Tennessee Bills

This legislative resolution formally commends Stratton Bone, a long-serving Wilson County official and state representative, for his contributions to Tennessee agriculture and local leadership. The bill recognizes the naming of a building at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon as the "Stratton Bone Made in Tennessee Building" to honor his legacy. It highlights his specific achievements, including his role in founding the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program and his service on the House Agriculture Committee. The resolution serves as an official acknowledgment of his public service rather than establishing new laws or policies.

SB 2207 extends the required waiting period for school boards selling career and technical education (CTE) facility properties from 30 to 45 days. This change applies specifically to school boards advertising such properties for sale in local newspapers before completing a negotiated sale. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections governing school facilities to implement this timeline adjustment. The policy change only affects the administrative process for selling CTE properties, with no other substantive modifications to school finance or operations. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 2432, known as "Quinton's Law," amends Tennessee's statutes of limitations for wrongful death claims and other civil actions. It extends the deadline for filing wrongful death lawsuits to three years if criminal charges are filed against the alleged perpetrator within two years of the incident, covering cases involving law enforcement, district attorneys, or grand jury prosecutions. For other civil claims like libel, false imprisonment, or civil rights cases, it shortens the filing deadline from two years to one year. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to cases accruing on or after that date.

SB 2426 requires Tennessee's Department of Education, Office of Early Learning, to submit an annual report by July 1 each year to the governor and General Assembly on pre-kindergarten program status. The report must include specific data like the number and locations of pre-K providers, provider types, and the number of at-risk children served. It also mandates that this report be published on the department's website for public access. This bill directly affects the Office of Early Learning by establishing a new annual reporting requirement for pre-kindergarten program data.

HB 2499 shortens the deadline for reporting wildlife-related injuries from 48 to 24 hours. It directly affects owners or handlers of captive wildlife in Tennessee who must now notify the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency within one day of an injury requiring medical care. The bill amends state laws (Tennessee Code §§ 39-10-101, 44-10-101, and 70-4-416) to implement this time reduction. The change takes effect July 1, 2026, aiming to expedite injury reporting and agency response.

HB 2564 requires Tennessee's attorney general to notify crime victims about escrow accounts holding funds for civil judgments using email, phone calls, and text messages - beyond just direct in-person or mail notification. This bill directly affects victims who have civil judgments against offenders and are eligible to receive funds from these escrow accounts. The key provision amends Tennessee Code Section 29-13-405(1) to mandate these additional notification methods. The change ensures victims receive timely updates about available funds through multiple accessible communication channels.

HB 2516 reduces the timeframe for notifying appointing authorities about vacancies on Tennessee's underground storage tanks and solid waste disposal control board from 90 to 45 days. This procedural bill directly affects the board members and the government bodies that appoint them, requiring quicker communication when a position becomes vacant. The change amends specific sections of Tennessee law (TCA Titles 4, 5, 6, 7, and 68) related to solid waste management procedures. It does not alter waste disposal rules or environmental standards, only the administrative process for board vacancies.

SB 2650 requires Tennessee's attorney general to notify crime victims about escrow accounts holding funds for civil judgments using email, phone calls, and text messages - beyond just direct in-person or mail contact. This change directly affects victims in civil cases where compensation may be available through court-ordered escrow funds. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (Titles 29, 36, 37, 39, and 40) to update notification methods, ensuring victims receive timely information through multiple accessible channels. It focuses on procedural clarity without altering eligibility or funding amounts for victims.

SB 2355 requires juvenile court clerks in Tennessee to report the total amount of guardian ad litem administrative fees that were not waived but also not collected. This applies directly to juvenile court clerks, who must include this specific data in their monthly reports to the administrative director of the courts and the comptroller. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law (Titles 16, 20, 33, 34, 36, and 37) to add this reporting requirement. The change focuses on transparency around uncollected fees, without altering fee amounts or eligibility.

SB 2175 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to prioritize water system projects in counties with fewer than 57,000 residents (based on the 2020 or later census) for consideration for loans from the water system revolving loan fund. It defines "rural county" as having a population below 57,000 and amends state law to automatically include such projects on the priority list. This change directly affects water infrastructure projects in smaller counties by ensuring they receive automatic consideration for funding. The bill modifies existing law to streamline access to loan programs for rural water systems without altering the fund's structure or funding levels.

HB 2352 restricts access to juvenile court records in delinquency and unruly proceedings to specific court personnel, prosecutors, and public defenders when handling cases involving children. It amends Tennessee law to require that only judges, court staff, district attorneys, and public defenders may view these records while performing official duties related to child cases. The bill explicitly prohibits unauthorized disclosure of this information, reinforcing confidentiality protections for minors in juvenile court matters. This change directly affects minors involved in juvenile court cases and ensures their records are only accessible to authorized legal professionals handling their cases.

HB 2205 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to prioritize water system projects in rural counties (defined as those with under 57,000 residents based on the 2020 or later census) for loans from the water system revolving loan fund. This directly affects smaller counties struggling to fund water infrastructure improvements. The bill amends existing law to add these rural counties to the priority list, ensuring their projects are considered first for available loan funding. It does not create new money but changes how existing loan funds are allocated.