Tennessee Bills

SB 639 increases the advance notice period for meetings of Tennessee's Board of Water Quality, Oil, and Gas from five to seven days. This change applies directly to board members, requiring organizers to notify them seven days in advance of all regular or special meetings. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (TCA Titles 7, 63, 65, 68, and 69) to implement this updated notice requirement. The policy change is procedural, focusing solely on meeting scheduling transparency without altering substantive water or resource regulations.

SB 879 requires Tennessee's Department of Human Services to annually identify federal waivers needed to overcome regulatory barriers affecting food assistance program processing. The department must submit waiver applications by October 31 each year and provide a December 31 report detailing these applications, their status, and recommendations for statutory changes to improve efficiency. This bill directly affects the state's food assistance program operations and the department's reporting obligations to legislative committees. It modifies Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 5, Part 3, to establish these annual requirements without altering benefit eligibility or funding levels.

SB 855 changes a procedural deadline for municipal utility boards in Tennessee. It increases the time allowed for newly appointed board members to elect a chair from 10 calendar days to 10 business days. The bill specifically amends Section 7-52-110(b) of Tennessee Code to reflect this change, affecting boards appointed under the Municipal Electric Plan Law of 1935. This is a purely procedural adjustment with no direct impact on utility rates, services, or the public.

SB 539 establishes new rules for taxing multi-unit rental properties (four or more units) that receive federal, state, or local incentives tied to low-income housing restrictions, such as tax credits or rent subsidies. Property owners must notify local assessors by December 31 each year if their property has such restrictions, and assessors must value these properties using specific methods - including adjusting for rent differences between restricted and non-restricted units and excluding tax credits from valuation. The bill requires a higher capitalization rate (50-150 basis points above the national average) for these properties to reflect their reduced market value, with rules taking effect for tax year 2026. This directly affects owners of qualifying rental housing and property assessors statewide.

SB 232 allows Tennessee county election commissions to designate specific restrooms in election buildings for campaign workers and volunteers working outside polling places. It requires campaign staff to cover or remove campaign materials before using these restrooms and prohibits them from entering polling areas or soliciting votes within the designated boundary. Violations could result in penalties under existing election law. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and directly affects campaign staff during elections.

SB 1255 requires Tennessee’s Department of Health to mandate blood lead level testing for all students before attending public K-12 schools and for pregnant women receiving WIC program vouchers. It directs the department to provide support services - including nutritional counseling and educational resources - for individuals with elevated lead levels or lead poisoning. Juvenile detention facilities receiving federal funding must collaborate with health and education agencies to offer these services to detained youth with high lead levels. The bill affects students, pregnant women in WIC, and detained youth, with parental opt-out allowed for school testing.

SB 1326 exempts Tennessee taxpayers aged 85 or older who have received property tax relief for five consecutive years from submitting annual income reports to maintain their eligibility. The bill modifies existing property tax relief rules to allow these seniors to continue receiving benefits without yearly paperwork, provided their income stays below the annual threshold and they meet other eligibility criteria. Instead, a simplified reapplication process will be developed - allowing online or mail submissions with basic checkboxes - to verify income and non-income requirements. This change directly affects elderly homeowners enrolled in Tennessee’s property tax relief program, reducing administrative burdens while maintaining income-based eligibility.

SB 821 requires all Tennessee public schools serving grades 3-12 and public charter schools to implement an annual, research-backed substance abuse prevention program. The program must teach students refusal skills, anti-drug norms, and life skills to reduce tobacco, alcohol, and drug use, while supplementing existing efforts like DARE and character education. Schools must provide these programs year-round without replacing current drug education or health instruction. The law applies starting the 2025-2026 school year, affecting every school district and charter school in the state.

SB 677 requires Tennessee's Department of Education to provide at least one free, self-paced online professional development course about using artificial intelligence in classrooms for teachers in grades 6-12. Teachers in these grades must complete one department-approved AI training course by August 1, 2027, or within two years of receiving their teaching license, whichever is later. The course must be created by an entity with expertise in STEM fields and can be used to earn required professional development credits. This bill directly affects all public school teachers in grades 6-12 across Tennessee, mandating specific AI training as part of their professional development requirements.

SB 1232 allows individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) in Tennessee to petition for the removal of their conviction from their criminal record after meeting specific conditions. To qualify, a person must have completed all sentence requirements (including fines, probation, and restitution) for the DUI offense, not have received prior expunctions, and not have been convicted of DUI more than once. The bill creates a new eligibility pathway for DUI expunctions, requiring the offense to be at least 10 years old from the date of conviction and limiting petitions to one per person. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies only to DUI convictions under Tennessee law § 55-10-401.

SB 468, the "Women's Safety and Protection Act," defines "female" and "male" biologically (based on reproductive systems at birth) for state law applications. It requires Tennessee state agencies to maintain separate facilities and accommodations for biological females in correctional facilities, juvenile detention centers, domestic violence shelters, restrooms, and dormitories to protect safety and privacy. The bill mandates that biological sex - not gender identity - determines eligibility for these spaces, prohibiting agencies from banning such distinctions in settings where safety or privacy is a concern. It applies directly to women, girls, and facilities serving them, with specific provisions for restrooms, sleeping quarters, and shelter access. The law overrides conflicting state laws to enforce these biological sex-based definitions.

SB 714 changes the annual deadline for Tennessee's Departments of Education and Health to submit a report on student medication and healthcare procedures. The bill moves the submission date from October 31 to October 1 each year, requiring the departments to report on self-administered medications, healthcare procedures, and recommendations for comprehensive school health. This report covers all public and nonpublic accredited schools in the state. The change provides an earlier timeline for reviewing school health practices and recommendations.