Tennessee Bills

SB 1182 requires local community corrections advisory boards in Tennessee to submit an annual report to their county legislative body by February 1 each year, detailing progress on community corrections programs. This bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (Titles 8, 16, 37, 39, 40, and 41) to establish this reporting requirement. The bill directly affects community corrections advisory boards and county legislative bodies by mandating a standardized annual update on program effectiveness. It does not change sentencing laws or program content, only the reporting process.

HB 1058 requires gun dealers in Tennessee to wait three days after a purchase is initiated before transferring a firearm to buyers aged 18 to 20. This applies specifically to transactions involving individuals older than 17 but younger than 21. The law amends existing firearm transaction rules in Tennessee Code and takes effect July 1, 2025. It directly affects gun dealers and young adult purchasers within this age range.

SB 697 removes a restriction that previously prevented county officers from serving on industrial development corporation (IDC) boards. It directly adds the county assessor of property and county trustee as ex officio non-voting members of these boards. The bill requires these two county officials to serve on IDC boards while their terms align with their elected county offices. This change ensures county-level representation on IDC boards without granting them voting power, affecting all Tennessee counties with active IDCs.

HB 1043 deletes obsolete sections (c) through (h) from Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-1-228, which relates to the school grading system implementation. This is a procedural cleanup bill that removes outdated language from existing education law without changing current grading procedures or affecting schools. The bill amends specific code sections to eliminate redundant or inactive provisions. It does not create new requirements or impact how schools are evaluated.

HB 1286 requires funeral homes, hospitals, or government agencies holding a body for burial to bury it within 48 hours if they do not request an autopsy or embalming. This applies when the entity waives the right to ask for either procedure. The rule does not apply if an autopsy could legally be requested under existing laws (like Tennessee’s Post-Mortem Examination Act). The bill amends multiple Tennessee code sections related to burial procedures and takes effect July 1, 2025.

HB 954 requires all Tennessee law enforcement agencies to create and implement alternative crisis response units by January 1, 2026. These units must pair a full-time police officer with a qualified mental health professional who leads mental health-related emergency calls. The bill mandates the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission to establish uniform training standards for these units and provide annual officer training on supporting mental health professionals during crisis calls. The law directly affects every law enforcement agency in Tennessee and updates state statutes to formalize this crisis response model.

HB 989 requires Tennessee's administrative office of the courts to report to legislative leaders by October 1, 2025, on how many employers were convicted of illegally firing employees for serving on a jury. The report will cover all such convictions under existing law (Tennessee Code § 39-16-514) from 1990 through 2025. This bill does not change the law or create new penalties - it only mandates a data collection effort to track enforcement of the current prohibition against employer retaliation for jury service. The summary focuses solely on the reporting requirement, which directly affects the administrative office (as the reporter) and the legislature (as the recipient of the data).

HB 944 prohibits the possession of specific firearms defined as "assault weapons" (including models like AR-15s, AK-47s, and certain semiautomatic rifles/pistols) in Tennessee. It requires current owners to apply for a "certificate of possession" by July 1, 2025, to legally retain these weapons. The bill also creates a Class E felony for purchasing, selling, or possessing parts designed to accelerate fire in semiautomatic rifles, making any rifle equipped with such parts a "prohibited weapon." This directly affects Tennessee residents owning the listed firearms or related components.

HB 956 requires most firearm sales or transfers in Tennessee to occur through a federally licensed gun dealer, with limited exemptions. Key exemptions include transfers between family members (if the recipient is 18+ and not barred from owning firearms), sales of antique firearms, dealer-to-dealer transactions, and transfers to law enforcement. Violating this rule is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by fines of $500-$10,000, up to 9 months in jail, or a 2-year firearm possession ban. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and directly affects individuals buying, selling, or transferring firearms outside dealer channels.

HB 778 requires Tennessee's Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) to study and recommend an incentive program for educators with 15 or more years of experience in public schools. The bill mandates OREA to submit its findings and recommendations to the education committees of both legislative chambers by December 31, 2025. This is a procedural bill focused solely on directing a study - no new incentives or funding are created by the bill itself. It directly affects educators with significant experience but does not implement any new benefits or policies. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 8 and 49 to establish this study requirement.

SB 1187 requires courts to mandate GPS monitoring for defendants released on bail in specific cases, including those accused of firearm offenses, domestic assault, vehicle burglary, reckless driving, drag racing, or repeat crimes under certain statutes. It directly affects defendants charged with these offenses who are granted bail, unless a court determines they no longer pose a threat to victims or public safety. The bill adds reporting requirements for courts to track monthly GPS usage and submit annual county-level data to legislative committees. Key provisions include mandating GPS as a bail condition for listed offenses and requiring courts to document factors for release decisions. The law amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to implement these changes.

HB 949 requires all firearm owners in Tennessee to store firearms in a locked container or equipped with a safety device that renders them inoperable to unauthorized users. This applies to firearms kept in any location, except when carried by the owner or a lawfully authorized user. Violating this rule is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 11 months in jail or a fine. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.