114 session

Immigration - As enacted, adds local governments to the entities that must verify that each applicant for public benefits is a United States citizen or lawfully present in the United States; authorizes certain investigations of violations of requirements for verification of citizenship or presence for public benefits; requires certain reporting related to such verification for benefits; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 1 and Title 4, Chapter 58.

2026-05-27 — Effective date(s) 05/22/2026, 07/01/2026

Taxes, Real Property - As introduced, redefines "movable structure" for purposes of classification and assessment of property so that a mobile home or other movable structure that is used as a residence or apartment must be used permanently as such instead of temporarily or permanently. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 5.

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

Teachers, Principals and School Personnel - As introduced, creates a pathway for a person to obtain an alternative instructional leader license for purposes of serving as a principal, an assistant principal, or an instructional supervisor. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 5.

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

Union County - Subject to local approval, changes the building permit fee to fifty cents per square foot on all buildings constructed, erected, or reconstructed. - Amends Chapter 87 of the Private Acts of 1973; as amended.

2026-02-02 — Passed on Second Consideration, held on desk. Local Bill

Taxes, Exemption and Credits - As introduced, exempts certain school supplies and instructional materials from the sales and use tax if sold to a teacher employed by a local education agency or public charter school. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 6.

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

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, prohibits the use of a telecommunication device, with intent to deprive the owner of property, to fraudulently obtain or exercise control over the property of another without the owner's effective consent, which is punishable as theft, but in no event less than a Class E felony. - Amends TCA Title 39.

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

Human Resources, Department of - As enacted, requires the department to annually publish on the department's website a report on the temporary assistance for needy families program's and the child care and development fund's balances and expenditures. - Amends TCA Title 71.

2026-05-26 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1023

Employees, Employers - As enacted, generally requires, beginning July 1, 2026, all state and local governmental employers to verify the work authorization status of each prospective employee through the federal E-Verify program prior to employment; authorizes the attorney general to enforce compliance with the requirement against local governments and subjects a noncompliant local government to the withholding of all funds of this state allocated to the local government via grant, contract, or statute, including, but not limited to, state-shared taxes. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 12 and Title 50.

2026-04-27 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 772

Zoning - As introduced, requires a person to reside in the county at least 12 months prior to being eligible to be appointed to a county board of zoning appeals. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 12 and Title 13.

2026-03-04 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State & Local Government Committee

Regional Authorities and Special Districts - As introduced, removes provision that allows speakers to alternatively appoint a senator or representative whose district was in a central business improvement district as of January 1, 1999, as ex officio board of directors member. - Amends TCA Title 7; Title 9, Chapter 21 and Title 67.

2026-03-04 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State & Local Government Committee

Public Employees - As introduced, allows up to five days' leave for any eligible employee who is a foster parent or kinship caregiver regarding appearances in court or counseling sessions related to the placement of the foster child. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 50.

2026-03-04 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State & Local Government Committee

Dentists and Dentistry - As enacted, requires a dental hygienist to be working under the direct supervision of a dentist seeing a new patient before completing diagnostic radiographs; assessing and recording existing hard and soft tissue data; performing prophylaxis; and applying fluoride agents. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 63, Chapter 5.

2026-05-27 — Effective date(s) 05/22/2026, 01/01/2027

Traffic Safety - As introduced, enacts the "Super Speeder Accountability Act," which requires intelligent speed assistance devices to be installed on motor vehicles operated by persons convicted of certain driving offenses where speed was a factor; creates a licensing system for device providers; requires compliance-based device removal; authorizes indigent users to apply for assistance from the electronic monitoring indigency fund; makes other revisions. - Amends TCA Title 55.

2026-03-19 — Re-refer to S. Cal Comm

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, adds "a victim" to the definition of an individual involved in the judicial process for purposes of the criminal offense of harming or threatening to harm an individual involved in the judicial process; makes various other changes regarding victims of crime. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 39 and Title 40.

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

Criminal Procedure - As introduced, adds to the list of certain offenses required to be served at 100 percent of the sentence imposed by the court undiminished by any sentence reduction credits, the attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit those offenses. - Amends TCA Section 40-35-501.

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

Criminal Offenses - As enacted, requires a person convicted of second degree murder by knowingly killing another to be sentenced as no lower than a Range II offender. - Amends TCA Section 39-13-210 and Title 40.

