SB 1389 prohibits healthcare providers participating in Tennessee's TennCare or CoverKids programs from refusing to treat patients solely because they decline vaccines or immunizations. It requires the state to stop reimbursing providers who violate this rule and mandates the TennCare director to create implementing regulations. The law excludes oncology and organ transplant specialists from the prohibition. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, with rules to be established under state administrative procedures.
HB 661, the "Comprehensive Assault Crime Intervention Act," requires judges to mandate counseling for individuals convicted of assault offenses. It specifies that defendants must complete certified batterer's intervention programs (minimum 26 weeks, 3 hours per session, with a 6:1 participant-to-counselor ratio) or substance abuse treatment as part of sentencing. The bill also mandates annual 12+ hour domestic violence training for judges and court staff. These provisions directly affect assault defendants and court personnel, focusing on rehabilitation and consistent judicial handling of domestic violence-related cases.
HB 179 modifies Tennessee's criminal abortion law by adding exceptions that exempt certain abortions from criminal prosecution. It specifies that performing an abortion is not a crime if it is necessary to protect the pregnant person's physical or mental health, or if the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest (as defined in Tennessee law). The bill amends Title 39, Chapter 15 of Tennessee Code, reclassifying such abortions as non-criminal under these specific circumstances. This change takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting licensed physicians performing abortions and pregnant individuals in these defined situations.
House Joint Resolution 91 is a symbolic resolution expressing the Tennessee General Assembly's support for the SREB Crisis Recovery Network. It directly supports Tennessee schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions by endorsing a regional network that provides long-term, specialized counseling services after crises like natural disasters, school shootings, or public emergencies. The resolution recognizes that schools often lack sustained mental health resources, especially in rural areas, and highlights the network’s role in deploying trained counselors to aid recovery for students, teachers, and communities over extended periods. This is a non-binding statement of support, not a law imposing new requirements.
HB 310 creates a legal presumption that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosed in law enforcement officers or emergency medical responders (like EMTs and paramedics) was incurred while performing job duties, making it automatically eligible for workers' compensation coverage. This applies to those diagnosed after responding to specific incidents, shifting the burden to employers to prove otherwise. The bill amends Tennessee workers' compensation laws (TCA Title 7, Chapter 51 and Title 50, Chapter 6) to explicitly include these professions under the presumption, removing prior exclusions of "firefighter" language. It directly affects first responders who develop PTSD in the line of duty, streamlining their access to benefits starting July 1, 2025.
HB 782 creates a new pilot PACE (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for Elderly) program in one Tennessee grand division without an existing PACE program as of 2024, while allowing current PACE providers in counties with a 2020 census population of 366,200-366,300 to expand into contiguous counties meeting specific population thresholds (12,700-12,800, 32,800-32,875, or 108,600-108,700). It requires applicants to submit service area maps, market analyses proving unmet need, and CMS compliance certifications, and mandates annual reports to legislative leaders. The bill directly affects elderly Tennesseans eligible for PACE care (meeting federal CMS criteria) and PACE providers seeking to expand services. It became effective May 21, 2025, after Governor approval.
HB 717 creates the "Caring for Caregivers Act," establishing a pilot program that provides financial grants to family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. It directly affects caregivers who provide unpaid care to eligible family members living in private homes (not facilities) and incur eligible expenses like home modifications, medical equipment, or respite care. The program offers up to $6,000 annually per caregiver, with eligibility based on household income not exceeding $37,000 (adjusted annually for inflation) and requiring the care recipient to need assistance with at least two activities of daily living. The pilot runs from July 2025 through December 2028, funded through initial appropriations and dedicated state funds.
HB 641, the "Savannah Grace Copeland Act," requires Tennessee to increase funding for child advocacy centers whenever state funding for child protective services grows. Specifically, it mandates that 75% of any increase in child protective services funding must be allocated to child advocacy center contracts starting July 2026. The bill sets specific base funding amounts: $127,855.98 for full centers and $85,000 per forensic interviewer. These centers, which serve over 32,000 children annually with services like forensic interviews and mental health support, directly benefit from this policy change. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, but requires separate annual appropriations to implement the funding adjustments.
HB 1089 requires courts to order mental health evaluations for defendants convicted of specific abuse-related crimes - including domestic assault, child abuse, aggravated child abuse, or cruelty to animals - before sentencing. The law directs Tennessee's Department of Mental Health to create a process where community mental health centers or qualified professionals conduct these evaluations. It directly affects defendants in these cases and the state's mental health evaluation system, adding a pre-sentencing step to assess potential mental health factors. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-14-202 and related titles to implement this requirement, effective May 21, 2025.
HB 411, known as "Lucca's Law," requires Tennessee's TennCare program to cover medically necessary treatments for children with PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections) and PANS (pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome). It mandates that all TennCare-managed care organizations (MCOs) provide coverage for specific treatments - including antibiotics, behavioral therapy, immunomodulating medicines, plasma exchange, and IVIG therapy - without higher co-pays or delays, and prohibits denial based on prior treatment or diagnosis changes. The law also requires MCOs to use "autoimmune encephalitis" coding for billing until specific PANDAS/PANS codes are established. This directly affects pediatric patients with these conditions and their families, ensuring consistent access to covered care under TennCare.
