114 session

Lobbying, Lobbyists - As introduced, provides that a school board, municipal utility, utility district, and department, agency, or entity of county or municipal government that employs a contractor, subcontractor, or representative for purposes of lobbying is deemed to be an employer of a lobbyist. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 3 and Title 8.

2026-04-22 — Sponsor(s) Added.

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 — Effective date(s) 07/01/2026

Alcoholic Beverage Commission - As introduced, authorizes a retailer to deliver hemp derived cannabinoid products to a consumer, including by means of a licensed delivery service; reduces the wholesale tax on hemp derived cannabinoid products from 2 cents per milligram to 1 cent per milligram. - Amends TCA Title 57.

2026-03-30 — Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/31/2026

State Government - As enacted, clarifies that the four trustees for other post-employment benefits may appoint a designee in their absence. - Amends TCA Section 8-27-801.

2026-04-06 — Effective date(s) 04/01/2026

Anatomical Gifts - As introduced, changes from July to January, the month when a medical facility and research institution covered under the Tennessee Genomic Security and End Organ Harvesting Act must certify to the commissioner of health that the facility and institution are compliant with the requirements in the act. - Amends TCA Title 63 and Title 68.

2026-02-05 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee

County Government - As introduced, increases from 48 to 72 hours, the time within which the county legislative body must convene after the filing of an application by the county mayor for such convening based on the public necessity requiring it in the mayor's opinion. - Amends TCA Title 5 and Title 6.

2026-02-05 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

County Government - As introduced, increases from two to three days, the minimum notice period required for a county mayor to convene a special session of the county legislative body for emergency purposes. - Amends TCA Title 5 and Title 6.

2026-03-24 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee

Taxes, Ad Valorem - As introduced, requires the notice submitted by the state board of equalization to a county mayor on whether an extension of time to complete a property reappraisal program is justified to be in writing. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 9; Title 12 and Title 67.

2026-02-02 — Refer to Senate Delayed Bills Committee

Eminent Domain - As introduced, adds to the definition of "public use" for eminent domain a sidewalk, public greenway, bicycle lane, pedestrian way, or proper slope development associated with a road, highway, bridge, or other structure, facility, or project used for public transportation. - Amends TCA Section 29-17-102.

2026-02-19 — Withdrawn.

Holidays and Days of Special Observance - As enacted, designates the month of April as "Tennessee Native Plant Month." - Amends TCA Title 15, Chapter 2.

2026-03-16 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 588

Taxes, Real Property - As introduced, enacts the "Local Government Revenue Stability Act," which replaces property taxes with a statewide 4 percent surtax on the sale of goods and services to be collected in the same manner as the sales and use tax and disbursed to local governments. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 49; Title 54 and Title 67.

2026-02-05 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

Taxes, Real Property - As introduced, requires the comptroller of the treasury to provide required cost and income limit estimates for property tax relief to the directors of the office of legislative budget analysis in addition to the members of the general assembly. - Amends TCA Title 48 and Title 67.

2026-02-05 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

Optometry - As enacted, redefines the practice of optometry. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 8.

2026-05-05 — Effective date(s) 04/14/2026, 01/01/2028

Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) - As enacted, makes various changes to the TISA review committee, including, but not limited to, clarifying that the committee may convene a meeting with a majority of all members present, including one or more designees, but a quorum of all voting members of the committee is required to transact any business requiring a formal vote of the committee. - Amends TCA Section 49-3-113.

2026-04-28 — Effective date(s) 04/23/2026

Lottery, Scholarships and Programs - As introduced, requires the Tennessee higher education commission to submit a report to the education and finance committees of the senate and house of representatives identifying any fiscal year, beginning with the 2004 fiscal year, for which net lottery proceeds were insufficient to fully fund certain scholarships and grants, resulting in a pro rata reduction in award amounts or a draw upon the general shortfall reserve subaccount. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 4, Chapter 51 and Title 49, Chapter 4.

2026-03-11 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee

Education, Higher - As enacted, divides the appointing authority for the nine voting members of the Tennessee higher education commission among the governor, the speaker of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives equally; establishes various tuition and fee limitations and requirements for public institutions of higher education. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 14; Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9.

