Healthcare (Mental Health)

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2153: Health, Dept. of - As enacted, authorizes the department to establish and administer an early childhood mental health home visiting program as a voluntary, evidence-based and home-based intervention to promote the mental health, developmental progress, and family stability of children from birth to five years of age and their families. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 68, Chapter 1.

SB 2153 would authorize Tennessee’s Department of Health to create a voluntary home visiting program for children aged birth to five and their families. The program provides evidence-based, home-based support through licensed clinicians to improve child mental health, reduce abuse/neglect risks, and strengthen family stability for families facing stressors like poverty or trauma. It requires care coordination to connect families with medical, housing, and social services, and mandates contracting with qualified nonprofit providers trained in trauma-informed practices. The bill also requires annual reports to the legislature tracking families served, outcomes, and funding sources, with implementation pending committee action.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes Tennessee Health Dept. to establish voluntary mental health home visiting program for children 0-5, improving access to evidence-based services. Directly advances mental health care under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2348: Education - As introduced, amends the criminal offense of threatening to commit an act of mass violence on school property to apply only to a valid and credible threat; requires a local education agency's threat assessment procedures to include, when assessing a student based on dangerous or threatening behavior, a written assessment of the student by a mental healthcare provider, which may be performed via telehealth. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 49.

HB 2348 changes Tennessee law to make the criminal offense of threatening mass violence on school property apply only to "valid and credible" threats, not all threats. It requires schools to include a written mental health assessment by a qualified provider (like a psychologist or school counselor, possibly via telehealth) when evaluating students showing threatening behavior. This applies to all public schools and charter schools in Tennessee, directly affecting students, school staff, and threat assessment teams. The bill also updates related laws to consistently use the "valid and credible threat" standard, effective July 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health assessments by providers for student threat evaluations, advancing mental health services in schools as part of safety protocols.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Telehealth

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 2399: Health Care - As introduced, redefines a licensed professional counselor as a limited practice professional counselor; redefines a licensed professional counselor with a designation as a mental health service provider as a licensed professional counselor; terminates the issuance of limited practice professional counselor licenses on July 1, 2028. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 33; Title 36; Title 49; Title 52; Title 56; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 2399 redefines Tennessee's counseling licensure categories by creating a new "limited practice professional counselor" designation and eliminating the separate license for this category. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to update terminology, requiring all future applications for this specific license type to meet new standards (including coursework in mental disorder diagnosis and two years of supervised clinical experience). It terminates the issuance of "limited practice professional counselor" licenses effective July 1, 2028, and mandates that existing holders of this license must convert to a "licensed professional counselor" by that date. The bill directly affects counseling professionals seeking licensure or currently holding the limited practice designation under Tennessee law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill tightens counseling licensure standards with mandatory diagnosis coursework and supervision, improving mental health service quality per updated licensing requirements.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Mental Health Tags Licensing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 2460: Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, Dept. of - As introduced, adds the legislative librarian to the list the department of mental health and substance abuse services must submit its quarterly report to on the implementation and impact of available suitable accommodations, including the number and length of any delayed admissions, in state owned or operated hospitals or treatment resources. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 33; Title 52; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 2460 requires Tennessee's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to include the legislative librarian in its quarterly reports about mental health accommodations. These reports must detail the implementation and impact of available accommodations, including the number and duration of delayed admissions at state-run hospitals and treatment facilities. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (Titles 33, 4, 52, 63, and 68) to update reporting requirements. It directly affects the department's reporting process and ensures the legislative librarian receives these reports.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates detailed reporting on mental health accommodations and admission delays, enhancing oversight and accountability in state mental health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 18, 2026

SB 2533: Drugs, Prescription - As enacted, requires the Tennessee opioid abatement council to allocate funds held in the opioid abatement fund in a certain manner. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 38 and Title 41.

