Tennessee Bills

This resolution recognizes fire protection services as an essential service in Tennessee and encourages all local governments to ensure these services are available to every resident. It does not create new laws, funding requirements, or mandates, but formally states the General Assembly's position on the importance of fire protection as a critical community service. The resolution highlights fire services' role in responding to emergencies, supporting economic stability, and addressing historical disparities in how fire protection is treated compared to law enforcement or EMS. It applies to all local governments across Tennessee but remains a symbolic statement of intent without binding legal effect.

This Tennessee House Joint Resolution honors two high school students, Max Moody and Rex Reagan from Pickett County High School, for winning two consecutive StrikeKing BassMaster National Fishing Championships. The resolution recognizes their achievements, including setting a tournament record weight of 21 pounds and 5 ounces during their freshman year and winning again as sophomores with a total of 36 pounds and 11 ounces. It also acknowledges their coach, Anthony Scott, for his guidance and notes that Pickett County High School is only the second high school in the nation to earn multiple national titles. The document serves as a formal commendation rather than a law, and it will be presented to the students as a certificate of recognition.

HB 2395 requires Tennessee public schools and charter schools to show students in grades 6-8 and 9-12 a state-approved civics instructional video at least once per grade span starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The video must cover the Declaration of Independence preamble (including the "all men are created equal" quote) and the religious beliefs of founding fathers, while being historically accurate and non-partisan. The State Board of Education must approve at least one such video by July 1, 2027, but cannot create a video itself. This bill directly affects all local education agencies and public charter schools in Tennessee through mandated curriculum changes.

HB 2588 allows Tennessee public schools and charter schools to offer approved hunter education courses to students in grades 5-12 as part of existing physical education, health, or safety classes. The bill requires these courses to be approved by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, aligning with existing hunter safety standards. It directly affects school districts, students in grades 5-12, and the wildlife agency, integrating hunter safety into standard school curricula. The legislation modifies state education codes to enable this integration without creating new requirements for schools.

HB 1748 requires individuals ordered to use an ignition interlock device (typically for DUI offenses) to provide the court clerk with documentation proving they qualify for financial assistance (like Medicaid or food stamps) on the date they were ordered to use the device. The bill amends Tennessee law to mandate this documentation and authorizes the state treasurer to verify eligibility through agreements with state agencies. It directly affects DUI offenders who may qualify for reduced costs on ignition interlock devices through the electronic monitoring indigency fund. The key mechanism is creating a verification process to determine eligibility for cost assistance, replacing previous requirements with a standardized documentation and state agency cooperation system.

HB 1479 designates November 2nd of each year as "James K. Polk Day" in Tennessee to honor the 11th U.S. President, who was born on that date and served as Tennessee's governor and president. The bill adds this observance to Tennessee's official calendar of special days under state law. It directly affects Tennessee residents and state institutions by establishing an annual commemoration of Polk's historical contributions. The bill contains no funding, regulatory changes, or policy impacts - only a ceremonial designation.

HB 1513 requires political advertisements using deepfakes - fake audio or video impersonating a candidate engaging in speech or actions they never actually did - to include specific disclaimers. For audio ads, the disclaimer must appear at the start and end; for video ads, it must display in large text throughout. Political advertisers (including broadcasters and producers) who fail to add these disclaimers face Class C misdemeanor penalties, and candidates harmed by such ads can seek damages and legal relief. The law applies to ads distributed within 120 days of an election if the candidate isn’t an incumbent.

HB 1731 amends Tennessee law to clarify that "desecrate" includes removing objects from burial sites by anyone who isn't a family member of the deceased or a cemetery representative. This directly affects individuals who might disturb graves or burial artifacts without proper authorization. The key provision expands the legal definition within existing criminal offense statutes (Tennessee Code Sections 39-17-311) to specifically cover unauthorized removal of items from burial places. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1481 would designate the third Sunday in June each year as "Fathers' Day" in Tennessee, amending Tennessee Code Annotated Title 15, Chapter 2. This bill directly affects all Tennessee residents by adding a state-recognized day to honor fathers' roles in families. The key provision simply adds this specific date to the state's list of official days of special observance, aligning with the national standard. The bill is procedural and does not create new obligations or funding. It remains pending before the State & Local Government Committee.

HB 1874 clarifies the legal definition of "hybrid electric vehicle" in Tennessee law. It specifies that such vehicles must be propelled by a combination of an electric motor and an internal combustion engine (or other power source), while explicitly excluding low-speed and medium-speed vehicles. This change updates the existing statute (TCA Title 55, Chapter 4) to provide clearer terminology for vehicle classification. The bill does not create new requirements or affect existing regulations - it only refines how hybrid vehicles are defined for administrative purposes.

SB 192 amends Tennessee law to reduce the requirement for credible witnesses from two to one when law enforcement destroys illegal distilling equipment, such as stills or fermenting devices. This change directly affects law enforcement officers and the process for handling seized property related to illegal alcohol production. The key provision simplifies the procedure by eliminating the need for two witnesses during destruction, streamlining compliance with existing regulations. The amendment applies specifically to Tennessee Code Annotated Section 57-9-101(c), governing the disposal of such equipment.

HB 1194 requires Tennessee's Office of Employment Verification Assistance to create and publish an annual report using existing resources. The report must show the number of employers the office enrolled in E-Verify or checked for work authorization status on their behalf. This bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 50-1-703 and related titles to establish this reporting requirement. The report must be published starting January 1, 2026, and directly affects the state office managing employment verification services.