114 session

Correctional Programs - As enacted, creates the state families of incarcerated individuals advisory board within the department of correction for the purposes of assisting the families of incarcerated individuals. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 41.

2026-05-26 — Pub. Ch. 1006

Charitable Solicitations - As enacted, establishes a process to notify a charitable organization that it has been designated as a beneficiary in an instrument that provides for payment or transfer at death without probate; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 35 and Title 48.

2026-04-24 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 741

State Symbols - As enacted, designates and adopts cast iron cookware as the official frontier cookware of this state. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3.

2026-04-13 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 674

Newspapers and Publications - As enacted, requires the Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations (TACIR) to conduct a study to determine if newspapers of general circulation remain the most efficient and effective manner for governments to provide the public with transparent and accessible information. - Amends TCA Title 1, Chapter 3 and Title 8, Chapter 44.

2026-05-27 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1137

County Boundaries - As introduced, increases from 90 days to 100 days the amount of time that a joint committee on county consolidation has following its receipt of a petition of consolidation to report its findings and recommendations on the feasibility of consolidation of the petitioning county with another county. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 9; Title 12 and Title 67.

2026-04-20 — Sponsor(s) Added.

Naming and Designating - As enacted, designates the residential burn building located on the campus of the Tennessee fire services and codes enforcement academy as the "Charles 'Charlie' J. Lewis Residential Burn Building." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 24 and Title 68.

2026-04-13 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 678

Pensions and Retirement Benefits - As introduced, increases the employer contribution under the hybrid retirement plan from 5 percent to 10 percent for current members of the general assembly who have 10 years of creditable service on or after July 1, 2026. - Amends TCA Section 8-36-916.

2026-04-08 — Taken off notice for cal. in State & Local Government Committee

Taxes, Sales - As introduced, allocates all revenue generated from the state sales tax on retail sales of recreational vessels, recreational vessel accessories, and wildlife-related outdoor recreational goods to the wildlife resources fund. - Amends TCA Title 11; Title 67; Title 69 and Title 70.

2026-02-11 — Sponsor(s) Added.

Tourism - As enacted, requires revenue that is received by a municipality and that is used to fund a destination marketing entity engaged in tourism promotion on behalf of the municipality be released to the destination marketing entity no later than 120 days after the municipality approves its final budget. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 67.

2026-05-27 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1125

Tourism - As introduced, requires each local tourism development authority to file its annual report of its business affairs and transactions with the department of tourist development. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 67.

2026-02-05 — P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

Education - As enacted, enacts the "Better Spending, Better Schools Act of 2026." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 49 and Title 67.

2026-05-26 — Pub. Ch. 1007

Hamblen County - Subject to local approval, moves the election of the county attorney by the county commission from July to September; changes who reviews the compensation of and reimbursement of expenses to the county attorney, from the finance committee to the county legislative body. - Amends Chapter 677 of the Private Acts of 1949; as amended.

2026-02-05 — P2C, ref. to Private Acts Committee - State & Local Government Committee

Safety - As introduced, requires a private residence elevator that is newly constructed and accepted on and after July 1, 2027, to register with the department of labor and workforce development within seven days of being placed into service; makes certain other changes relative to private residence elevators. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 121.

2026-04-15 — Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

Education, Dept. of - As introduced, changes from February 1 to October 1, the annual reporting date by which the commissioner of education and the commissioner of safety shall jointly report to the governor and the general assembly the implementation of and compliance with the "Schools Against Violence in Education Act." - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6.

2026-02-05 — P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

Education, Dept. of - As enacted, requires the department to collaborate with the department of safety to develop guidelines for LEAs and public charter schools providing a driver education and training course that include certain criteria. - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 55.

2026-05-05 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 735

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, requires a posted sign or notice intended to warn violators that trespassers by motor vehicle will be prosecuted to clearly define the area in which driving, parking, standing, or otherwise operating a motor vehicle is prohibited. - Amends TCA Title 39.

2026-04-15 — Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

Child Custody and Support - As enacted, requires a court to include written findings of fact as to whether certain limitations in parenting plans apply in a child custody order, whether temporary or permanent. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 36 and Title 37.

