Tennessee Bills

HB 1936 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to study and report on creating a state registry for implanted medical devices by January 1, 2027. The report must assess the feasibility and costs of establishing a registry accessible to all healthcare facilities in Tennessee. This bill directly affects the Department of Health (which must conduct the study) and healthcare facilities (which would gain access to the registry if created). It does not establish the registry itself but mandates a study to evaluate its potential implementation. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on the report requirement with no immediate policy changes.

SB 2002 limits property tax increases for Tennessee counties, municipalities, and other local taxing entities. It prohibits total property tax revenue from exceeding the previous year's total plus 2%, with exceptions for new construction and bonds issued before July 1, 2026. To exceed this 2% cap, local governments must hold a referendum requiring 60% voter approval, specify the tax amount and purpose, and limit increases to four years. The law applies to all local tax jurisdictions and takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 1895 allows individuals convicted of DUI involving alcohol or opioids to choose receiving naltrexone injections (paid for by the individual) for 12 months instead of being required to use an ignition interlock device on their vehicle. This option is available at the court's discretion during sentencing for DUI offenses under Tennessee law. The court must include reporting requirements for the naltrexone treatment as a probation condition, and failure to comply could lead to probation revocation. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 55-10-401 and 55-10-409 to implement this alternative sentencing mechanism. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 2112 requires data centers in Tennessee with over 20 megawatts of power capacity to register with the Department of Revenue starting January 1, 2027. Electric utilities, water utilities, and fuel suppliers providing service to these registered data centers must report their usage and rates monthly to the department. The Department of Revenue will compile and publish this data on its website to show each data center's fuel, electricity, and water consumption. Non-compliance by data center operators can result in daily civil penalties up to $25,000.

SB 1699 prohibits civil immigration enforcement activities from using public parking lots, school campuses (including public, charter, and private schools), and tax-exempt religious institutions as staging areas or operations bases. It requires schools and religious institutions to implement reporting procedures for staff to immediately notify supervisors and local officials if they observe such activities. The bill also mandates state agencies to create and distribute public materials explaining individuals' rights regarding federal agents entering these properties. This law directly affects Tennessee’s state and local government entities, schools, and religious institutions.

SB 1906 would amend Tennessee law to allow a person infected with HIV to use proof of following their prescribed medical treatment as an affirmative defense in criminal exposure cases. This defense requires showing by a preponderance of evidence that the treatment was suppressing the risk of HIV transmission. The bill directly affects individuals charged with criminal exposure of HIV, providing a legal argument that they took steps to prevent transmission. It changes the existing statute without altering the underlying crime or creating new obligations.

HB 1975 requires Tennessee public high schools (grades 11-12) to integrate free, industry-aligned career readiness tools into at least one career technical education course starting in 2026-2027. These tools help students earn nationally recognized credentials in soft skills, employability, and digital literacy at no cost, with successful completion granting up to three elective credits toward graduation. The bill also establishes a pilot program (starting 2027-2028) in 10 school districts to gather employer feedback on credential relevance and includes a $100 micro-grant for students earning three credentials. It mandates teacher training on using these tools and requires the state to report annual data on student credential attainment by school district and demographic group.

SB 2092 requires Tennessee's advisory commission (TACIR) to review how state and local agencies prepared for and responded to Hurricane Helene. It mandates that all relevant local and state officials provide data to TACIR for this evaluation. TACIR must submit a report by January 31, 2027, detailing findings, lessons learned, and recommendations for future disaster responses. The report will be shared with legislative committees overseeing local and state government operations. This bill directly affects state agencies, local governments, and emergency response departments involved in Hurricane Helene's aftermath.

HB 1948 amends Tennessee law to allow public schools to offer sex-exclusive educational programs (like single-gender sports or clubs) without violating anti-discrimination rules, provided they also offer a substantially similar or reasonably comparable alternative program for the opposite sex. This applies specifically to public institutions of higher education and K-12 schools under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49. The bill clarifies that such programs do not breach existing equal opportunity requirements if equivalent opportunities exist through separate initiatives. It takes effect upon becoming law, with no specified implementation timeline.

This bill prohibits Tennessee law enforcement from detaining individuals based solely on an ICE immigration request (detainer) or immigration status. It requires any detention or transfer to ICE to be based on a valid judicial warrant signed by a judge, showing probable cause for the specific person. Individuals unlawfully detained under this law may sue for damages of at least $1,000 per day, plus attorney fees. The law states ICE detainers have no legal effect in Tennessee and explicitly prohibits state officers from claiming federal policy as a defense for violating these rules.

HB 1794 allows Tennessee school districts to create their own investment pools for managing idle funds, directly affecting public school districts (as defined in TCA §49-1-103). The bill amends state code to permit school districts to establish these pools through written agreements, authorizing them to manage investments using powers similar to the state treasurer’s, while requiring written investment policies consistent with state guidelines. All pool agreements must be filed with the comptroller of the treasury and are subject to audit, ensuring oversight while enabling districts to potentially earn returns on unused funds. This builds on existing local government investment pools but specifically extends the mechanism to school districts, aiming to reduce reliance on additional taxes through better fund management.

HB 1806 requires Tennessee's Department of Human Services to apply for federal summer food assistance funds by January 1, 2027, to provide nutrition benefits via electronic cards (EBT) during summer months for eligible children. This bill directly affects low-income children in Tennessee who qualify for the program, ensuring continued access to food when school is not in session. The key provision mandates the state to seek funding through the federal summer EBT program (authorized under 42 U.S.C. § 1762) to replace school meal support during summer breaks. The bill amends Tennessee law (Titles 49 and 71) to enforce this application deadline, aiming to maintain consistent food assistance year-round.