Tennessee Bills

SB 1159, the "Proximity Placement and Family Visitation Incentive Act," allows eligible incarcerated individuals in Tennessee to transfer to correctional facilities closer to their home counties if they meet specific criteria. It directly affects inmates who maintain good behavior for at least 12 months and participate in rehabilitation programs, as well as their families who face travel costs or hardship visiting them. The bill’s key mechanism requires inmates to demonstrate good conduct and program participation to qualify for transfer, with priority given to those with regular family visitation records or documented economic hardship from travel. The Tennessee Department of Correction must track visitation metrics, transfer requests, and outcomes to implement the law. This policy aims to strengthen family bonds, reduce recidivism, and lower financial burdens on low-income families.

HB 674, the "Proximity Placement and Family Visitation Incentive Act," would allow eligible incarcerated individuals in Tennessee correctional facilities to request a transfer to a facility closer to their home county if they maintain good behavior for at least 12 months and participate in rehabilitation programs. Priority for transfers would go to inmates with families that regularly visit them (verified by records) or face financial hardship from travel costs. The Tennessee Department of Correction would track and report annually on visitation patterns, eligible inmates, and transfer numbers to monitor the program’s implementation. This bill directly affects incarcerated people seeking closer family visits and the state’s correctional system.

HB 357, the "Rescue Squad Recognition Act," establishes a formal recognition system for nonprofit rescue organizations in Tennessee. It defines a "rescue squad" as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering at least four of 11 specific emergency response services (like rope or vehicle rescue), meeting national standards, and consisting of 75% volunteer personnel. Organizations must apply to the State Fire Marshal’s office for a 3-year certificate of recognition ($50 fee), obtain local government approval for new squads, and renew annually. The law does not apply to law enforcement, medical agencies, or fire departments, and allows opt-outs with notification. This directly affects nonprofit rescue groups seeking official status for emergency response operations.

SB 837 defines key legal terms in Tennessee law to clarify statutory interpretation. It specifies that "person," "human being," "life," and "natural person" include biological humans (including the unborn from fertilization) but explicitly exclude artificial intelligence, algorithms, software, hardware, and machines. These definitions amend Tennessee Code Annotated Title 1, Section 1-3-105(a), to prevent legal personhood for technology. The bill does not create new regulations but ensures these terms are interpreted consistently in existing laws. It affects how Tennessee statutes apply to human vs. machine entities in legal contexts.

SB 579 would provide eligible Tennessee workers 12 weeks of job-protected leave for recovery after living organ donation surgery, with leave counted toward employment seniority. It prohibits insurers from denying coverage or charging more for life, disability, or long-term care insurance solely because someone is a living organ donor. The bill also requires the Tennessee Department of Health to create and post public educational materials about living organ donation by July 2025, covering benefits, risks, and insurance impacts. This bill directly affects living organ donors, employers, and insurance providers in Tennessee.

HB 427 provides 12 weeks of job-protected leave for eligible employees recovering from living organ donation surgery, including state workers with 12+ months of service and private-sector employees covered under federal FMLA rules. It prohibits insurers from denying or altering life, disability, or long-term care insurance coverage based solely on someone being a living organ donor. The bill also requires Tennessee's Department of Health to create and post public educational materials about living donation benefits, risks, and insurance impacts by July 2025. These provisions directly affect living organ donors, their employers, and insurance providers across Tennessee.

SB 1110, the "Rescue Squad Recognition Act," requires nonprofit rescue organizations in Tennessee to obtain official recognition from the state fire marshal to operate. It defines qualifying rescue squads as nonprofits meeting specific standards (e.g., 85% of team members meeting national safety standards, 75% volunteer staff, and IRS 501(c)(3) status), excluding law enforcement and medical agencies. To be recognized, squads must apply to the state fire marshal with a $50 fee, receive a 3-year certificate, and maintain local governing body approval. The bill mandates ongoing compliance, with non-renewal possible for violations of state rules or failure to renew. This directly affects volunteer-based rescue organizations operating across Tennessee counties and municipalities.

SB 2644, the "Crush Transnational Repression in Tennessee Act," targets foreign governments or terrorist organizations attempting to control Tennessee residents through coercion or harassment. It enhances criminal penalties for agents of foreign adversaries who coerce residents to act against U.S. laws or silence protected activities like free speech or religious practice. The bill invalidates court rulings or contracts based on foreign law if they violate Tennessee or U.S. constitutional rights, and prohibits enforcement of foreign laws without state law enforcement approval. It also requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to develop a training program for law enforcement by 2027. The law directly affects Tennessee residents facing foreign government pressure and law enforcement agencies implementing its provisions.

SB 2204 amends Tennessee election law to allow the state's electronic voter registration portal (created by the Elections Coordinator) to access federal immigration data from the SAVE program if the U.S. Department of Homeland Security makes it available via a secure web service. This change would directly affect Tennessee's voter eligibility verification process by enabling the state to potentially check immigration status against federal records during registration. The key mechanism is authorizing the portal to connect to the SAVE program through a secure API, subject to federal data availability. The bill does not mandate federal data sharing but prepares the state system to use it if provided, pending approval by the federal government.

HB 2255 requires that any vacancy on Tennessee's Human Trafficking Advisory Council be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term using the same appointment method as the original selection. This applies to all vacancies on the council and affects how the state fills leadership positions on this specific advisory body. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to implement this requirement, ensuring continuity in council representation without changing the appointment process itself. It does not alter the council's responsibilities or create new policies, but standardizes vacancy procedures. The bill's title mentioning "Criminal Offenses" appears unrelated to its actual content.

HB 2194 requires Tennessee's public universities (including the University of Tennessee system) to create policies that clearly separate faculty tenure decisions from disciplinary actions. It mandates that institutions ensure tenure cannot be used as punishment, disciplinary procedures must treat tenured and non-tenured faculty equally, and all disciplinary actions must follow due process. The bill also affirms university leadership's authority to discipline faculty for cause while protecting academic independence. These policies must be implemented by July 1, 2026, and posted online.

HB 2279, the "Crush Transnational Repression in Tennessee Act," targets foreign governments or groups attempting to control Tennesseans through coercion or foreign law. It criminalizes agents of "foreign adversaries" (like designated hostile nations) who try to force Tennesseans to act against their will, leave the U.S., or stop protected activities like free speech or religious practice - increasing penalties for such offenses. The bill also voids Tennessee court rulings or contracts based on foreign law (including examples like Sharia Law) if they violate U.S. or Tennessee constitutional rights. Additionally, it requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to create a law enforcement training program on transnational repression by July 2027.