114 session

Public Employees - As enacted, authorizes an eligible education employee to qualify for paid leave during the legal process for adopting a newly placed minor child, specifically during that period of time beginning with the filing of a petition for adoption when a minor child is initially placed within the residence of a prospective adoptive parent pursuant to a court-ordered parental power of attorney or guardianship or custodial order until the issuance of a final order of adoption by the court. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 50; Title 36 and Title 37, Chapter 1.

2025-05-02 — Effective date(s) 04/11/2025

Human Services, Dept. of - As introduced, enacts the "Workers Need Child Care Act"; establishes the child care infrastructure fund from which the department disperses grants to nonprofit entities for establishing new licensed child care agencies in this state. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 37 and Title 71.

2025-02-12 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee

TennCare - As introduced, removes the requirement that the governor receive authorization by the general assembly prior to making any decision or obligating the state with regard to the expansion of optional enrollment in the medical assistance program. - Amends TCA Title 71.

2025-02-12 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee

Ethics - As introduced, prohibits a person from acting as an agent of a hostile foreign principal unless the person has filed a registration statement with the Tennessee ethics commission; requires each foreign-supported political organization to register with the Tennessee ethics commission. - Amends TCA Title 3, Chapter 6 and Title 4.

2026-03-17 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee

Anatomical Gifts - As enacted, enacts the "Tennessee Genomic Security and End Organ Harvesting Act." - Amends TCA Title 56 and Title 68.

2025-04-04 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 96

Education, Curriculum - As enacted, adds instruction for public high school students on this state's safe haven law to the required components of a family life curriculum. - Amends TCA Title 49.

2025-05-02 — Effective date(s) 04/11/2025

Alcoholic Beverages - As enacted, lowers the county population threshold, from in excess of 500,000 to in excess of 350,000, for a sports authority facility to be eligible to obtain a liquor-by-the-drink license; prohibits a facility located in Hamilton County from being issued a license after March 1, 2030, and requires the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over a facility located in Hamilton County to provide an annual report to the general assembly detailing any public safety issues related to the facility. - Amends TCA Section 57-4-102.

2025-04-08 — Effective date(s) 03/25/2025

Health Care - As enacted, creates the advisory task force on state reimbursement rates to make recommendations on annual adjustments to the reimbursement rates paid to agencies that perform healthcare functions and services, the purpose of which is to ensure such reimbursement rates are adequate. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 62 and Title 63.

2025-04-04 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 144

Salaries and Benefits - As enacted, grants eligible employees leave of up to six workweeks because the employee is caring for a family member with a serious health condition. - Amends TCA Section 8-50-813.

2025-05-15 — Effective date(s) 01/01/2026

Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission - As enacted, authorizes the commission to name real property, infrastructure, improvements to infrastructure, or features under the agency’s jurisdiction. - Amends TCA Section 3-2-112; Section 4-1-412 and Title 70, Chapter 1, Part 2.

2025-04-04 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 141

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation - As enacted, enacts "Savanna's Law," which creates a registry of persistent domestic violence offenders; requires the bureau to maintain the registry. - Amends TCA Title 18; Section 38-6-103; Title 39 and Title 40.

2025-05-27 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 520

Health Care - As introduced, requires the Tennessee council on autism spectrum disorder to submit an annual report by February 1 of each year to legislative committees that details, at a minimum, the council's findings, progress on the comprehensive statewide plan and system of care, and recommendations for legislation. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 56 and Title 71.

2025-03-18 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation - As enacted, grants the bureau discretion to investigate reports of suspected elder financial exploitation. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 38; Title 39; Title 45; Title 68 and Title 71.

2026-05-14 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 908

Taxes, Ad Valorem - As introduced, revises the definition of "residential property" for purposes of classification and assessment of property taxes to include property that can be sold and purchased as a single unit fee simple title, regardless of whether it is vacant, owner-occupied, rented, or detached or attached. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 5.

2025-03-25 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State & Local Government Committee

Education - As introduced, deletes an antiquated section, which required the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee to, by December 15, 2014, perform a study on the economic feasibility of creating and utilizing a statewide comprehensive energy policy and submit its final report to the energy task force of the house of representatives. - Amends TCA Title 49.

2026-03-23 — Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

Computers and Electronic Processing - As enacted, requires each department, agency, office, commission, institution, or instrumentality of the executive branch to accept electronic transmissions; defines the meaning of electronic transmission as applicable to this state's code; removes the terms "fax" or "facsimile" in certain statutes and replaces the terms with electronic transmission. - Amends TCA Title 1; Title 2; Title 3; Title 4; Title 5; Title 7; Title 8; Title 9; Title 10; Title 11; Title 12; Title 13; Title 16; Title 20; Title 22; Title 24; Title 31; Title 33; Title 36; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 43; Title 44; Title 45; Title 47; Title 48; Title 49; Title 50; Title 53; Title 54; Title 55; Title 56; Title 61; Title 62; Title 63; Title 64; Title 65; Title 66; Title 67; Title 68; Title 69 and Title 71.