2026-04-24 — Pub. Ch. 758

Children - As introduced, establishes that children have equal protection under the law and possess fundamental rights to safety, protection from harm, and consideration of their best interests as the paramount concern in all legal proceedings, governmental actions, and policy decisions affecting their welfare. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 37.

2026-03-10 — Taken off notice for cal in s/c Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee

Education - As enacted, requires TACIR, with the assistance of relevant state agencies, to conduct a comprehensive study on public school administered early childhood education programs in this state. - Amends TCA Title 9 and Title 49.

2026-05-18 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 976

Professions and Occupations - As enacted, authorizes graduates of certain accredited engineering technology curriculums to apply for and become registered as engineers, provided, that such persons have prior engineering experience and meet certain examination requirements. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 62, Chapter 2, Part 4.

2026-05-05 — Effective date(s) 04/27/2026, 07/01/2026

Health, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the commissioner to use existing resources to conduct a study of the requirements to obtain prescription medications via telehealth in neighboring states in order to determine the restrictions upon prescribers issuing prescription medications via telehealth and compare such restrictions to those on prescribers in this state; requires the commissioner to compile the findings from the study into a report and transmit a copy of the report to the general assembly no later than December 31, 2026. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

2026-02-05 — P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

Safety - As introduced, requires newly installed storm drains and culverts constructed after July 1, 2026, to be equipped with a safety cover or grate if the opening is large enough that a child could reasonably fall into or become trapped within the structure. - Amends TCA Title 12 and Title 68.

2026-03-18 — Def. to Summer Study in Business & Utilities Subcommittee

Solid Waste Disposal - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Secondary Aluminum Waste Management Act." - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 62, Chapter 9 and Title 68.

2026-03-18 — Taken off notice for cal in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee of Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

Solid Waste Disposal - As introduced, prohibits municipalities, counties, and other political subdivisions of this state from disposing, or contracting for the disposal of, solid waste in a landfill located outside their territorial boundaries unless the host county or host municipality in which the landfill is located has entered into a host community agreement approving such disposal; applies to all contracts entered into for the disposal of solid waste on or after July 1, 2026. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 68, Chapter 211.

2026-02-05 — Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

Fees - As introduced, creates the "Tennessee Live Music Support Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 47 and Title 67.

2026-04-14 — Failed in Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

Controlled Substances - As enacted, clarifies that a substance that is approved by the U.S. food and drug administration and designated or scheduled under federal law by a final order published in the Federal Register, is generally considered to be in the same schedule as such substance is designated or scheduled under the federal schedule of controlled substances after the expiration of 30 days from the date of publication of the final order; authorizes a licensed healthcare prescriber who is authorized to prescribe controlled substances to prescribe a drug product that has been so scheduled if certain other criteria is met. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

2026-05-26 — Pub. Ch. 1008

Controlled Substances - As introduced, changes from January 1 to January 15 the deadline for the medical cannabis commission to submit its annual report. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29; Title 39; Title 43; Title 53; Title 57; Title 67 and Title 68.

2026-02-05 — P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

Public Funds and Financing - As introduced, requires that 10 percent of the payments paid to or retained by the state from the Tennessee valley authority in lieu of taxes be allocated to the wildlife resources fund and used for boating and wildlife resources purposes. - Amends TCA Title 11; Title 67; Title 69 and Title 70.

2026-04-15 — Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

Criminal Offenses - As enacted, makes various changes to the law relative to fraudulent freight theft. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 16; Title 17; Title 18; Title 20; Title 22; Title 24; Title 25; Title 26; Title 27; Title 28; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 43; Title 54 and Title 55.

2026-05-04 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 871

Criminal Offenses - As enacted, makes various changes relative to the offense of organized retail crime. - Amends TCA Title 18; Title 38, Chapter 6, Part 1 and Title 39.

2026-05-27 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1124

Education, Higher - As enacted, prohibits, until July 1, 2033, public disclosure of certain commercial contracts entered into in furtherance of an intercollegiate athletics program; extends the prohibition on public disclosure of certain records containing information relating to game or player integrity beyond July 1, 2026; clarifies that protecting certain intercollegiate athletics program records from disclosure does not create any private right of action or basis for any injunctive or equitable relief, except for certain claims made by a business. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 7, Part 1.

