114 session

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

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

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.

2026-03-18 — Failed in s/c Health Subcommittee of Health Committee

Workers Compensation - As enacted, adds a requirement that an award of attorneys' fees and costs incurred when an employer unreasonably denies a workers' compensation claim or unreasonably fails to timely initiate any of the benefits associated with the claim must be based on a finding by the workers' compensation judge that the employer's conduct was unreasonable; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 50, Chapter 6.

2026-05-05 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 845

Local Government, General - As enacted, authorizes counties with a metropolitan form of government, by resolution of their governing bodies, to levy a tax on the retail sale of food and food ingredients for human consumption within the county at a rate less than the local option sales tax rate or exempt the retail sale of such food and food ingredients from the local option sales tax; deletes obsolete provisions relating to the timing for reducing the membership of metropolitan councils. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 67, Chapter 6.

2026-05-26 — Effective date(s) 05/19/2026

Governor - As introduced, prohibits the governor from making a decision regarding the option to not enroll or to disenroll this state in the summer electronic transfer benefits program, unless authorized by the general assembly. - Amends TCA Title 71.

2026-03-25 — Taken off notice for cal in s/c Health Subcommittee of Health Committee

State Government - As introduced, enacts the "DEI Compliance Certification Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8 and Title 49.

2026-03-17 — Taken off notice for cal in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee

TennCare - As introduced, increases from seven to 10 days, the mandatory public inspection period for a hospital's marketing and strategic planning records prior to a vote by its board to adopt such plans. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 33; Title 41; Title 47; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

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

Massage Therapy - As introduced, enacts the "Interstate Massage Compact." - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 63.

2026-03-18 — Taken off notice for cal in s/c Health Subcommittee of Health Committee

Children's Services, Dept. of - As enacted, generally prohibits the department from requesting information regarding the number or type of firearms or ammunition or identifying information about such firearms or ammunition that a foster parent or prospective foster parent owns or possesses, or requesting a foster parent or prospective foster parent to display or provide access to a firearm or ammunition owned or possessed by the parent. - Amends TCA Title 37.

2026-05-04 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 869

Taxes - As enacted, provides that an application for an exemption from property taxation for property owned by a religious, charitable, scientific, or nonprofit educational organization that is filed within 180 days after the exempt use of the property began will be effective as of the date the exempt use began, if the application is made after May 20th of the year for which the exemption is sought, but prior to the end of the year; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 67.

2026-05-27 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 982

Obscenity and Pornography - As introduced, specifies that a commercial entity that knowingly possesses, promotes, purchases, produces, sells, sends, transports, or distributes obscene matter in violation of state law may be held civilly liable to an individual for nominal damages, actual damages, punitive damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees. - Amends TCA Title 28 and Title 39.

2025-03-26 — Returned to the Clerk's Desk.

State Inmates - As introduced, requires the department of correction to keep a copy of each validated risk and needs assessment of each inmate under its supervision and control for the duration of the inmate's period of incarceration. - Amends TCA Title 41.

2026-03-10 — Taken off notice for cal in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee

School Vouchers - As introduced, repeals the "Tennessee Education Savings Account Pilot Program," the "Education Freedom Scholarship Act," and the "Individualized Education Act." - Amends TCA Title 49.

2026-03-24 — Taken off notice for cal in s/c K-12 Subcommittee of Education Committee

Alcoholic Beverages - As introduced, authorizes the issuance of a retail package store license to an operator within the general services district of a metropolitan government that has approved the retail sale of liquor for off-premises consumption by local option election. - Amends TCA Title 7 and Title 57.

2026-03-03 — Taken off notice for cal in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee

Health, Dept. of - As introduced, directs the department to submit a report on the feasibility of creating and implementing a graduate physician licensure program that would allow a person who has graduated from an allopathic medical school and passed the United States Medical Licensing Examination, but who has not completed an accredited postgraduate residency program, to provide medical services within a framework of a continuous collaboration and supervision agreement with a licensed physician to the chair of the health and welfare committee of the senate and the chair of the committee of the house of representatives having jurisdiction over health-related matters on or before January 1, 2027. - Amends TCA Title 63 and Title 68.

2026-03-02 — Sponsor change.

