HB 1139 clarifies monitoring requirements for facilities that install water softening systems. If such a system causes a facility to meet Tennessee's definition of a public water system under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the facility must test water hardness, alkalinity, and pH quarterly, and sodium annually. Results must be reported to the Department of Environment and Conservation within 15 days of each reporting period. The bill specifically excludes facilities that only install softeners from being classified as public water systems, but if they meet the definition due to the softener, they must comply with these testing rules.
HB 1198 requires Tennessee health insurers and TennCare to allow patients to try biosimilar drugs (cost-effective copies of brand-name medications) before covering the original branded drug. It amends state law to permit health carriers to mandate a biosimilar trial for equivalent branded prescriptions, removing prior requirements for generic drug trials. The bill also directs TennCare’s pharmacy committee to consider biosimilar drugs when recommending medications for the state’s preferred drug list. These changes aim to reduce prescription drug costs by increasing biosimilar adoption, as stated in the bill’s legislative findings.
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 638 prohibits healthcare providers participating in Tennessee's TennCare or CoverKids programs from denying services to enrollees solely because they refuse vaccines or immunizations. The bill requires the TennCare bureau to withhold reimbursement from providers who violate this rule and mandates the director to create implementing rules, including administrative review processes. Exceptions apply to oncology and organ transplant specialists. This law directly affects providers serving TennCare/CoverKids members and takes effect July 1, 2025.
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.
HB 1084 creates a state grant program to reimburse local schools (including public charter and private schools) and medical first responders for purchasing anti-choking devices. The program covers one device per school cafeteria and one device per emergency vehicle used by medical first responders, starting July 1, 2025. It limits total reimbursements to $500,000 and requires annual reports to the legislature detailing applications, awards, and funds used. The program expires on July 1, 2028, and requires separate legislative funding approval to operate.
HB 39, the "Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Act," requires all Tennessee public school districts and charter schools serving senior high schools (grades 9-12) to provide free feminine hygiene products (such as tampons, pads, and menstrual cups) in all women's/girls' bathrooms, locker rooms, and with school nurses. These products must be available at no cost exclusively for student use, and the law takes effect July 1, 2025. The bill amends Tennessee law to mandate this access, replacing prior language that only authorized (but did not require) such provisions.
SB 1377, the Voluntary Portable Benefit Plan Act, allows businesses to voluntarily contribute to portable benefit plans for independent contractors. These plans, administered by third-party providers chosen by the contractor, cover health, disability, unemployment, life insurance, and retirement benefits. Contributions can be made directly by the business or by withholding a portion of the contractor’s pay, but only with a clear written opt-in agreement and the ability to opt out at any time. The bill amends Tennessee law to ensure these contributions cannot be used to determine a worker’s employment classification as an employee or independent contractor.