2026-05-01 — Effective date(s) 04/23/2026, 07/01/2026

TennCare - As introduced, directs the first $150 million of tax revenue generated by the health maintenance organization tax on or after July 1, 2026, to be utilized to draw down federal funds to reimburse a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant who is entitled to receive TennCare reimbursement for a CPT code for evaluation and management, obstetrics and gynecology, or anesthesia. - Amends TCA Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

2026-04-20 — Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026

Insurance Companies, Agents, Brokers, Policies - As enacted, expands the prohibition, from stage 4 advanced metastatic cancer or metastatic blood cancer to any cancer, against a health benefit plan that provides coverage for cancer requiring the use of a step therapy protocol before the health benefit plan provides coverage for an approved prescription drug to an enrollee who has received a diagnosis of cancer. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

2026-05-26 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 995

Appropriations - As introduced, makes appropriations for the purpose of defraying the expenses of certain legislative enactments passed during the 2026 session of the 114th General Assembly; earmarks sufficient state funds for the purpose of funding any bill naming a highway or bridge in honor of a service member killed in action. -

2026-04-20 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee

Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As enacted, increases from three to five the maximum number of nonrelated persons in a home for the aged to be considered a tier 1 home for the aged; increases from four to six the maximum number of nonrelated persons in a home for the aged to be considered a tier 2 home for the aged. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 11.

2026-05-18 — Effective date(s) 05/13/2026

Commerce and Insurance, Dept. of - As introduced, deletes an obsolete requirement that the commissioner conduct a study of this state's insurance laws to determine what impediments, if any, exist that may be acting as deterrents for insurance companies in this state to underwrite policies of insurance to insure a person who has used force that is justified, including deadly force, in protecting such person's self or property, and to submit a report of the study to the general assembly no later than March 1, 2012. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

2026-02-18 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Commerce & Labor Committee

Victims' Rights - As enacted, authorizes a court clerk to increase the victims assistance assessment from $45 to $125, with the first $15 of each assessment being paid to the court clerk for processing and handling and the remaining amount being transmitted to the county in which the offense occurred for the exclusive use of the victims assistance program previously designated by the county legislative body. - Amends TCA Section 40-24-109.

2026-05-27 — Effective date(s) 05/22/2026

Tobacco, Tobacco Products - As introduced, establishes the "Tobacco Product Retail Licensing Act," under which the alcoholic beverage commission is required to license and regulate tobacco product retailers. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 43; Title 47; Title 57; Title 67 and Title 68.

2026-02-11 — Sponsor(s) Added.

Teachers, Principals and School Personnel - As enacted, requires the principal or the principal's designee provide notification to the parent or legal guardian of each student who was in the classroom or instructional area at the time that a classroom evacuation occurred by the end of the day in which the classroom evacuation occurred unless the event that prompted the classroom evacuation is an ongoing emergency or is otherwise under investigation by a state or local law enforcement agency, in which case the notification must not be provided to parents and legal guardians until the emergency event is resolved or the principal or the principal's designee determines that providing the notification does not impede an ongoing investigation, as applicable. - Amends TCA Title 49.

2026-05-05 — Pub. Ch. 850

Drugs, Prescription - As enacted, authorizes a law enforcement officer to cause to be administered a blood or urine test on a person for the presence of a psychotropic drug if such officer has probable cause to believe that the person committed a mass shooting and the person consents to such test; clarifies that if the person is a minor, then a parent or legal guardian must consent; directs the health science center to study the drug interactions between any drugs found in the person's blood or urine. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 40; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

2026-05-18 — Effective date(s) 07/01/2026

Motor Vehicles - As introduced, creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for a motor vehicle dealer or salesperson to knowingly retain a copy, in an electronic or other format, of a person's identification. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 47 and Title 55.

2026-02-05 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Transportation and Safety Committee

Education - As introduced, requires a private school that participates in the Individualized Education Act or the Tennessee Education Savings Account Pilot Program to comply with certain requirements in order to receive public funds through the program; prohibits a student from receiving an education freedom scholarship if the student is enrolled in a private school that doesn't comply with certain requirements. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 10, Part 14; Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 26 and Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 35.

2026-03-11 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee

Education - As introduced, authorizes, instead of requires, local education agencies and public charter schools to retain a student in the third grade if the student has not shown a basic understanding of the curriculum and an ability to perform the skills required in the subject of reading or English language arts. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 1 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

2026-02-05 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

Natural Disasters - As introduced, requires TACIR to perform a comprehensive evaluation on the preparedness and response of local and state officials, departments, and agencies to the Hurricane Helene natural disaster. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4, Chapter 10 and Title 58.

2026-03-24 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee

Recreational Areas - As introduced, creates an administrative attachment for the Doe Mountain Recreation Authority with the department of environment and conservation, while preserving the Authority's autonomy and powers in all other aspects. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 11, Chapter 25 and Title 70.

2026-02-05 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee

Education, Higher - As introduced, requires each public institution of higher education to classify a student who is the spouse of a service member who has not resided in this state for at least one year as an in-state student for tuition purposes if the service member's spouse resides in this state while enrolled in the institution; adds dependants of active-duty military personnel or veterans residing outside of this state to those who are eligible to receive the in-state tuition rate at a public institution of higher education; requires, instead of allows, the governing board of each such institution to provide the in-state tuition rate to military-affiliated individuals. - Amends TCA Title 49.

