HB 2235, the "Tennessee Fair Chance Housing Act," prohibits housing providers (like landlords, property managers, and real estate agents) from discriminating against applicants based solely on criminal history. It establishes time limits: housing providers can only consider misdemeanor convictions within the past 3 years and felony convictions within the past 10 years. For sex offense convictions, providers must conduct an individualized assessment to determine if there's a direct safety risk before denying housing. The bill also bans questions about arrests that didn't result in conviction and requires written evaluations considering factors like rehabilitation efforts and the nature of the offense.
SB 2506, the "Tennessee Fair Chance Housing Act," prohibits landlords and housing providers from refusing to rent or lease housing solely based on a person's criminal history. It limits consideration of criminal records to a 3-year look-back period for misdemeanors and 10 years for felonies (except for sex offenses, which require an individualized safety assessment). Housing providers must conduct an individualized assessment considering factors like the offense severity, time since conviction, rehabilitation efforts, and safety risks before denying housing. This law directly affects renters with criminal records and housing providers managing residential properties across Tennessee.
HB 1501 would allow Tennessee municipalities to require real estate investment trusts (REITs) owning 10 or more rental units within city limits to register with local building code enforcement agencies. REITs would need to provide their contact information and the full addresses of all properties they manage, with updates required within 30 days of any changes. Municipalities could impose a $50 weekly fine for non-compliance, but must provide a hearing opportunity before levying penalties. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not authorize fees for REITs to file required information.
HB 2041 prohibits landlords, property managers, or others serving eviction notices from sharing videos of the eviction process (like handing out papers) without the tenant's written permission. It directly affects tenants whose privacy is violated and landlords or their agents who might share such videos. The law creates a private right to sue, allowing victims to seek at least $25,000 per violation, plus actual damages, attorney fees, and other relief. This applies to real-time or near real-time video sharing, excluding law enforcement officers acting in their official duties.
HB 1940 makes records of certain eviction court cases confidential after specific conditions are met. It applies to unlawful detainer actions (landlord-tenant eviction cases) filed on or after July 1, 2026, that were dismissed, have no pending appeals, and either have passed three years since filing or have written agreement from all parties to shield records. The bill requires courts to keep these records private, removing them from public inspection under Tennessee law. This change affects landlords and tenants in dismissed eviction cases by limiting public access to their court records after the specified time or agreement. The bill does not alter eviction procedures or outcomes, only the accessibility of dismissed case records.
SB 1993 prohibits landlords, property managers, or others serving eviction paperwork from sharing real-time videos of the eviction process without the tenant's written permission. It directly affects property owners and their agents who might film or broadcast eviction notices, while excluding law enforcement officers acting in their official duties. The law creates a private right to sue for violations, with a minimum $25,000 penalty per intentional breach, plus actual damages and legal fees. This protects tenants from unauthorized public exposure during eviction proceedings, focusing on consent and financial recourse.
HB 452 changes Tennessee's eviction process for cases where a tenant hasn't paid rent. It requires that trials must be held within 14 days of the landlord filing the case and limits hearings to only rent-related issues, such as lease terms and payment history. After a court rules in the landlord's favor, the tenant must move out within seven days of receiving the court order, and the landlord can request immediate sheriff removal if the tenant doesn't comply. This bill affects tenants and landlords facing nonpayment evictions and takes effect on July 1, 2025.
This Tennessee bill changes the notice period landlords must provide before terminating a lease for specific tenant violations. It extends the timeframe from three calendar days to three business days after written notice is given, covering incidents like violent acts, threats to safety, hazardous conditions, or unauthorized occupancy. The law applies to all residential rental agreements under Tennessee's landlord-tenant laws (affecting Titles 5, 6, 7, 13, 56, 62, 66, 67, and 68 of Tennessee Code). It makes a technical adjustment to existing procedures without creating new violations or altering tenant rights.
SB 350 prohibits Tennessee landlords from banning tenants from lawfully possessing, carrying, or storing firearms, firearm parts, or ammunition in their leased homes, apartments, or businesses, or in vehicles parked on landlord-controlled property. It directly affects tenants and landlords statewide, requiring lease agreements to comply with this rule starting July 1, 2025, with existing leases needing amendment by July 1, 2026. The bill voids any lease terms conflicting with this prohibition after July 1, 2025, and allows tenants to sue landlords for damages if they violate the law. It applies to all residential leases governed by Tennessee Code Annotated Title 66.
SB 1088 shortens the notice period landlords must provide tenants before eviction for nonpayment of rent or violent behavior from 14 to 7 days. For property damage beyond normal wear and tear, the notice period remains at 14 days. The bill applies to new or renewed rental agreements starting July 1, 2025, directly affecting landlords and tenants in Tennessee residential leases. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 66-28-505 and 66-7-109 to change specific eviction notice requirements.
