SB 1496 Tennessee Senate · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Health Care - As introduced, adds clinical informatics, lifestyle medicine, and medical virtualist to the list of words or abbreviations that a person may attach to a name to indicate or induce another person to believe that the person is engaged in the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 6.

SB 1496 amends Tennessee law to clarify that healthcare professionals cannot use the terms "Clinical informatics," "Lifestyle medicine," or "Medical virtualist" after their name to suggest they are licensed physicians or osteopathic doctors. The bill adds these specific terms to the existing list of titles that mislead the public about medical licensure. It directly affects healthcare providers who might use these terms in their practice without proper authorization. This change updates the definition of "practice of medicine" under Tennessee Code Title 63, ensuring these terms cannot be misused to induce public belief in unlicensed medical practice.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jan 21, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Jan 21, 2026
Committee
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Health and Welfare Committee
lower
Jan 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 1/21/2026
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Ferrell Haile
Ferrell Haile
RRepublican
TN
18