2025-04-04 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 94

Correction, Dept. of - As introduced, adds the legislative librarian as a recipient of the report submitted by the commissioner of correction to the general assembly on the transactions of state correctional facilities during the two years preceding the report. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4; Title 8; Title 9; Title 27; Title 29; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 41.

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

Health Care - As introduced, changes from March 1 to January 15 the date by which the bureau of TennCare, in consultation with the perinatal advisory committee and with the assistance of relevant state agencies, must report to legislative committees concerning aspects of quality and outcomes in perinatal care for the last two available fiscal years or calendar years, as may be available. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 14; Title 29; Title 33; Title 37; Title 39; Title 53; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

2025-03-26 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Health and Welfare Committee

Nurses, Nursing - As enacted, requires the board of nursing to develop a survey to collect certain information from nurse practitioners who have been issued a certificate of fitness from the board; requires the board to submit a report regarding the survey to legislative committees. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 14; Title 29; Title 33; Title 37; Title 39; Title 53; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

2025-04-29 — Effective date(s) 04/21/2025

Nurses, Nursing - As introduced, requires all hospitals licensed by the health facilities commission or by the department of mental health and substance abuse services to report annually to the department of health, on a form promulgated by the department, the number of advanced practice registered nurses who are working in the hospital for each month. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 33; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63 and Title 68.

2025-03-26 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Health and Welfare Committee

TennCare - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Medicaid Modernization and Access Act of 2025," which aligns TennCare's current Medicaid reimbursement rates for obstetrics/gynecology, primary care, outpatient mental health, and substance use disorder treatment with the Medicare fee schedule or average commercial rates, whichever is higher. - Amends TCA Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

2026-04-20 — Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee to 4/21/2026

Criminal Offenses - As enacted, enacts the "Voyeurism Victims Act." - Amends TCA Title 28; Title 29; Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6; Title 39 and Title 40, Chapter 2.

2025-04-08 — Effective date(s) 03/25/2025, 07/01/2025

Election Laws - As enacted, revises present law that prohibits a person convicted of an infamous crime after May 18, 1981, from being eligible to have the right to vote restored unless the person meets certain requirements, including having been compliant with all child support orders for the previous 12 months, including orders related to child support arrearages. - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 40.

2026-04-06 — Effective date(s) 03/26/2026

Taxes, Sales - As introduced, authorizes certain counties to levy a local option sales tax at the rate of 3.75 percent, instead of a maximum of 2.75 percent, if the revenue from the increase in such tax is used by the county exclusively for the construction of a new county jail or to retire debt, including principal and interest and related expenses, on such construction. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 6, Part 7.

2025-04-02 — Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

State Symbols - As introduced, designates "Tennessee" by Arrested Development as an official state song. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3.

2025-02-12 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

Zoning - As introduced, extends the terms of members of historic zoning commissions from five years to six years. - Amends TCA Title 13, Chapter 7, Part 4.

2025-02-12 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

Zoning - As introduced, specifies that a privately owned property built after 1899 that is located in a tourism development zone is not subject to the authority of a historic zoning commission or a historic zoning law, rule, review guideline, or regulation, with respect to certain aspects of a project. - Amends TCA Title 13, Chapter 7, Part 4.

2025-02-12 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

Education, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the department to allocate to each local education agency sufficient funds for the LEA to employ one full-time licensed professional school counselor at each high school in the LEA that enrolls at least 600 students in grades 10 through 12; requires each LEA to employ one full-time licensed professional school counselor at each high school for which the LEA receives such funding from the department. - Amends TCA Title 49.

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

Local Education Agencies - As introduced, requires school board members to be elected at the same election beginning in 2028. - Amends TCA Title 49.

2025-03-19 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee

Death - As enacted, authorizes, as of January 1, 2027, a licensed paramedic to make an actual determination and pronouncement of death; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 29; Title 33; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

2026-05-18 — Pub. Ch. 965

Local Education Agencies - As enacted, requires at least one full-time employee at each school under the jurisdiction of an LEA or public charter school to annually receive training in seizure safety and first aid. - Amends TCA Title 49; Title 50 and Title 71.

2025-05-02 — Effective date(s) 07/01/2025

Abortion - As introduced, specifies that the offense of criminal abortion does not include an abortion that was necessary due to a medical emergency affecting the physical or mental health of the pregnant person or performed on a patient whose pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 15; Title 63 and Title 68.

2025-02-12 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

Fire Prevention and Investigation - As enacted, changes present law concerning the frequency of fire drills in educational occupancies. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 102.

