SB 1803 directs Tennessee's Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance to study how neighboring states are using new insurance models to cover substance use treatment. The commissioner must use existing resources to examine these approaches and compile findings into a report by December 31, 2026. The report will include any recommendations for potential changes to Tennessee's insurance coverage policies. This bill does not create new laws or funding - it only requires a study and report to inform future legislative decisions.
HB 1770 amends Tennessee law to add "clinical informatics," "lifestyle medicine," and "medical virtualist" to the list of terms that cannot be used with a name to falsely suggest someone is practicing medicine or osteopathic medicine without proper licensure. The bill directly affects healthcare professionals and practitioners who might use these titles to mislead the public about their qualifications. It updates existing code sections (Title 63, Chapters 6 and 9) to clarify that attaching these terms to a name would be prohibited, preventing misleading claims about medical practice. The change aims to protect consumers by ensuring only licensed medical professionals can use titles that imply medical expertise.
SB 1860 establishes the "Tennessee Agricultural Fair and Livestock Show Act" to provide state funding for agricultural fairs and livestock shows across Tennessee. The bill authorizes the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to distribute state funds for cash awards (premiums) at these events for specific exhibits, including livestock, farm products, youth programs like 4-H, and educational displays. It also creates a merit award program that gives additional funding to top-performing fairs based on criteria such as exhibit quality, community participation, and grounds maintenance. This law directly supports fair organizers, promotes agricultural education, and aims to strengthen Tennessee's agricultural tourism and youth development efforts.
SB 1828 requires public schools and colleges in Tennessee to include instruction on the "positive impacts of religion on American history" when teaching American history. It specifically allows teachers to cover 19 historical examples, such as the Pilgrims' religious practices, religious references in the Declaration of Independence, George Washington's views on religion, and the role of religious leaders in the Civil Rights Movement. The bill states this teaching is consistent with the First Amendment and aims to provide an "accurate historical account" of religion's influence. It applies to all public school teachers, administrators, and higher education instructors in Tennessee, though it does not mandate specific content - only that these topics may be included. The bill claims this approach reduces "ignorance of American history, hate, and violence."
SB 2069, the "Tennessee K-9 Emergency Medical Care and Transport Act," allows emergency medical personnel (like ambulance crews) to provide immediate care and transport to injured police, military, or search-and-rescue dogs ("canine first responders") that are working under authorized officers. The bill requires specific training for EMS staff and establishes licensed veterinarians as "emergency veterinary medicine service directors" to oversee care. It grants legal immunity to EMS personnel acting in good faith to treat or transport these dogs, provided no human patient requires urgent transport at the time. This law directly affects K-9 units and EMS providers by creating a formal pathway for canine emergency care within existing emergency response protocols.
HB 1628 requires Tennessee's Department of Tourist Development to annually confirm nonprofit or tax-exempt organizations as official regional tourism groups for each of the state's nine development districts. It mandates department approval of marketing plans before these groups can receive state matching funds, and requires organizations to prove they represent all counties in their district through mayoral letters, tourism group endorsements, or membership records. The bill establishes a 2:1 state funding match (with a $35,000 minimum annual award) for confirmed organizations that meet these requirements. These changes directly affect tourism groups seeking state funding by adding administrative steps to the confirmation and funding process.
HB 1822 requires Tennessee public schools and colleges to include specific historical examples of religion's "positive impacts" on American history during American history classes. It directs educators to teach 19 listed topics, such as Pilgrims' religious origins, religious references in the Declaration of Independence, George Washington's religious views, and the role of faith in the Civil Rights Movement. The bill states this instruction is consistent with the First Amendment and not proselytization. It directly affects teachers in Tennessee's public K-12 schools and public universities. The law does not mandate these topics but permits their inclusion in American history curriculum.
SB 1515 extends the legal existence of Tennessee's Department of Education by delaying its automatic termination date to June 30, 2030. This procedural bill updates references to the department in Tennessee law (specifically amending TCA Sections 4-29-247 and 4-29-251) to reflect the extended sunset date. It directly affects the Department of Education by ensuring its continued operation without requiring new legislation to maintain its authority through 2030. The bill makes no changes to education policies or funding, only adjusting the legal sunset provision.
HB 1503 extends the required retention period for hemp-related records from five to ten years. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 43-27-102(c), requiring the Department of Agriculture to maintain all records created or received for hemp regulation for a decade instead of five years. This change directly affects the Department of Agriculture's record-keeping practices under hemp regulations. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on the duration of record retention with no substantive policy changes.
HB 1786 prohibits recreational boat owners from securing (mooring) their vessels for more than 14 consecutive days at any single location along reservoir water edges or within one mile of the water's edge. It also bans blocking navigation access in reservoirs and establishes temporary moorage restrictions in Tennessee River navigation channels. Violating these rules would be a Class C misdemeanor, though federal permit holders for permanent mooring are exempt. The law directly affects recreational boaters using reservoirs managed by federal agencies, aiming to prevent long-term vessel accumulation and maintain water access.
SB 2047 changes Tennessee's school accountability process by shifting responsibility for selecting interventions for "priority schools" in tier three of the progressive tiered intervention system from the Department of Education to the State Board of Education. Under this bill, the Department must recommend intervention options to the State Board, which then selects and notifies the school of the chosen intervention. This directly affects Tennessee public schools identified as needing the highest level of support under the state's accountability system. The bill takes effect July 1, 2027, altering the current process where the Department made the final selection.
SB 1517 extends the operation of Tennessee's Department of Human Services until June 30, 2030, by amending state code to remove an automatic expiration date. The bill directly affects the Department of Human Services, which administers programs like Medicaid, food assistance, and child welfare services. Key provisions include deleting an existing expiration reference and adding a new definition confirming the department's structure under state law. This is a procedural extension to ensure continuity of essential social services without altering program rules or funding. The bill passed the Senate unanimously (33-0) and is now pending in the House.
