report annually (starting December 2026) on state costs for public services like schools, prisons, and hospitals provided to this population. The bill creates a centralized immigration enforcement division to receive these reports and imposes Class A misdemeanor penalties for non-compliance. This legislation primarily affects state agencies, local officials, and law enforcement entities by establishing new data collection requirements. It does not change immigration enforcement policy but focuses on compiling information about service costs and related activities.