Tennessee Bills

This House Resolution honors the Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP) and its president, KeShaun Pearson, for their leadership in opposing a proposed crude oil pipeline in Southwest Memphis. The measure commemorates the fifth anniversary of the pipeline project's cancellation, recognizing the group's role in protecting local health, water quality, and environmental justice through community organizing. It formally acknowledges the organization's achievements and expresses appreciation for their continued advocacy on behalf of residents in historically disadvantaged neighborhoods.

HB 2200 requires local governments (like cities, counties, or school districts) that approve supplemental retirement benefits for hazardous duty jobs (such as police or firefighters) to send a copy of their approval resolution to the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System's board of trustees. This bill amends Tennessee law to add this forwarding requirement for resolutions authorizing such benefits. It does not change eligibility for benefits or the amount of retirement payments, only the administrative process for local governments. The bill focuses on ensuring the retirement system board receives copies of these local resolutions.

HB 2295 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to study creating a program allowing doctors who graduated from medical school and passed the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (but haven't completed residency) to provide care under supervision. The report must assess the feasibility of this "graduate physician licensure program" by January 1, 2027, detailing how such physicians could work within a continuous supervision agreement with licensed doctors. It directly affects physicians without accredited residency training who wish to practice in Tennessee. The bill mandates this study to inform future legislative decisions, but does not create the program or change current licensure requirements.

HB 1275 requires Tennessee's Department of Education to publish annually, by July 31, a list on its website of all school districts designated as "high performing" for the upcoming school year. The list must include how long each district will remain designated as high performing before needing to requalify under the established criteria. This bill directly affects school districts designated as high performing and the Department of Education, which must implement this transparency measure. The requirement begins for the 2025-2026 school year, with annual updates thereafter. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49 to mandate this public disclosure.

HB 2593 allows Tennessee's Public Utility Commission (PUC) to submit its annual report electronically to the state General Assembly instead of in paper form. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law (including Title 65) to explicitly permit electronic delivery of the report, which covers the PUC's operations, utility company activities in the state, and meeting minutes. This change directly affects the PUC (which regulates utilities like electricity and gas companies) and the General Assembly (which receives the report). The bill makes no changes to the content of the report or regulatory requirements - only the method of delivery. It is a procedural update to modernize reporting practices.

HB 2580 shortens the deadline for licensed polygraph examiners and companies in Tennessee to notify regulators about a business address change, reducing it from 30 to 21 days. This bill directly affects licensed polygraph professionals and businesses operating under Tennessee's professions and occupations laws. The key provision amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 62, Section 62-27-114, to require written notice within 21 days of any address change. The bill takes effect upon becoming law, streamlining administrative compliance for these licensed entities.

HB 2445 requires Tennessee school districts (Local Education Agencies or LEAs) to annually list all school buildings using natural gas for utilities (like heating or cooling) and the gas suppliers serving them. This list must be posted on each district's website by October 1 each year. The bill amends Tennessee law to mandate this transparency for all public school facilities utilizing natural gas. It directly affects all Tennessee school districts and aims to provide clear, public information about natural gas usage in schools.

HB 2312 clarifies that Tennessee's criminal law against accessing computer systems for fraud or theft explicitly includes cloud computing services. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-14-602(a)(1) to add "cloud computing service" to the list of protected systems, alongside existing terms like computer networks and data. This directly affects individuals attempting to commit fraud or theft by accessing cloud-based accounts or services. The bill makes it a criminal offense to knowingly access such services for illicit purposes, updating existing computer crime statutes to address modern digital infrastructure. The bill is currently pending in committee as a proposed law.

HB 2292 requires Tennessee's State Board for Licensing Contractors to notify the Department of Commerce and Insurance whenever it posts disciplinary actions against contractors on its website. This procedural bill updates communication protocols between state agencies but does not change contractor regulations or affect contractors directly. The key provision mandates that the Board must send this notification "as soon as practicable" after posting the disciplinary action online. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 62-6-139 and related provisions.

HB 2240 would allow sheep producer associations in Tennessee to submit their required annual reports electronically instead of through traditional paper methods. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 44, by adding a provision explicitly permitting electronic submissions for these reports. This change directly affects sheep producer associations by providing a new compliance option without altering report content or frequency. The bill focuses solely on updating submission methods, not on substantive policy changes to livestock reporting requirements.

HB 2519 allows rail service authorities in Tennessee to submit their annual reports electronically instead of in paper format. The bill amends Section 7-56-209(a) of the Tennessee Code to explicitly permit electronic submissions by these authorities' boards of directors. This change streamlines reporting without altering the content, frequency, or deadlines for annual reports. It directly affects rail service authorities required to file such reports under state law.

HB 2565 requires Tennessee's Department of Safety to submit written reports to the Department of Revenue about motor vehicle thefts or recoveries, instead of verbal notifications. This bill directly affects state departments handling vehicle records, specifically changing how they communicate theft and recovery data. The key provision amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 55 to mandate written reports in Section 55-5-103(b)(2). It makes no changes to vehicle laws or penalties but standardizes interdepartmental reporting. This is a procedural update with no direct impact on the public or businesses.