Healthcare (Mental Health)

signed · Tennessee · House May 7, 2026

HJR 1572: Memorials, Recognition - Wired Human -

This bill is a joint resolution that formally honors and commends the nonprofit organization Wired Human for its work in addressing youth mental health and promoting healthy digital habits. The resolution recognizes the organization's RUMB model, which teaches young people to establish boundaries and values through mentorship and education rather than fear-based messaging. It also acknowledges Wired Human's development of a curriculum for middle schools and its efforts to amplify youth voices through art and advocacy. Ultimately, the measure serves as a public statement of appreciation from the Tennessee General Assembly and does not create any new laws or funding.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill recognizes a nonprofit providing mental health education and digital habit curriculum for youth, enhancing student programs.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill honors an organization promoting youth mental health and healthy digital habits, aligning with mental health service support.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Mental Health

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 20, 2026

HJR 1254: Memorials, Recognition - Will Taylor -

This bill is a House Joint Resolution that formally honors Will Taylor for his leadership in recovery advocacy and his service to the people of Tennessee. The resolution acknowledges his work with state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and faith communities to improve mental health and substance use treatment systems. It highlights his role in developing addiction programs and promoting the "Recovery Is The New High" message to reduce stigma and support long-term recovery. The measure does not create new laws or funding but serves as an official commendation to recognize his contributions to the state's behavioral health ecosystem.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill honors advocacy for mental health and substance use treatment, promoting recovery and reducing stigma, which supports healthcare access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

passed · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2026

HR 187: Memorials, Recognition - Mickie Whitaker -

This Tennessee House resolution honors Mickie Whitaker for her decades of work in mental health advocacy. It recognizes her role in educating families about mental illness through the National Alliance on Mental Illness and her efforts in building support networks across the state. The measure formally commends her contributions to the community and expresses appreciation for her service.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill honors mental health advocacy work, signaling support for mental health services and community awareness.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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signed · Tennessee · House Apr 30, 2026

HJR 1386: Memorials, Recognition - LifeSpring Community Health, 20th anniversary -

This bill is a House Joint Resolution that formally honors LifeSpring Community Health in Chattanooga for its twentieth anniversary. It recognizes the organization's growth from a small after-school clinic in 2006 to a full-service provider offering pediatric, community health, and behavioral care to thousands of children. The resolution acknowledges the organization's specific contributions, such as expanding services during the pandemic and adding bilingual mental health support for families in underserved neighborhoods. As a commemorative measure, the bill does not alter any laws or policies but serves to publicly commend the healthcare provider's dedication to the community.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill recognizes an organization expanding pediatric, community, and behavioral health services, indicating support for healthcare access and mental health initiatives.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Mental Health Primary Care

died · Tennessee · House Mar 24, 2026

HJR 1147: Memorials, Congress - Urges Tennessee delegation to prevent closure of McMinnville VA clinic. -

This bill is a joint resolution urging Tennessee's congressional delegation to take action to prevent the closure of the McMinnville VA clinic in Warren County. The resolution highlights that thousands of veterans in the area rely on this facility for medical care and notes the VA's official announcement of the clinic's planned closure by May 31, 2026. It formally requests that federal representatives advocate for keeping the clinic open to continue serving veterans' physical and mental health needs. The document does not create new laws or funding but serves as an official statement of support for the clinic's continued operation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill urges preventing closure of VA clinic, protecting veterans' access to physical and mental health services, directly supporting healthcare access.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill urges preventing closure of VA clinic, directly protecting veteran healthcare access and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Primary Care Memorials & Recognition Veteran Healthcare

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failed · Tennessee · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 904: Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires each law enforcement agency to develop and implement an alternative crisis response unit; requires the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission to establish uniform training standards for alternative crisis response units in all law enforcement agencies. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 38.