2026-04-24 — Effective date(s) 04/16/2026

Civil Procedure - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Foreign Law Non-Recognition Act." - Amends TCA Title 20 and Title 29.

2026-02-05 — Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee

Veterans Services, Dept. of - As enacted, requires the department to conduct a study that includes an evaluation of county veterans service office resources; the identification of underserved areas; operational capacity; local outreach efforts, community outreach events, partnerships, and other entities providing, or sources of, assistance for veterans at the local level; and the identification of potential funding mechanisms to support local veterans service offices; requires the department to compile a report of the study by December 31, 2026. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 25 and Title 58, Chapter 3.

2026-05-04 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 872

Courts, Administrative Office of the - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Court Appearance Reminder Program Act." - Amends TCA Title 16 and Title 40.

2026-03-23 — Taken off notice for cal in s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee

Interstate Compacts - As enacted, enacts the "Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Act." - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 63.

2026-05-18 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 977

Juvenile Offenders - As enacted, specifies that if a student is referred to juvenile court for being unlawfully absent from school and is ultimately adjudicated to be unruly, that the disposition made by the juvenile judge or magistrate may include the suspension of the student's driving privileges or ability to obtain a driver license for a period of up to one year. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 30 and Title 55, Chapter 10.

2026-05-05 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 853

Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates the Class C misdemeanor offense of knowingly using an unmanned aircraft over the grounds of a school. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 49.

2026-05-04 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 868

Teachers, Principals and School Personnel - As enacted, clarifies that tenure and the process for dismissing a nontenured, licensed employee by a director of schools does not apply to individuals who hold a temporary academic permit or temporary clinical permit. - Amends TCA Title 49.

2026-05-04 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 867

Education - As enacted, authorizes an LEA or public charter school to continue a disciplinary investigation of a student who, during the investigation, withdraws from the LEA or public charter school; authorizes, if the student later reenrolls, the LEA or public charter school to discipline the student in accordance with the LEA's or public charter school's policy based on the results of the investigation. - Amends TCA Title 49.

2026-04-24 — Effective date(s) 04/16/2026

Livestock - As introduced, broadens the definition of alternative livestock under the Tennessee Livestock Dealer Act to include non-traditional livestock without hooves. - Amends TCA Title 44, Chapter 10.

2026-02-24 — Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

Regional Authorities and Special Districts - As introduced, requires notice to be published on the governing body's website for at least two weeks prior to the date set for a hearing on whether to create an airport authority. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 31; Title 7, Chapter 51; Title 42, Chapter 4 and Title 42, Chapter 3.

2026-02-05 — P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

Agriculture, Dept. of - As introduced, bases indemnity payments for an animal that is destroyed to prevent the spread of disease on the fair market value of the animal, subject to available funds. - Amends TCA Title 44.

2026-04-15 — Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

Domestic Violence - As introduced, enacts "Katherine's Law"; creates the offense of aggravated domestic assault, which is a Class B felony. - Amends TCA Title 39.

2026-03-23 — Taken off notice for cal. in Judiciary Committee

Courts, Juvenile - As enacted, generally requires a guardian ad litem appointed by the court to complete training appropriate to that role, including training in early childhood, child, and adolescent development. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 20; Title 33; Title 34; Title 36 and Title 37.

2026-04-29 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 810

Evidence - As introduced, states that in certain civil actions a licensed nurse practitioner or licensed physician assistant who is properly qualified as an expert witness may testify as to certain medical findings. - Amends TCA Title 24; Title 29, Chapter 26 and Title 50, Chapter 6.

2026-03-11 — Taken off notice for cal in s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee

Taxes, Exemption and Credits - As enacted, revises law relative to a financial institution applying for a credit against the sum total of the taxes imposed by the "Franchise Tax law" and by the "Excise Tax law." - Amends TCA Title 67.

2026-05-26 — Effective date(s) 01/01/2027

Law Enforcement - As enacted, establishes a Tennessee safe initiative task force, which is administratively attached to the Tennessee bureau of investigation. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 38 and Title 39.

2026-05-26 — Pub. Ch. 1010