Funeral Directors and Embalmers - As introduced, authorizes the operator of a crematory facility to provide an electronic receipt, instead of a written receipt, to the person who delivers a dead human body or body parts to the facility for cremation. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 10; Title 29; Title 30; Title 31; Title 32; Title 34; Title 35; Title 36; Title 38; Title 39; Title 46; Title 50; Title 55; Title 56; Title 58; Title 62; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 71.

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

Utilities, Utility Districts - As introduced, requires each public and private electric utility and electric project developer, owner, or operator to conduct a technical assessment of certain electrical transformers to determine vulnerability to geomagnetically induced current; requires such entities to file a report on the assessment with the general assembly, governor, board of utility regulation, and the public utilities commission. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7 and Title 65.

2026-03-11 — Def. to Summer Study in Business & Utilities Subcommittee

Welfare - As introduced, clarifies that the department of human services must provide applicants with a written notice of temporary assistance eligibility determinations. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 71.

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

Tourism - As enacted, requires the department of tourist development to promulgate rules designating tourism development zones in this state as economic protection zones; places certain limitations on a local government blocking streets or other rights-of-way in a tourism development zone; clarifies that the Tennessee highway patrol has concurrent law enforcement authority with local law enforcement agencies within a tourism development zone in this state. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 67.

2026-05-26 — Pub. Ch. 1024

Public Funds and Financing - As introduced, enacts the "Greenbelt Initiative Fund Transfer (GIFT) Act," which creates the rural revenue equity fund; authorizes the commissioner of economic and community development to distribute amounts from the fund to rural counties based on certain agricultural, demographic, and fiscal criteria, including greenbelt acreage. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 9 and Title 67.

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

Boards and Commissions - As introduced, increases, from 90 to 95, the number of days that the board of directors for a municipal energy authority has to fill a board vacancy created by the death, resignation, or removal of any director and gain approval of the applicable governing body. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 9; Title 12; Title 13; Title 48; Title 50; Title 64; Title 65 and Title 67.

2026-03-25 — Failed in State & Local Government Committee

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, requires TACIR to study and prepare a report on marijuana arrests made in this state from 2015 to 2025, including data on race, age, gender, and the location of arrest. - Amends TCA Title 4.

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

Planning, Public - As introduced, requires an establishment resolution adopted by the governing body of a municipality to form an infrastructure development district to include an itemization of the funded costs for infrastructure related to each utility service that will serve the development district. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13; Title 65 and Title 66.

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

Finance and Administration, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the department to promulgate rules relating to cash transaction rounding. - Amends TCA Title 47, Chapter 18 and Title 67.

2026-02-05 — Assigned to s/c Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee

Judges and Chancellors - As introduced, increases base salaries for trial and appellate level judges and supreme court justices effective September 1, 2030; revises compensation and other requirements for general sessions judges on or after September 1, 2030. - Amends TCA Section 8-23-103; Title 16 and Title 67.

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

Public Records - As enacted, requires each state governmental entity and official to maintain certain information relative to the operational enforcement of federal and state immigration laws as confidential, and provides that such information is not subject to public inspection. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 10; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41 and Chapter 253 of the Public Acts of 2021.

2026-04-27 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 686

Health Care - As introduced, enacts the "Maternal Health Care Protection Act," which prohibits the exercise of a healthcare provider's right of conscience under the Medical Ethics Defense Act from allowing the provider to refuse to participate in or pay for pregnancy-related healthcare procedures, treatments, or services that are within the scope of the provider's license and professional obligations; prohibits the exercise of such right from allowing a healthcare institution or healthcare payer to adopt or enforce a policy, guideline, or contractual provision that results in the denial of pregnancy-related healthcare procedures, treatments, or services. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 1, Part 9.

2026-03-10 — Failed in s/c Population Health Subcommittee of Health Committee

Codes - As introduced, revises authority of state fire marshal to prescribe rules relating to minimum statewide building construction safety standards, specifically for fire prevention for multi-family dwelling units. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 120.

2026-02-05 — Assigned to s/c Cities & Counties Subcommittee

Public Utility Commission - As introduced, authorizes the commission to electronically provide to the general assembly its annual report of all matters relating to the commissioner's office for the preceding year, including practical workings of companies under its jurisdiction in this state and an abstract of the minutes of all of the commission's meetings. - 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.

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

Expunction - As introduced, extends the time period within which a court ordering the expunction of a person's public records of a criminal offense must send a copy of the expunction order to the Tennessee bureau of investigation from 30 days to 45 days. - Amends TCA Section 8-21-401 and Title 40.