2026-04-24 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 752

Schools, Charter - As enacted, requires the department of education to annually collect and report certain data for opportunity public charter schools on the department's website; requires a director of schools, juvenile court judge, or department of children's services caseworker who has knowledge that a student is an at-risk student and is eligible to attend an opportunity public charter school to provide the student and the student's parent or legal guardian with information regarding the student's eligibility to enroll in an opportunity public charter school and the location of any opportunity public charter schools that are located in or adjacent to the student's county of residence. - Amends TCA Title 49.

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

Public Officials - As introduced, requires that certain personally identifying information of elected state and local public officials be maintained confidentially with limited exceptions. - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 10, Chapter 7.

2026-04-14 — Re-refer to S. Cal Comm

Public Records - As introduced, requires the department of correction to disclose records and information to any member of the general assembly, upon written request, to enable the member to determine whether the laws of this state are being complied with regarding inmates in the department's custody. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4; Title 10, Chapter 7; Title 40 and Title 41.

2026-03-25 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee

Energy - As introduced, removes restriction on the number of terms a member may serve on the state energy policy council. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29, Part 2 and Title 68, Chapter 204.

2026-03-04 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee

Homestead Exemptions - As enacted, adds a child who is 18 or older and has a developmental or intellectual disability to whom the homestead exemption extends upon the death of the head of the household. - Amends TCA Title 26; Title 30; Title 33 and Title 52.

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

Disability and Aging, Dept. Of - As introduced, creates a licensure process for prescribed pediatric extended care programs; requires TennCare to submit a waiver to the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services seeking approval to provide coverage and benefits for those who receive services from a prescribed pediatric extended care program. - Amends TCA Title 52; Title 56 and Title 71.

2026-04-07 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

Children - As enacted, adds the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services, and one at large member with experience advocating for children, to the Tennessee second look commission; revises certain severe and aggravated child abuse offenses to include offenses involving strangulation; authorizes a court to order a child's custodian to submit certain documentation of compliance with preventative pediatric care consistent with the periodicity schedule of the American Academy of Pediatrics in certain situations; authorizes the department of children's services to initiate a visit to ascertain the wellbeing of a child if such documentation contains allegations of abuse or neglect. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

2026-05-26 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1003

Orders of Protection - As introduced, increases from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony the penalty for the criminal offense of violation of an order of protection if the order violated was a lifetime order of protection and the conviction that the lifetime order of protection was based on involved the use of force against a victim. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 39.

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

Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As enacted, enacts the "Annual Coverage Assessment Act of 2026." - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5.

2026-05-26 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 991

Holidays and Days of Special Observance - As enacted, designates January 22 of each year as "Sanctity of Life Day." - Amends TCA Title 15, Chapter 2.

2026-05-05 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 879

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for assault against a firefighter, emergency services personnel, or other person who responds to calls for emergency assistance from a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum 30-day sentence and $5,000 fine to a Class E felony with a mandatory minimum 60-day sentence and $10,000 fine. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

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

Holidays and Days of Special Observance - As enacted, designates the third Sunday in June of each year as "Fathers' Day." - Amends TCA Title 15, Chapter 2.

2026-03-30 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 624

Holidays and Days of Special Observance - As introduced, designates September 10 of each year as "Charlie Kirk Day." - Amends TCA Title 15, Chapter 2.

2026-03-24 — Failed in Senate State and Local Government Committee

Open Meetings - As enacted, authorizes local governmental bodies to conduct certain community meetings via electronic means of communication. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 8, Chapter 44.

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

Bail, Bail Bonds - As enacted, allows the court to temporarily revoke a defendant's bond and order the defendant held without bail for no more than 10 days pending a bail revocation hearing if the defendant violates a condition of release, is charged with an offense committed during the defendant's release, or engages in conduct that results in the obstruction of the orderly and expeditious progress of the trial. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 11.

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

Notary Public - As introduced, requires the secretary of state to appoint notaries public to commissions in this state; prescribes additional requirements to be commissioned as a notary public in this state. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 16 and Title 23.

2026-03-24 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As introduced, requires a blood bank to comply with a physician's order for an autologous blood donation or directed blood donation for a specific patient; requires a hospital to allow a patient who is scheduled for a medical procedure to provide an autologous blood donation or directed blood donation upon order of a physician. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 32.

2026-03-02 — Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

Autopsies - As introduced, requires a county medical examiner to report certain instances of the natural death of an infant or young person under 20 to the federal Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Sudden Death in the Young Case Registry; requires the county medical examiner to review the deceased infant's or young person's immunization and medical records; authorizes civil penalties and license sanctions for violations. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 63 and Title 68.

