Tennessee Bills

SB 1672 extends the deadline for state officials to review and approve long-term tax increment revenue allocations from 30 to 45 days. It specifically applies to allocations for economic impact plans (with terms exceeding 20 years) and redevelopment/community redevelopment plans (with terms exceeding 30 years). The bill amends Tennessee law to change the timeframe for the commissioner of economic and community development and the comptroller to make written determinations on these allocations. This procedural adjustment provides additional time for administrative review without altering the policy substance or requirements.

SB 2085 (Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-24-109) increases the victims' assistance assessment fee from $45 to $125 for individuals convicted of certain crimes, including those who plead guilty, are found guilty, or enter diversion programs. The fee applies to criminal cases in Tennessee courts and directly affects convicted defendants. The bill specifies that $15 of each assessment goes to the court clerk for processing, while the remaining $110 must be sent to the county’s designated victim assistance program. This change redirects funding to support local victim services under existing state law.

HB 1844 expands safe surrender options for newborns in Tennessee by adding 24-hour ambulance stations to the list of facilities where parents can legally leave infants without legal consequences. The bill amends Tennessee Code (Sections 68-11-255) to explicitly include ambulance stations staffed 24/7 by licensed emergency medical providers, alongside existing options like hospitals and fire departments. It also updates language to require facilities to have "staff scheduled continuously on a 24-hour basis" rather than simply "being staffed." This change directly affects parents seeking to voluntarily surrender newborns, providing additional accessible, safe locations for this process.

HB 1773 allows emergency communications district boards of directors in Tennessee to participate in official meetings electronically under the state's open meetings law. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 8-44-108(a)(2) and references related provisions to explicitly include these boards within the definition of "governing body" for open meeting requirements. The change enables remote participation for board members during meetings while maintaining public access to proceedings. This is a procedural update to existing open meetings rules, not a new policy.

HB 1514 prohibits local governments from charging fees, fines, or costs against the owner of a shopping cart found on public property, unless the cart was moved from a retail store's premises or parking area by the owner or their employee. This directly affects shopping cart owners who might otherwise face penalties for carts left on public streets or sidewalks. The bill amends Tennessee law to override local ordinances that might impose such fees, ensuring they can only be charged under the specific exception noted. It takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to actions after that date.

SB 1610 amends Tennessee law to allow Putnam County and incorporated cities within the county meeting specific 2020 census population thresholds (366,200-366,300 for the county, 79,800-79,900 for cities) to regulate sober living homes for substance abuse recovery. The bill enables these local governments to establish rules for such homes while requiring compliance with the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act. It does not create new regulations but defines which jurisdictions can implement them. The key provision adjusts the legal definition of "local government" in state code to include these specific areas.

SB 1815 creates a new Class D felony offense for AI system owners who permit their systems to advise or encourage suicide when the user has already communicated suicidal intent. Specifically, it targets owners of AI systems (including generative AI like chatbots) that, knowing the user expressed intent to harm themselves, provide suicide-related advice without adequate safeguards. The law applies if the AI owner negligently allowed the system to remain accessible to the user during this high-risk period. This bill directly affects AI developers and companies operating systems in Tennessee, imposing criminal liability for specific AI interactions involving imminent suicide risk. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1706 would make it a serious misdemeanor for someone without legal immigration status to operate a commercial motor vehicle in Tennessee. It also requires law enforcement to notify federal immigration authorities when arresting such individuals and holds employers strictly liable for injuries caused by undocumented drivers operating commercial vehicles. The bill creates civil penalties of at least $1 million for employers or state officials who knowingly allow or issue licenses to undocumented drivers, and allows private citizens to file lawsuits on behalf of the state (known as "qui tam" actions). This bill directly affects undocumented immigrants working in commercial driving, employers, and state licensing officials, with no provisions for enforcement or implementation details yet.

SB 1964 would expand seasonal fireworks sales periods for Tennessee retailers in 2026, adding Memorial Day (May 20-30) and Labor Day (September 1-10) windows alongside existing Independence Day (June 10-July 10) and New Year's (December 10-January 3) sales. It increases the seasonal retailer permit fee from $100 to $150 for 2026 and authorizes the state fire marshal to create implementing rules. All provisions apply only to the 2026 retail period and expire February 1, 2027. The bill directly affects licensed fireworks retailers operating in Tennessee during these designated holiday periods.

HB 1493 authorizes Tennessee local historical boards to lease their owned or managed land for agricultural use, allowing farmers to grow crops on five or more contiguous acres or harvest hay on smaller parcels. All lease proceeds must be used exclusively for preserving historic sites and structures under the boards' management. The bill requires boards to submit annual reports detailing lease contracts and fund usage to the Tennessee Historical Commission. This policy directly affects local historical boards and farmers seeking land access, creating a new revenue stream for preservation efforts without altering existing land protections.

SB 1774 creates a criminal offense for school employees who intentionally bully or cyberbully students, directly affecting teachers and staff in Tennessee schools. The bill clarifies that school employees found to have committed bullying, harassment, or cyberbullying must face dismissal or suspension, with new definitions specifying "school employee" to include all public and private school staff. Key provisions include expanding the legal definition of bullying to cover acts disrupting education, defining "victim" as students targeted by staff, and adding automatic disciplinary consequences for violations. The law applies to all school employees and takes effect July 1, 2026, for acts occurring on or after that date.

SB 1771 would allow counties with populations under 341,500 (per 2020 census) to prohibit municipalities from enforcing zoning rules outside their city limits. If a county passes a resolution approving this, any existing zoning ordinances applied beyond municipal boundaries become invalid. The bill requires counties to adopt this resolution via majority vote, but does not apply to metropolitan counties or prevent counties/municipalities from making interlocal agreements for ongoing projects. This directly affects local governments' authority over land use planning in unincorporated areas.