This bill requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies to create alternative crisis response units by January 1, 2026, where a qualified mental health professional accompanies police officers to mental health-related calls and leads the response. The legislation mandates that the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission establish uniform training standards for these units and provide annual training for officers on supporting mental health professionals during calls. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies across the state and the training commission by creating new operational requirements and training obligations. It amends existing state statutes to formalize these alternative response protocols rather than creating entirely new laws from scratch.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill promotes criminal justice reform by mandating mental health professionals accompany police, improving crisis response and reducing unnecessary arrests.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health professionals accompany police on calls, improving access to mental health services and crisis intervention.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Healthcare Workforce Mental Health

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 11, 2026

SB 2660: 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.

SB 2660 amends Tennessee law to limit criminal liability for threatening mass violence on school property to only "valid and credible" threats, rather than any threat. It requires schools to include a written mental health assessment by a qualified provider (such as a psychologist or school counselor, potentially via telehealth) when evaluating students exhibiting threatening behavior. This assessment must evaluate the student's welfare and be provided to the school's threat assessment team before a threat can be deemed "valid and credible" for criminal or reporting purposes. School officials must then report only such verified threats to law enforcement. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces criminalization of non-credible school threats and mandates mental health evaluations over punishment, aligning with reform goals like diverting youth from justice system involvement.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires mental health assessments for students with threatening behavior, strengthening student welfare protocols in school safety procedures.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires schools to obtain written mental healthcare provider assessments for students with threatening behavior, mandating mental health services access as part of threat assessment procedures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement School Safety Testing & Assessment Mental Health Telehealth

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 2394: Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the report detailing strategies the department intends to use to increase resources for services and supports, including those funded by Medicaid, TennCare, or other public and private sources, to be submitted in an electronic format. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 33; Title 34; Title 52; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

SB 2394 requires the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to submit its report on strategies to increase mental health and substance abuse resources in electronic format. The report must detail plans for services funded by Medicaid, TennCare, or other public and private sources. This bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law to mandate the electronic submission format, without changing the report's content or requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires report detailing strategies to increase mental health resources, aligning with support for mental health services and resource expansion.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 2216: Firefighters - As introduced, requires this state's employee assistance program, including components for mental health and wellness, to be available to all active members of a volunteer fire department and all active volunteer members of a combination fire department; makes various other changes. - Amends TCA Section 8-50-119 and Title 68, Chapter 102.

SB 2216 requires Tennessee's state employee assistance program (EAP), including mental health and wellness services, to be available at no cost to all active volunteer firefighters and members of combination fire departments (which include both paid and volunteer staff). This expands existing EAP access beyond state employees to cover these volunteer fire service workers. The bill also amends related laws to remove outdated terms like "full-time" and update membership reporting requirements for fire departments. These changes aim to support volunteer firefighters' well-being through accessible, state-funded resources.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands free mental health services via EAP to volunteer firefighters, directly supporting mental health access for first responders.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands mental health/wellness EAP benefits to volunteer firefighters, strengthening workplace wellness support for a specific labor group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Employees

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 2301: Education, Dept. of - As introduced, enacts the "School Mental Health Transparency Act"; requires the department to consult relevant agencies to compile a list of mental health resources; requires public schools to use the department's list to compile lists of mental health resources available to enrolled students and provide the lists to students' parents; requires that lists of mental health resources be published on the website of the department and each public school. - Amends TCA Title 10, Chapter 7; Title 33 and Title 49.

SB 2301, the "School Mental Health Transparency Act," requires Tennessee's Department of Education to compile and publish a statewide list of mental health resources for students, including locations and residency-based availability limits, after consulting with agencies like health and children's services departments. Public schools must then use this state list to create their own local resource lists for enrolled students and provide them to parents or guardians (or to students aged 18+) at least once per school year, while also posting the lists on school websites. The law clarifies that listing a resource does not constitute state endorsement and does not mandate new funding or staffing. This applies directly to all public schools, students, and their families in Tennessee.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires schools to provide transparent mental health resources, enhancing student access to critical support services under education policy.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates statewide mental health resource list and school provision to parents, enhancing student access to mental health services per bill's transparency requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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