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

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts the "mRNA Bioweapons Prohibition Act," which prohibits the manufacture, acquisition, possession, or making accessible to others of mRNA injections and products; requires state and local government officials to use all lawful means necessary to investigate or enforce suspected violations; punishes violations the same as manufacturing, acquiring, possessing, or transferring a weapon of mass destruction, which is a Class B felony. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 14; Title 39; Title 40; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

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

Driver Licenses - As introduced, authorizes the department of safety to issue a for-hire endorsement to operate a Class D vehicle to an applicant who would otherwise qualify for a for-hire endorsement but for the requirement of at least two years of unrestricted driving prior to the date of application if the applicant has completed a sentence of incarceration after conviction for an offense and currently has a restricted license for unpaid fines and court costs and is making payments in accordance with a payment plan. - Amends TCA Title 55.

2026-03-11 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Transportation and Safety Committee

School Transportation - As enacted, authorizes a school bus that is used exclusively to transport students from school to an after-school program to be used until the bus reaches the 20th year from the in-service date of the bus, or until the bus accumulates 300,000 miles of recorded travel, whichever occurs later; requires the owner of a bus that reaches the later of 20 years of service or 300,000 miles of recorded travel to, at the conclusion of the school year, discontinue use of, or replace, the bus; requires certain notice to, and inspections by, the commissioner for certain buses. - Amends TCA Title 49.

2026-04-06 — Effective date(s) 04/13/2026

Immigration - As enacted, requires, until February 1, 2029, each court to cooperate with the U.S. department of homeland security and federal immigration authorities acting in the enforcement of federal immigration law; authorizes, until February 1, 2029, a judge who obstructs lawful operations by such department and such authorities acting in the enforcement of federal immigration law to be referred to the board of judicial conduct for proceedings; clarifies that any findings by the board that the judge committed judicial misconduct may be cause for removal. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7; Title 8; Title 16; Title 17 and Title 38.

2026-05-18 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 953

Education, Curriculum - As enacted, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires each LEA and public charter school to, as part of the social studies curriculum, to present a civics instructional video approved by the state board of education at least once to students in grades six through eight and at least once to students in grades nine through 12. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 1 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

2026-03-30 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 629

Sexual Offenses - As introduced, revises the offense of continuous sexual abuse of a child, including the required number of victims, required number of incidents of sexual abuse, and time frame within which the incidents must have occurred. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 5.

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

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, defines "criminally negligent conduct,” as used in the offense of criminally negligent homicide, to include failing or refusing to render aid to another person who is unconscious or in need of medical care and the person failing to act knows or reasonably should know that the unconsciousness or need for medical care occurred after the consumption of any controlled substance. - Amends TCA Title 39.

2026-03-23 — Deferred to Summer Study

State Government - As enacted, prohibits a state agency from issuing or renewing a certification, registration, license, or permit to a corporate entity if an officer, director, or employee of the entity provides material support or resources, meeting spaces, or other forums to certain terrorist groups or organizations for the purpose of soliciting material support or recruiting new members; requires a state agency to deny, revoke, or refuse or renew a certification, registration, license, or permit issued to such entities upon receipt of satisfactory proof of such activity. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 48 and Title 67.

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

Local Education Agencies - As enacted, enacts the "Tennessee Religious Freedom Act," which authorizes a local board of education to open a meeting of the board with a prayer led by a member of the board as long as the prayer does not require participation of any person in attendance at the meeting and no person is harassed or coerced to participate in the prayer. - Amends TCA Title 49.

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

Remedies and Special Proceedings - As enacted, removes the right of a cause of action for any affected person who seeks declaratory and injunctive relief in any action brought regarding the legality or constitutionality of a state governmental action; authorizes such an action against a political subdivision of this state; does not limit any other cause of action or waiver of sovereign immunity to vindicate rights under the Tennessee Constitution or the United States Constitution. - Amends TCA Title 1, Chapter 3 and Title 49.

2026-04-23 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 664

Education, Higher - As introduced, requires the governing board for each public institution of higher education to install and maintain a "Charlie Kirk Memorial Courtyard for Civil Debate" at the main campus of each public institution of higher education governed by the board. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 49.

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

Education, Curriculum - As enacted, requires each director of schools for an LEA and each director of a public charter school to annually ensure that students in grades K-12 enrolled in the LEA or public charter school observe the Fourth of July during the school year by receiving age- and grade-appropriate instruction on the founding of the United States, the separation of the original 13 colonies from Great Britain, the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the fundamental rights and freedoms enjoyed by American citizens. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 1; Title 49, Chapter 2; Title 49, Chapter 50 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

2026-05-18 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 962