2026-04-20 — Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the amount of marijuana that may be possessed, from one-half ounce to five ounces, for it to be considered a small amount of marijuana and punishable as a Class A misdemeanor; revises penalty to make it punishable by a $500 fine for a first offense and a $1,000 fine for a second or subsequent offense. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17.

2026-03-25 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

Human Resources, Department of - As introduced, excludes a child care agency that provides child care services through a child development program and is accredited by the United States department of defense from being subject to licensure as long as such child care agency provides child care services only to an eligible patron. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 3.

2026-02-05 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee

Election Laws - As introduced, requires the secretary of state to direct each county election commission to place a ballot question on the ballot for the November general election in 2026 asking voters whether this state should legalize the sale, possession, and use of medical cannabis. - Amends TCA Title 2.

2026-03-24 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates an offense for a vape shop retailer, or a distributor, wholesaler, or importer, who sells or offers for sale a vapor product for retail sale in this state to sell nitrous oxides. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 57, Chapter 7 and Title 67.

2026-03-02 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

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 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

Consumer Protection - As introduced, requires certain data controllers to annually register with the consumer protection division of the office of the attorney general and reporter; requires the division to create and maintain a website and accessible deletion mechanism that a consumer can use at no cost to make a single deletion request that is binding on all controllers registered with the division; makes other related changes to the Tennessee Information Protection Act. - Amends TCA Title 47, Chapter 18, Part 33.

2026-02-05 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

Business and Commerce - As enacted, revises law relative to commercial litigation financiers and litigation financing contracts. - Amends TCA Title 47.

2026-05-26 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1005

Public Utility Commission - As enacted, requires, for an electric utility providing services outside the corporate limits of the home municipality, expansion of the utility board to provide representation on the board for such outside locality. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 12; Title 13; Title 54; Title 64; Title 65; Title 68 and Title 69.

2026-05-27 — Effective date(s) 05/22/2026

Consumer Protection - As introduced, deletes an obsolete provision staggering the effective date of the prohibition on printing more than five digits of a credit or debit card number or the expiration date on the receipt retained by the merchant or the receipt provided to the cardholder at the point of sale or transaction for a cash register or other machine or device that electronically prints receipts and that was in use prior to January 1, 2005, or first put into use on or after January 1, 2005. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 12; Title 45; Title 46; Title 47; Title 48; Title 62; Title 65 and Title 66.

2026-02-05 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

Fireworks - As introduced, increases, from fewer than 90 days to fewer than 95 days, the time that a firework exhibitor licensee has after expiration of the exhibitor's license to renew the license and have it retroactive to the date the old license expired. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 12; Title 45; Title 46; Title 47; Title 48; Title 50; Title 61; Title 62; Title 63; Title 65 and Title 68.

2026-02-05 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

Education - As introduced, requires each public charter school to publish the policy adopted by its governing board on the use of artificial intelligence by students, teachers, and staff for instructional and assignment purposes on its website; requires each local board of education to direct each school under its management and control to publish the policy adopted by the local board on the use of artificial intelligence by students, teachers, and staff for instructional and assignment purposes on the school's website. - Amends TCA Title 49.

2026-02-05 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

Teachers, Principals and School Personnel - As enacted, prohibits an educator from engaging in any sexually related behavior with certain students enrolled, graduated, or withdrawn from school; requires violations to be reported to the state board of education. - Amends TCA Title 49.

2026-05-18 — Effective date(s) 05/05/2026, 07/01/2026

Local Education Agencies - As introduced, allows certain searches of containers, packages, and certain enclosures used for storage by students or visitors to be conducted by a school employee who has been designated by the school principal to conduct such searches and who has completed an orientation and training program developed by the department of education. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6.

2026-02-05 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

Immigration - As introduced, requires reporting by law enforcement agencies and local governmental entities and officials regarding persons not lawfully present in the United States; requires the department of finance and administration to report the annual cost incurred by this state for public schools, including public higher education institutions, prisons, hospitals, and social services agencies to provide benefits and services to persons not lawfully present in the United States. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7; Title 8 and Title 9.

2026-03-30 — Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/31/2026

Teachers, Principals and School Personnel - As introduced, allows the state board of education to waive the educator licensure requirement for an individual who does not hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year institution, but who has at least five years of teaching experience at a church-related school or private school approved to operate in this state, if the individual meets certain requirements. - Amends TCA Title 49.

2026-04-20 — Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026

Sentencing - As introduced, makes the offense of sexual battery by an authority figure ineligible for probation. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

2026-04-20 — Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026