SB 2533, known as "The Isbill Act," requires Tennessee law enforcement officers and correctional personnel to undergo annual training on criteria for involuntary mental health admissions. It mandates the POST commission and Tennessee corrections institute to develop guidelines and training materials covering both emergency and nonemergency involuntary admissions to inpatient treatment. The bill directly affects all law enforcement officers and correctional staff in Tennessee, requiring them to complete this training annually. The law takes effect July 1, 2027, and amends Tennessee Code Sections 38-8-101, 41-7-101, and 33-6-401.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates mental health training for law enforcement to reduce unnecessary arrests and improve crisis handling, a criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates annual training for law enforcement on mental health admission criteria, improving crisis response protocols for inpatient treatment access under Tennessee's involuntary admission system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 2425: TennCare - As introduced, requires an eligibility determination of an individual for residential facility benefits to evaluate the individual's physical condition and mental condition separately. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5.

SB 2425 requires TennCare to separately evaluate an individual's physical and mental conditions when determining eligibility for residential facility benefits, such as nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities. This change applies to all individuals seeking these benefits under Tennessee's Medicaid program. The bill mandates that eligibility scoring must assess physical health and mental health as distinct factors, rather than combining them. It directly affects TennCare beneficiaries applying for or receiving residential care services. The policy change aims to ensure more precise eligibility assessments by addressing physical and mental health needs independently.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates separate physical/mental health evaluation for TennCare eligibility, enhancing mental health consideration in residential facility access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid Mental Health

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 2149: Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, Dept. of - As enacted, enacts the "HOPE Treatment Act." - Amends TCA Title 9; Title 33; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 2149, the "HOPE Treatment Act," creates a framework for Tennessee to fund clinical trials using ibogaine - a compound being studied for treating mental health and substance use disorders - to accelerate research into its medical potential. It allows groups of organizations (including drug developers, universities, and hospitals) to form a "cohort" and apply for state funding to conduct FDA-approved trials for conditions like opioid addiction, PTSD, depression, and traumatic brain injury. The bill requires detailed proposals covering trial design, safety protocols, participant recruitment, and aftercare plans before funding is granted. This initiative aims to advance research on ibogaine within Tennessee, aligning with broader state and federal interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds clinical trials for mental health/substance abuse treatments, accelerating research into ibogaine-based therapies for opioid addiction and PTSD, directly advancing healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

died · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 2315: Psychologists - As introduced, creates prescribing authority for certain psychologists if certain conditions and prerequisites are met. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

HB 2315 would allow licensed psychologists in Tennessee to prescribe certain medications, including controlled substances, after meeting specific education and training requirements. To qualify, psychologists must complete a post-doctoral master's program in clinical psychopharmacology (with 450 patient contact hours), pass a national exam, and complete a one-year fellowship with at least 100 patient evaluations under physician supervision. The Tennessee Board of Examiners in Psychology would certify qualified psychologists and establish renewal rules. This bill would directly affect psychologists seeking prescribing authority and their patients, expanding access to mental health treatment options within psychology practice.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands mental health care access by enabling psychologists to prescribe medications after meeting rigorous training requirements, directly supporting patient access to mental health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 2169: Public Defenders - As introduced, creates five additional social worker positions in the public defender system. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 14 and Title 9, Chapter 4.

SB 2169 creates five new social worker positions within Tennessee's public defender offices, effective July 1, 2026. These positions will directly support public defender systems statewide by adding social work resources to assist clients, particularly those with mental health or social service needs. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 14, and Title 9, Chapter 4, to formalize these staffing changes without altering legal procedures or case outcomes. It focuses solely on expanding support staff capacity within existing public defense services.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds social worker positions to public defender system to assist clients with mental health/social needs, enhancing defendant support and rehabilitation resources within criminal justice framework.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds social workers to address mental health needs within public defender system, directly supporting mental health services per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 1, 2026

SB 2570: Psychologists - As introduced, creates prescribing authority for certain psychologists if certain conditions and prerequisites are met. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 2570 would create a new pathway for licensed doctoral-level psychologists in Tennessee to prescribe certain medications for mental health conditions, subject to specific requirements. To qualify, psychologists must complete a specialized master's program in psychopharmacology (including 450+ patient contact hours), pass a national exam, and complete a one-year supervised fellowship evaluating at least 100 patients. The bill establishes an "advanced certificate to prescribe" and requires ongoing continuing education for renewal. This proposed legislation directly affects psychologists seeking expanded prescribing authority, pending approval by the Tennessee General Assembly.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health access by enabling psychologists to prescribe medications after specialized training, improving patient care options for mental health conditions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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