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

Cheatham County - Subject to local approval, increases from six to seven the number of school districts and school board members in Cheatham County. -

2026-05-01 — Comp. became Pr. Ch. 33

Charlotte - Subject to local approval, revises various provisions of the charter of the City of Charlotte relating to its corporate powers; the city council; the city clerk; codification of ordinances; duties of mayor; city court, judge, and court clerk; and budgeting, centralized purchasing, and taxes. - Amends Chapter 154 of the Private Acts of 1955; as amended.

2026-05-27 — Pr. Ch. 56

Morristown - Subject to local approval, makes the elections for council members at-large elections; eliminates council wards. - Amends Chapter 103 of the Acts of 1903; as amended and rewritten.

2026-04-13 — Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to First Calendar of 2027

Education, Higher - As introduced, extends to the dependent children and spouses of veterans who sustained a permanent and total service-connected disability during a qualifying period of armed conflict the same waiver of all tuition and fees at public institutions of higher education being provided to the dependent children and spouses of veterans who were killed, died due to injuries received, or reported as prisoners of war or missing in action during a qualifying period of armed conflict. - Amends TCA Title 49.

2025-02-03 — Assigned to s/c Higher Education Subcommittee

Pensions and Retirement Benefits - As introduced, authorizes a firefighter with a rank equal to or higher than shift commander to continue in service beyond the mandatory retirement age of 62 years of age. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 36.

2025-04-14 — Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

Children - As enacted, increases the age of an infant from 14 days or younger to 45 days or younger who can be received by a facility without the mother being subject to criminal liability. - Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 1, Part 1 and Title 68, Chapter 11, Part 2.

2025-05-15 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 420

Education - As introduced, enacts the "Protecting Tennessee Schools and Events Act." - Amends TCA Title 12 and Title 49.

2025-04-09 — Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025

Pensions and Retirement Benefits - As introduced, requires the board of trustees of the Tennessee consolidated retirement system to convert a person's participation in the retirement system, for service as a member of the general assembly and as a participant in the hybrid plan, from the hybrid plan to the legacy plan upon the person completing 10 years of service as a member of the general assembly if the person became a member of the general assembly on or after July 1, 2014; requires retiree health benefit coverage be made available to retired members of the general assembly with 10 or more years of service. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 8, Chapter 27, Part 2; Title 8, Chapter 34; Title 8, Chapter 35 and Title 8, Chapter 36.

2025-04-09 — Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025

Remedies and Special Proceedings - As introduced, increases the amount of compensation an injured plaintiff in a civil action may receive for noneconomic damages from $750,000 to $1.5 million; increases the amount of compensation an injured plaintiff in a civil action may receive for noneconomic damages, if the injury or loss is catastrophic in nature, from $1 million to $2 million. - Amends TCA Section 29-39-102.

2026-03-26 — Sponsor(s) Added.

Pensions and Retirement Benefits - As enacted, enacts the "Fairness in Benefits Act." - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 27; Title 8, Chapter 34; Title 8, Chapter 35; Title 8, Chapter 36 and Title 8, Chapter 37.

2025-05-08 — Effective date(s) 05/02/2025

Motor Vehicles - As introduced, creates a Class A misdemeanor for a person who is in the United States without legal authorization to operate a motor vehicle without possessing a valid driver license and evidence of financial responsibility; limits the fine for such offense to a maximum of $1,000. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 55.

2025-03-18 — Taken off notice for cal in s/c Transportation Subcommittee of Transportation Committee

Safety - As enacted, enacts the "Riley Gaines Women's Safety and Protection Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 37; Title 41; Title 49 and Title 68.

2026-05-27 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1052

State Inmates - As enacted, increases the accreditation stipend provided to eligible counties for each convicted felon housed by the county. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 9; Title 29; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 41.

2025-06-04 — Effective date(s) 07/01/2025

Criminal Offenses - As enacted, adds the offense of robbery to the definition of crime of violence. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

2025-04-29 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 211

Election Laws - As enacted, authorizes Hamblen County to participate in the convenience voting center pilot project. - Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 3, Part 3.

2025-05-13 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 384

Alcoholic Beverages - As introduced, extends from five to 10 days the amount of time a law enforcement officer has to file a written informational statement with the county court clerk after taking possession of illicit intoxicating liquors. - Amends TCA Title 57.

2025-02-06 — P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.