HB 744 prohibits organizations or entities receiving Tennessee state financial assistance for programs or activities from denying benefits, excluding participants, or discriminating against eligible individuals based on race, color, religion, or national origin. This applies directly to state-funded programs, such as those providing services or support through state grants. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, to establish this non-discrimination requirement as a condition for receiving state funds. It creates a clear policy change requiring state-funded programs to operate without bias against protected characteristics.
SB 784 changes how Tennessee financial institutions claim tax credits for loans made to housing entities. It replaces the previous method (based on a fixed unpaid principal balance) with a new calculation using the *month-end average unpaid principal balance* of those loans. Financial institutions now qualify for a 3% annual credit on regular qualified loans and a 5% credit on low-rate loans, applied over the loan’s life or 15 years, whichever ends first. This bill directly affects banks and credit unions that provide eligible housing loans, adjusting the tax credit amount under Tennessee Code §67-4-2109. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.
HB 691 changes how Tennessee financial institutions calculate tax credits for loans to housing entities. It shifts the calculation from a single "unpaid principal balance" to a "month-end average unpaid principal balance" over each loan's life. This affects financial institutions providing qualified loans for eligible housing activities, with credits now set at 3% annually for standard loans or 5% for low-rate loans. The change applies to the institution's fiscal year and ends after 15 years or the loan's maturity, whichever comes first. The bill took effect January 1, 2026.
SB 1313 changes Tennessee property development law by establishing a property owner's rights upon *submitting* a development plan or building permit, rather than waiting for local government *approval*. This affects developers and local governments, as it secures rights for three years starting from the submission date. The law requires plans to substantially comply with local ordinances, fixes development standards in place at submission for the entire vesting period, and shifts key terms from "approval" to "submission" throughout the code. The bill is now enacted (effective July 1, 2025), streamlining the timeline for project certainty.
SB 207 creates a new "farmland preservation fund" within Tennessee's state budget to support the long-term protection of agricultural and forested land. The fund provides grants to help farmers and foresters place permanent conservation easements on their property - legal agreements that prevent development while allowing farming or forestry activities. These grants can be awarded directly to landowners or to qualified nonprofit organizations (like 501(c)(3) groups) that hold the easements, with requirements including proof of the easement agreement and ongoing agricultural use. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture will manage the fund, and unspent money will carry forward annually instead of reverting to the general budget.
SB 773 prevents development permits from expiring when lawsuits challenge them. It pauses the "vesting period" (the timeframe protecting approved projects) during ongoing court cases, ensuring developers retain their project rights. This directly affects property developers and construction companies with permits facing legal disputes. The law creates certainty for development timelines by halting the expiration clock while litigation proceeds.
HB 930 allows counties participating in Tennessee's homebuyers' revolving loan program to end their involvement if they've lent more than their initial capitalization. Specifically, counties can terminate by notifying the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) and retain all funds in the loan pool, including the original capitalization and interest earned from repayments. This amendment to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 13, Chapter 23, directly affects participating counties managing these loan funds. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, and provides counties with greater flexibility to manage their financial obligations under the program.
HB 735 amends Tennessee law to prevent a development project's "vesting period" (the timeframe during which approved permits remain valid) from expiring while a lawsuit challenges the permit. This affects developers and property owners whose permits face legal challenges, as it stops the vesting period from counting down during litigation. The bill requires that the vesting period be "tolled" (paused) for the duration of any pending court case about the permit. It applies to permits under Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 13-3-413 and 13-4-310, effective July 1, 2025.
SB 110 expands an existing residential pilot program for people with disabilities to include the eastern part of Tennessee, which previously only covered the western and middle regions. It requires one facility in each grand division (eastern, middle, western) and sets specific eligibility rules for eastern division participants, including a minimum 26-acre property in a county with 108,600-108,700 residents (per 2020 census), offering services for up to 60 additional adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, and dedicating 25% of homes to inclusive housing. Applications for eastern division participation must be submitted by March 31, 2026, with facilities needing completion by June 30, 2028. The bill modifies licensing and reporting requirements for these facilities under Tennessee’s disability and aging department.
SB 26 amends Tennessee law to raise the minimum required capital cost for infrastructure development districts from $500,000 to $1,000,000. This change directly affects developers and local governments creating such districts by requiring larger initial investment commitments. The bill modifies Tennessee Code Annotated Section 7-84-711(a) to reflect this increased threshold. It became effective May 5, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.
