Tennessee Bills

HB 1662 upgrades certain trespass offenses to Class C felonies in Tennessee. Specifically, it increases penalties for "aggravated criminal trespass" when a trespasser encounters a property owner using or displaying a firearm in self-defense. The bill also expands the definition of aggravated trespass to include causing fear for others' safety, damaging barriers to enter property, or recklessly damaging property on-site. This change directly affects individuals committing trespass on private property, particularly in scenarios where owners defend themselves with firearms. The law would take effect July 1, 2026, applying to offenses occurring on or after that date.

SB 2095 increases Tennessee's legal possession limit for marijuana from one-half ounce to five ounces, meaning possession within this new range remains a misdemeanor offense. It sets a $500 fine for a first offense and $1,000 for subsequent offenses, replacing the previous penalties. The bill directly affects individuals possessing between 0.5 and 5 ounces of marijuana, adjusting both the legal threshold and financial penalties. The changes take effect on July 1, 2026, and amend Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 39-17-417 and 39-17-418.

SB 2058, the "Supporting Troopers through Advanced Retirement (STAR) Act," creates an optional retirement plan for Tennessee state troopers. It allows current troopers to switch to this enhanced defined benefit plan, requiring a one-time 5% contribution for those leaving the legacy plan (no fee for hybrid plan members), with ongoing 5% monthly contributions. Troopers earn benefits equal to 3% of their average final salary per year of service, reaching a maximum 75% benefit at 25 years of service. Eligible troopers can also defer retirement to keep working full-time for up to eight years while their retirement benefits accumulate in an interest-bearing account.

SB 2060 requires counties with populations under 800,000 and non-metropolitan municipalities to provide unpaid, job-protected leave for certain medical emergencies to eligible employees starting January 1, 2027. It applies to county and municipal workers who have completed 11 months/3 weeks of service, meet federal FMLA eligibility, and have no other available leave options for the emergency. The bill defines "qualifying medical emergencies" as birth, stillbirth, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, or the employee’s own serious health condition. It does not apply to counties over 800,000 population or those with metropolitan government structures. This policy change mandates local government employers to establish leave policies aligning with federal FMLA standards for covered employees.

SB 1825 prohibits individuals who hold dual citizenship or are not natural-born U.S. citizens from qualifying as candidates in Tennessee's primary elections for federal office (such as Congress or the presidency). It directly affects prospective candidates for federal positions seeking party nominations in Tennessee primaries. The bill defines "dual citizenship" as holding U.S. citizenship alongside another country's citizenship and "natural-born citizen" as someone born in the U.S. or born abroad to U.S. citizen parents. This amendment to Tennessee election law would change eligibility requirements for federal primary candidates starting upon enactment.

HB 1769, "The Intercollegiate Student-Athlete Protection Act," creates new criminal offenses for harassment targeting student athletes in Tennessee. It defines "student athlete harassment" as threats or repeated bullying related to athletic performance that causes emotional distress, with first offenses classified as Class A misdemeanors (up to 11 months in jail) and repeat offenses as Class E felonies. The bill grants victims a private right to sue offenders for $75,000 per violation plus actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. It also clarifies that electronic service providers are not liable for disclosing user data under valid warrants or court orders.

SB 1830, the Intercollegiate Student-Athlete Protection Act, creates a new criminal offense for harassment targeting student athletes in Tennessee. It specifically prohibits threats related to athletic performance or repeated sports-related bullying (including cyberbullying) that causes emotional distress. A first offense is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, while second or subsequent offenses are Class E felonies. The bill also grants victims a private right to sue convicted perpetrators, allowing recovery of at least $75,000 per violation plus actual damages, attorney fees, and other remedies. The law applies to all student athletes at Tennessee colleges participating in intercollegiate sports and takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 465 extends the time for health care professionals to challenge licensing denials from 30 to 60 business days. It directly affects individuals, applicants, licensees, certificate holders, or registrants in health-related fields who receive a notice from a licensing authority denying an application or renewal due to a prior criminal conviction. The bill amends Tennessee law (Titles 39, 40, 63, and 68) to change the filing deadline for petitions in Davidson County chancery court. This change takes effect on July 1, 2025, providing more time to address licensing decisions.

SB 459 changes Tennessee's deadline for the medical cannabis commission to submit its annual findings and recommendations to the state legislature, extending it from January 1 to January 15. This procedural adjustment affects the commission's reporting schedule and the legislature's timeline for reviewing cannabis-related data. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law related to controlled substances and cannabis regulations, but does not alter medical cannabis policies or access. The change applies to the commission's annual reporting obligation under Title 68 of the Tennessee Code.

HB 626 requires Tennessee law enforcement officers to take specific action when they observe someone who has an active order of protection against them but hasn't been served the document. If an officer sees this situation in person, they must notify the sheriff's department of the person's location and other details to help serve the order. The bill also mandates that officer training programs include instruction on these requirements. This law directly affects police officers and sheriff's departments by changing how they handle unserved protection orders during encounters.

SB 833 requires Tennessee law enforcement officers to help serve orders of protection when they witness one being entered but the person hasn't been served. Specifically, officers must notify the sheriff's department of the person's location and other helpful details to facilitate service. The bill also mandates that the state's peace officer training curriculum include instruction on these requirements. This applies directly to law enforcement officers and sheriff's departments, aiming to improve enforcement of existing protection orders under Tennessee law.

HB 1111 requires local community corrections advisory boards in Tennessee counties to submit annual reports on the progress of community corrections programs to their county legislative bodies by February 1 each year. This bill directly affects county-level community corrections advisory boards and county legislative bodies by establishing a mandatory reporting timeline. The key provision is the February 1 deadline for these reports, which aims to increase transparency and oversight of community corrections initiatives. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee Code related to criminal sentencing to implement this requirement.