Tennessee Bills

SB 2227 removes a reporting requirement for Tennessee's Department of Health regarding remote access to the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program. Specifically, it deletes subsection (b) of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 68-1-144, which had mandated a report due December 15, 2022, about remote use of the WIC program. The bill does not change WIC program operations or eligibility; it only eliminates an outdated administrative reporting obligation. This is a procedural change affecting the Department of Health's record-keeping, not the program's service delivery.

SB 2431 removes the requirement for a license from Tennessee's health facilities commission for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) services that are not used for diagnostic purposes. This change directly affects healthcare facilities offering these imaging services for non-diagnostic uses, such as research or patient comfort, rather than medical diagnosis. The bill amends Tennessee Code to exclude non-diagnostic MRI and PET from licensing requirements under health facility regulations. The exemption will take effect on July 1, 2026.

HB 2612 requires Tennessee driver license staff to ask applicants at the time of application or renewal whether they want a REAL ID-compliant license (meeting federal security standards) or a non-REAL ID-compliant license. Applicants must receive a printed document explaining the different document requirements, acceptable uses (like domestic air travel), alternatives (such as a passport), and technology differences between the two license types. This makes REAL ID compliance optional for all applicants without changing federal requirements, and staff must process non-REAL ID applications if chosen. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 2468 requires Tennessee courts to impose a mandatory fine equal to at least twice the cost of property damage or restoration when vandalism occurs at a house of worship (like a church, synagogue, or mosque). This applies specifically to sentencing for vandalism offenses committed at these locations, directly affecting both the convicted individual and the affected house of worship. The bill amends Tennessee criminal code to add this penalty as part of the sentence, overriding standard sentencing guidelines for such cases. It takes effect July 1, 2026, if passed.

SB 2469 authorizes sitting or retired chancery, circuit, appellate, or governor-appointed judges to carry firearms in any location where law enforcement officers are permitted to carry weapons, provided the judge already qualifies for an enhanced handgun permit under existing law. The bill amends Tennessee law to explicitly extend this carrying right to qualifying judges, matching the access granted to police officers. It does not create new permit requirements but applies to judges who meet current enhanced permit criteria. The legislation affects only specific judicial officers who satisfy the existing handgun permit standards.

SB 2213 requires public utilities to submit written requests to the Tennessee Public Utility Commission when seeking cost recovery for innovative natural gas infrastructure projects. This amendment directly affects utilities that build or upgrade natural gas systems, changing the process from oral requests to formal written submissions. The bill modifies specific sections of Tennessee law (TCA Title 65, Section 65-5-114(c)) to mandate this written requirement. It is a procedural change focused on administrative clarity, not a substantive policy shift for consumers or infrastructure development.

HB 2290 requires fertility clinics and practitioners in Tennessee to obtain certification from the Department of Health to provide assisted reproductive technology (ART) services. It creates new rules mandating certification for ART practice, limits genetic embryo testing to chromosomal abnormalities or fatal fetal anomalies, and requires standardized consent forms explaining embryo care options. The bill defines ART using federal standards (42 U.S.C. § 263a-7) and prohibits unlicensed practice, applying directly to all ART providers in the state. These changes take effect once the certification process is established, with providers needing certification within 60 days of rule implementation.

HB 2533 terminates Tennessee's dyslexia advisory council and directs the existing advisory council for students with disabilities to handle dyslexia-related matters. It dissolves the energy efficient schools council and creates a new Office of Energy Efficient Schools within the state education department. The bill expands eligibility for individualized education accounts, allowing more students to access these funding options. These changes are part of broader revisions to Tennessee's education laws across multiple statutes.

HB 2320 requires convention center authorities in Tennessee to submit an annual audit of their finances to the municipality that authorized their creation, by January 1 each year. This bill directly affects convention center authorities and the local municipalities that granted them permission to operate. The key provision amends Tennessee law to mandate this annual audit submission to the municipality's governing body, replacing previous requirements with a specific deadline. The bill focuses on increasing financial transparency for these authorities without changing their operational structure or funding.

HB 2476 requires local government retirement programs (including Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System and non-TCRS plans) to invest assets solely for financial reasons, excluding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. It mandates that fiduciaries managing these funds conduct an economic analysis to demonstrate votes on shareholder proposals are financially motivated, and prohibits subordinating financial interests to ESG considerations. The bill affects all local retirement programs administering benefits for public employees, requiring them to prioritize financial returns for beneficiaries. Key provisions include annual disclosure of voting records and strict adherence to financial criteria in investment decisions, as defined in amended Tennessee Code § 9-4-1405.

HB 2270 directs Tennessee's Department of Finance and Administration to study and report on state funding sources derived from lawsuits or investigations that support children's online mental health and safety. Specifically, it requires a report by January 15, 2027, detailing how funds - such as civil penalties from cases under the Protecting Children from Social Media Act - are used to protect children online. The bill does not create new laws or change funding allocations but mandates this review to inform future decisions. It is a procedural measure focused solely on gathering information, not implementing policy changes.

SB 2473 changes Tennessee law to extend the deadline for metropolitan airport authorities to submit their annual operating budgets. Specifically, it increases the required submission window from 60 days to 75 days before the fiscal year begins. This affects the president of each metropolitan airport authority, who must now submit the budget to the board for approval 75 days prior to the fiscal year start date. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.