2025-05-13 — Effective date(s) 05/02/2025

Election Laws - As introduced, revises the definition of "signature" for purposes of certain election-related documents, including absentee ballot and voter registration forms, and petitions for nomination, referendum, or another purpose; revises requirements for signing such petitions. - Amends TCA Title 2.

2025-02-12 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

Election Laws - As introduced, requires the state coordinator of elections to monthly compare the statewide voter registration database with relevant databases of state and federal agencies to ensure non-United States citizens are not registered to vote in this state; revises documents that may be provided to prove United States citizenship upon request by a county election commission; revises the process of appealing a determination that an individual is not qualified to vote based upon citizenship status. - Amends TCA Title 2.

2025-02-12 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

Law Enforcement - As introduced, specifies that a commissioned reserve deputy sheriff or commissioned reserve or auxiliary police officer receiving compensation for services as a guard, patrol, or watchperson under a contract with a private business that is properly licensed by the state is exempt from the private protective services licensing and regulation requirements. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 62, Chapter 35.

2025-04-02 — Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

Local Government, General - As introduced, requires county and city attorneys to consult with and advise elected county and city officials, the officials' deputies, and the officials' employees as to the proper application and enforcement of federal and state laws that are pertinent to carrying out the duties of the officials' respective offices. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 12 and Title 13.

2025-04-10 — Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

Public Officials - As introduced, requires the chief executive officer of a state agency or department to ensure that its policies, practices, and procedures relating to the recruitment, hiring, advancement, and retention of qualified individuals with disabilities are posted on the respective agency or department website. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 3; Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 12; Title 13; Title 14; Title 41; Title 52; Title 58; Title 66 and Title 67.

2025-02-12 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

Campaigns and Campaign Finance - As introduced, increases from 4 percent to 5 percent the percentage of general assembly candidates and their committees who will be selected for an audit by the registry of election finance. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 3 and Title 8.

2025-02-12 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

State Government - As enacted, authorizes the commissioner of environment and conservation, notwithstanding agreements authorized by the commissioner of general services and with approval of the state building commission, to enter into agreements contemplated for the private development, redevelopment, construction, and operation of facilities on lands with Cumberland Mountain State Park, and the department of environment and conservation may supervise the construction. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4; Title 8; Title 9; Title 10; Title 12; Title 13; Title 14; Title 15; Title 41; Title 50 and Title 57.

2026-05-14 — Comp. became Pub. Ch. 925

State Government - As introduced, requires the Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations to file its biennial report of its recommendations and findings with respect to intergovernmental relations with the governor. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 41; Title 52; Title 57 and Title 58.

2025-02-12 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

State Employees - As introduced, requires each appointing authority of a state department or agency to electronically report to the commissioner of human resources the job performance evaluations for the employees in the appointing authority's department or state agency. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8 and Title 50.

2025-02-12 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

Sullivan County - As enacted, requires the members of a utility district board of commissioners to serve without compensation for their services, except that, by resolution duly adopted by the board of commissioners, each commissioner may receive per diem payments for not more than 12 meetings of the board of commissioners in any calendar year, at rates not greater than $500 per meeting. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 12; Title 13; Title 66 and Title 67.

2025-05-13 — Effective date(s) 07/01/2025

General Assembly, Directed Studies - As introduced, requires TACIR to study the economic impact that the cosmetology and barbering professions have in this state; upon completion of the study, requires TACIR to report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to legislative committees having jurisdiction over cosmetology and barbering, and to provide a copy of the report to the legislative librarian. - Amends TCA Title 64, Chapter 3 and Title 64, Chapter 4.

2025-02-12 — Withdrawn.

Medical Occupations - As enacted, authorizes a healthcare provider’s licensing board to issue a license subject to a private advocacy order that requires the applicant to participate in a peer assistance program approved by the board; designates private advocacy orders as confidential and not public records, as long as the provider does not fail to maintain participation in the peer assistance program and requires the initiation of disciplinary proceedings by the board. - Amends TCA Title 63.

2025-05-13 — Effective date(s) 05/02/2025

Zoning - As introduced, prohibits the construction of correctional facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes in areas designated as 100-year flood plains; applies to all applications for construction permits submitted on or after July 1, 2025. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 13.

2025-02-12 — Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

Employees, Employers - As introduced, requires a person who employs an unemancipated minor and who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that the minor has been subjected to child sexual abuse or attempted child sexual abuse in the course of the minor’s employment or on the premises of the employer to report such knowledge or suspicion to the minor’s parent within 24 hours of discovering the abuse or attempted abuse; imposes a penalty of $1,000 for a first violation or $2,000 for a second or subsequent violation, to be paid to the commissioner of labor and workforce development. - Amends TCA Title 37 and Title 50.

2025-05-16 — Sponsor(s) Added.