Tennessee Bills

SB 2102 requires Tennessee's Public Utility Commission to submit its annual report comparing utility rates (for telecommunications, electricity, natural gas, water, and wastewater) between Tennessee and southeastern states via electronic means. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to authorize this electronic submission method, replacing previous requirements for physical copies. This change directly affects the Public Utility Commission, streamlining how it delivers this comparative rate analysis to the General Assembly. The bill focuses solely on the reporting method, not on altering utility rates or regulations.

SB 1672 extends the deadline for state officials to review and approve long-term tax increment revenue allocations from 30 to 45 days. It specifically applies to allocations for economic impact plans (with terms exceeding 20 years) and redevelopment/community redevelopment plans (with terms exceeding 30 years). The bill amends Tennessee law to change the timeframe for the commissioner of economic and community development and the comptroller to make written determinations on these allocations. This procedural adjustment provides additional time for administrative review without altering the policy substance or requirements.

SB 2085 (Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-24-109) increases the victims' assistance assessment fee from $45 to $125 for individuals convicted of certain crimes, including those who plead guilty, are found guilty, or enter diversion programs. The fee applies to criminal cases in Tennessee courts and directly affects convicted defendants. The bill specifies that $15 of each assessment goes to the court clerk for processing, while the remaining $110 must be sent to the county’s designated victim assistance program. This change redirects funding to support local victim services under existing state law.

SB 1610 amends Tennessee law to allow Putnam County and incorporated cities within the county meeting specific 2020 census population thresholds (366,200-366,300 for the county, 79,800-79,900 for cities) to regulate sober living homes for substance abuse recovery. The bill enables these local governments to establish rules for such homes while requiring compliance with the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act. It does not create new regulations but defines which jurisdictions can implement them. The key provision adjusts the legal definition of "local government" in state code to include these specific areas.

SB 1815 creates a new Class D felony offense for AI system owners who permit their systems to advise or encourage suicide when the user has already communicated suicidal intent. Specifically, it targets owners of AI systems (including generative AI like chatbots) that, knowing the user expressed intent to harm themselves, provide suicide-related advice without adequate safeguards. The law applies if the AI owner negligently allowed the system to remain accessible to the user during this high-risk period. This bill directly affects AI developers and companies operating systems in Tennessee, imposing criminal liability for specific AI interactions involving imminent suicide risk. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 1964 would expand seasonal fireworks sales periods for Tennessee retailers in 2026, adding Memorial Day (May 20-30) and Labor Day (September 1-10) windows alongside existing Independence Day (June 10-July 10) and New Year's (December 10-January 3) sales. It increases the seasonal retailer permit fee from $100 to $150 for 2026 and authorizes the state fire marshal to create implementing rules. All provisions apply only to the 2026 retail period and expire February 1, 2027. The bill directly affects licensed fireworks retailers operating in Tennessee during these designated holiday periods.

SB 1774 creates a criminal offense for school employees who intentionally bully or cyberbully students, directly affecting teachers and staff in Tennessee schools. The bill clarifies that school employees found to have committed bullying, harassment, or cyberbullying must face dismissal or suspension, with new definitions specifying "school employee" to include all public and private school staff. Key provisions include expanding the legal definition of bullying to cover acts disrupting education, defining "victim" as students targeted by staff, and adding automatic disciplinary consequences for violations. The law applies to all school employees and takes effect July 1, 2026, for acts occurring on or after that date.

SB 1771 would allow counties with populations under 341,500 (per 2020 census) to prohibit municipalities from enforcing zoning rules outside their city limits. If a county passes a resolution approving this, any existing zoning ordinances applied beyond municipal boundaries become invalid. The bill requires counties to adopt this resolution via majority vote, but does not apply to metropolitan counties or prevent counties/municipalities from making interlocal agreements for ongoing projects. This directly affects local governments' authority over land use planning in unincorporated areas.

SB 1773 expands Tennessee's safe surrender options for newborns by adding 24-hour ambulance stations to the list of facilities where parents can anonymously leave infants without legal consequences. It updates existing law to include ambulance stations, police stations, emergency communications centers, and licensed nursing homes that maintain continuous 24-hour staffing by licensed providers. This change gives parents more accessible locations beyond hospitals and fire stations to safely surrender infants. The bill requires all listed facilities to have licensed staff available around the clock to accept surrenders.

SB 1868 defines a new category called "child in need of heightened supervision" for children who exhibit or threaten violent behavior consistent with specific offenses (like assault), regardless of formal charges or prior adjudication. This bill directly affects children who display violent conduct in schools or communities, expanding when authorities can detain or commit them to residential care. Key provisions include updating detention criteria to include this new category, requiring notification to children about assault consequences in residential facilities, and adding a six-month extension to indefinite custody if a child assaults staff. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee’s child welfare laws to implement these changes, effective July 1, 2026.

SB 2055 requires Tennessee public schools and charter schools to permit private pay providers (licensed behavior analysts hired by families) to deliver applied behavior analysis services to students with autism or developmental delays during school hours. The bill mandates that schools allow access to students in classroom or educational settings, provided the services align with the student's individualized education plan (IEP) and parental consent is obtained. Schools must coordinate with IEP teams, ensure services don't disrupt classrooms, and cannot charge fees or block access to private providers. The law also requires private providers to comply with background checks and licensure standards, while prohibiting schools from discriminating against students receiving these services.

SB 1700, the "Curbing Harmful AI Technology (CHAT) Act," regulates companion chatbots that interact with minors under 18 in Tennessee. It requires operators to prevent chatbots from encouraging self-harm, violence, illegal activity, or secrecy, and mandates clear disclaimers that the user is not interacting with a human (at login, every 30 minutes, and when seeking regulated advice). Developers must also include mental health crisis referrals for users expressing suicidal ideation. The law directly affects companies developing or deploying companion chatbots targeting minors, excluding those used for customer service, internal business, or clinical settings under professional supervision.