Tennessee Bills

HB 2275 extends the waiting period for Tennessee school boards from 30 to 45 days between advertising property for sale (specifically for career and technical education buildings) and completing the sale. This change directly affects local school boards managing property sales related to career and technical education facilities. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-2006(c)(1) to implement this 15-day extension. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026, but does not alter the sale process beyond the extended waiting period.

SB 2354 shortens the deadline for reporting wildlife-related injuries from 48 to 24 hours after an incident involving captive wildlife. It directly affects owners, handlers, or facilities that possess captive wildlife, requiring them to notify the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency more quickly. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-70-416, 44, and 70 to implement this change, aiming to improve response times for medical care. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026.

HB 2393 prohibits Tennessee public schools serving kindergarten through fifth grade (K-5) from allowing students to use digital devices at school, requiring teachers to use devices for instruction, or administering assessments electronically. The law directly affects K-5 students and educators in local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools. Key exceptions include compliance with disability laws (IDEA, Section 504, ADA), public virtual schools, and state-mandated assessments like universal screeners or dyslexia screenings. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not ban device use for all purposes but restricts it in core instructional and assessment contexts for young learners.

HB 2154 requires juvenile court clerks in Tennessee to report the total amount of uncollected guardian ad litem administrative fees (that weren't waived) in their monthly reports to the state courts administrator and comptroller. This applies to fees paid to court-appointed guardians for children in custody cases. The bill amends multiple Tennessee code sections to add this specific fee collection data to standard reporting requirements. It directly affects juvenile courts and state financial oversight offices by increasing transparency around uncollected court-related fees. The measure focuses on reporting transparency, not changing fee waiver policies or guardian appointment procedures.

SB 2547 shortens the deadline for notifying appointing authorities about vacancies on Tennessee's underground storage tanks and solid waste disposal control board, reducing the timeframe from 90 to 45 days. This procedural change directly affects the board members and the state agencies responsible for appointing replacements. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated sections related to solid waste management to implement this faster notification requirement, streamlining vacancy reporting without altering substantive waste disposal policies.

SB 2219 restricts access to juvenile court records in Tennessee related to delinquency or unruly proceedings. It limits viewing of these records - previously open to inspection - to only three groups: court personnel (judges, magistrates, staff) acting in official duties; district attorneys and assistants handling child-related cases; and public defenders and assistants handling child-related cases. The bill prohibits anyone with access from disclosing or sharing these records except as permitted by law. This change, effective January 2027, modifies Tennessee’s juvenile court rules to tighten confidentiality around sensitive juvenile court documents.

HB 2351 updates Tennessee's medication aide certification rules to allow nursing students in good standing enrolled in approved nursing programs to qualify for certification without prior work experience as a nurse aide or occupational therapy assistant. To qualify, students must complete required coursework in medication administration, pharmacology, and nursing fundamentals with passing grades. This change directly affects nursing students seeking early career opportunities and healthcare facilities needing medication aides. The bill also adds new requirements for training program timelines (14-90 days) and exam pass rate calculations.

SB 2427 amends Tennessee law to expand eligibility for medication aide certification to include students in good standing enrolled in approved nursing schools who complete specific coursework in nursing fundamentals, pharmacology, and medication administration with a passing grade. This change directly affects nursing students seeking early certification, alongside existing pathways for certified nurse aides or licensed occupational therapy assistants. The bill also establishes a 14- to 90-day timeframe for training programs and adjusts how certification exam pass rates are calculated. These provisions aim to streamline the certification process for medication aides while maintaining safety standards.

SB 2362 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services (DCS) to partner with the Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) to better serve children with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) in state custody or at risk of entering custody. The bill mandates DDA expertise for five key areas: assessing children's needs and services, determining appropriate placements, overseeing placements and quality, training DCS staff and providers, and coordinating disability-specific care. DCS must implement DDA's recommendations and submit annual reports to legislative committees starting in 2027, tracking referrals, evaluations, placements, oversight findings, and training status. This directly affects children with I/DD in state custody or at risk, ensuring their care aligns with DDA's specialized expertise.

HB 2188 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services (DCS) to create a formal agreement with the Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) to improve support for children in state custody or at risk of entering custody who have intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD). The bill mandates DDA to evaluate children with suspected I/DD, recommend appropriate placements, oversee service quality, develop staff training, and coordinate disability-specific care. It directly affects children with I/DD in or near state custody, DCS staff, and service providers. The law also requires DCS to submit annual reports to legislative committees detailing referrals, evaluations, placements, oversight findings, and training status by January 1, 2027, and annually after.

SB 2280 allows Tennessee's District Attorneys General Conference to cover software licensing fees for district attorney offices across judicial districts, regardless of whether the staff member using the software is funded by the state or another entity. This bill removes a previous restriction requiring staff positions to be state-funded for such software fees to be paid from conference funds. The change directly affects all district attorney offices in Tennessee by simplifying funding for necessary software applications. It amends Tennessee Code Sections in Titles 8, 9, 16, and 40 to implement this funding mechanism. The bill focuses on administrative efficiency without altering substantive legal procedures.

HB 2481 allows Tennessee's District Attorneys General Conference to cover software licensing fees for all district attorney offices within a judicial district. It removes the previous restriction that required the software user's position to be state-funded, meaning fees can now be paid regardless of whether the staff member's role is funded by the state, local government, or another entity. This change simplifies access to necessary technology tools for all district attorney offices across Tennessee, ensuring consistent use of software applications without funding source barriers.