SB 299 amends Tennessee's medical cannabis commission membership requirements to include a patient caregiver (or former caregiver of a deceased patient) and a subject matter expert in cannabis cultivation, processing, distribution, or medical prescription. The bill also updates the commission's reporting duties to explicitly allow it to provide policy recommendations to the legislature alongside its findings. These changes, effective April 15, 2025, directly affect how the commission is structured and the scope of its advice to lawmakers on medical cannabis policy.
SB 849 requires Tennessee medical and osteopathic boards to create an optional continuing education course on maternal mental health for healthcare professionals. It directly affects physicians specializing in obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, and psychiatry, as well as certain psychologists. The course must cover screening practices, types of maternal mental health disorders, evidence-based treatments, and when to consult a psychiatrist. Boards must update the curriculum periodically to reflect new research and accept course completion as credit toward required continuing education.
SB 449, the "Fertility Treatment and Contraceptive Protection Act," establishes legal rights for individuals in Tennessee to access fertility treatments and contraception without state prohibition. It defines "fertility treatment" broadly to include procedures like in vitro fertilization, genetic testing of embryos, and medication for fertility, while defining "contraception" to cover methods such as birth control pills, emergency contraceptives, and sterilization. The law explicitly states that Tennessee law does not prohibit these activities, overriding conflicting state laws. This act takes effect on July 1, 2025, directly affecting all residents seeking these health services within the state.
HB 830 amends Tennessee law to change membership requirements for the Medical Cannabis Commission. It adds two new membership categories: (1) a patient caregiver (with documentation of their patient relationship), and (2) a subject matter expert knowledgeable in cannabis cultivation, processing, shipping, distribution, or medical prescription. The bill also updates the commission’s reporting duty to explicitly allow it to include policy recommendations in its reports to the Tennessee General Assembly. This enacted law (effective April 29, 2025) directly affects who serves on the commission and the scope of its advisory role.
HB 533, now Public Chapter 247, establishes the "Fertility Treatment and Contraceptive Protection Act" in Tennessee. It defines fertility treatment (including IVF, egg/sperm preservation, and genetic testing) and contraception (covering all pregnancy prevention methods, including over-the-counter options) and explicitly states that Tennessee law does not prohibit these activities. The bill directly affects all Tennesseans seeking reproductive healthcare by guaranteeing the right to access fertility services and contraception without state interference. Key provisions clarify that the state cannot ban or restrict these services, overriding conflicting existing laws. This law took effect immediately upon becoming public on April 29, 2025.
HB 1044, now Public Chapter 266, enacts Tennessee's "Medical Ethics Defense Act" to protect healthcare providers' rights to refuse care based on conscience. It prohibits discrimination against providers who decline to participate in specific procedures (like certain reproductive or end-of-life care) that conflict with their ethical, moral, or religious beliefs, as defined in the law. The bill also shields providers from retaliation for reporting violations of these protections or disclosing concerns about patient safety. It explicitly excludes federal laws like EMTALA and religious institutions' employment decisions from its scope.
HB 37 requires insurers offering health plans to Tennessee state employees to treat FDA-approved non-opioid pain medications equally with opioids on their preferred drug lists (PDL). It prohibits insurers from discouraging coverage for non-opioid options used for pain management, though it allows insurers to prefer one opioid over another or one non-opioid over another. This applies specifically to state employee group insurance plans covered under Tennessee Code Annotated sections 56-7-3801 to 56-7-3803. The law, effective January 1, 2026, aims to expand access to non-opioid pain treatments without mandating their preference.
HB 959 updates Tennessee's licensure rules for marriage and family therapists. It allows students in accredited programs to use titles like "marital therapy intern" while supervised, and clarifies that associate license holders must use "associate licensed marriage and family therapist" or "AMFT" (not implying full licensure). The bill creates specific pathways for associate licensure, requiring a 9-month exam deadline and supervised practice under approved supervisors, while defining "approved supervisor" to include AAMFT-approved professionals. These changes directly affect therapy students, trainees, and practitioners seeking licensure in Tennessee.
HB 843 declares Perry County Community Hospital in Linden and Decatur County General Hospital in Parsons as "necessary providers" of healthcare services for federal critical access hospital (CAH) designation eligibility under Section 1820 of the Social Security Act. This enables both hospitals to qualify for federal CAH status, which provides crucial financial support and resources to sustain operations in rural areas. The bill directly affects these two specific hospitals, ensuring they can access federal benefits to continue serving vulnerable rural communities in Perry and Decatur counties. It requires the Tennessee Department of Health and Health Facilities Commission to facilitate the federal designation process.
HB 1280 creates a $250 million "medical expense relief fund" within Tennessee's general fund to help the next of kin or estate of a decedent who was enrolled in TennCare at the time of death pay their unpaid medical debt and expenses. The Department of Human Services would administer the fund, setting application procedures, eligibility criteria (considering debt amount and need), and determining whether grants go to next of kin, the estate, or directly to creditors. Funds would be used solely for covering the decedent's medical costs, including unpaid TennCare benefits or premiums. The bill requires DHS to establish reporting mechanisms and submit annual reports to legislative committees, but it does not appropriate funds until the state budget act includes specific funding.
