Tennessee Bills

SB 2642 updates Tennessee law to allow professional solicitors (those who solicit funds for charities) to notify the Secretary of State about changes to their charitable campaigns via email or physical mail, rather than requiring only physical mail. This change applies to all professional solicitors operating in Tennessee who must report modifications within 72 hours of any change to their campaign details. The bill explicitly clarifies that email is an acceptable method for submission, which was not previously specified under the prior "written notice" requirement. This amendment streamlines the reporting process without altering the existing 72-hour deadline or the substance of charitable solicitation rules.

SB 2222 creates a legal pathway for individuals to seek financial damages from people or entities that pay demonstrators to participate in protests, if those demonstrators commit specific criminal acts during the demonstration. It directly affects organizers who compensate protesters and individuals harmed by protest-related misconduct. The bill establishes liability if the demonstrator's conduct matches one of 11 listed offenses (such as rioting, disorderly conduct, or civil rights intimidation), without requiring a prior criminal conviction against the demonstrator. This policy change shifts potential financial responsibility to those who fund protest participation when illegal actions occur. The bill is currently pending in the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee.

SB 2230 changes who serves on three Tennessee insurance committees. It replaces the state employees association-appointed member on the state insurance committee with a "preferred service employee" selected per new rules. The bill also shifts appointment authority for local school board representatives (to be selected by the commissioner of finance) and for municipal/county representatives (now appointed directly by the commissioner of finance, not by the Tennessee Municipal League or County Services Association). These changes affect committee composition for state employee, education, and local government insurance programs without altering insurance benefits or coverage.

HB 2283 modifies Tennessee law to prevent the Department of Children's Services from requiring relative caregivers (including those in kinship foster care programs) to provide each child with their own bedroom when determining placement. The bill specifically amends sections of Tennessee Code Annotated (37-1-166 and 37-2-414) to remove this requirement, except when specific safety or medical reasons make shared sleeping unsafe. This change directly affects relative caregivers and the department's placement decisions for children in foster care.

SB 2532 raises penalties for improper sewage disposal by businesses that remove septic system waste, upgrading violations from a Class C to Class B misdemeanor. It requires courts to notify environmental officials upon conviction, triggering permit suspensions (30 days for first offense, 90 days for second, permanent revocation for third or subsequent violations). This directly affects licensed waste removal businesses operating in Tennessee, with consequences tied to their violation history. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law to strengthen enforcement against commercial violators of sewage disposal rules.

HB 2141 makes certain records related to college athletics confidential in Tennessee. It prohibits public disclosure of commercial contracts for intercollegiate athletics programs until July 2033 and extends the existing ban on disclosing game/player integrity records until July 2026. The bill explicitly states that confidentiality doesn't create legal claims for individuals, only allowing businesses to seek relief if disclosure harms their economic advantage. This applies directly to Tennessee's public universities operating athletics programs, affecting how they handle sensitive contract details and competitive game information.

HB 2355 increases penalties for businesses illegally disposing of sewage by upgrading violations from a Class C to Class B misdemeanor when committed during septic waste removal operations. It directly affects businesses permitted to remove accumulated wastes from septic systems. The bill requires courts to notify the environmental commissioner upon conviction, triggering automatic permit suspensions (30 days for first offense, 90 days for second, permanent revocation for third or subsequent violations). These changes apply to violations occurring on or after July 1, 2026.

HB 2498 prohibits Tennessee's TennCare program from covering or reimbursing medical procedures performed to help individuals "identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with their sex" or to treat "discomfort from discordance between sex and asserted identity." The bill specifically excludes coverage for gender dysphoria, gender identity disorders, or related mental conditions, but allows coverage for congenital defects, precocious puberty, disease, or physical injury. Existing treatments started before the law's effective date (July 1, 2026) may continue until March 31, 2027, with physician certification required for continuation. The bill directly affects TennCare beneficiaries, particularly transgender and non-binary individuals seeking gender-affirming care.

SB 2292 would protect certain college sports program records from public disclosure in Tennessee. It specifically shields commercial contracts related to intercollegiate athletics (like sponsorships or facility deals) and records about game/player integrity that could harm a school's competitive edge if revealed. These confidentiality rules would expire for contracts on July 1, 2033, while the existing protection for game integrity records would extend beyond July 2026. The bill also clarifies that this confidentiality does not allow private lawsuits - except for businesses claiming disclosure would undermine their economic advantage. The bill applies to all public universities in Tennessee.

HB 2112 modifies Tennessee law to allow professional solicitors for charitable organizations to notify the Secretary of State of campaign changes via mail or email, instead of requiring only written notice. This affects professional solicitors who manage fundraising campaigns for charities, as it updates their compliance process. The key change specifies that notice must be submitted within 72 hours of any modification to required information, with mail or email now permitted as valid methods. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 48-101-513(g)(1) and related provisions.

HB 2089 requires Tennessee public schools and charter schools to observe November 7 annually as "Victims of Communism Day." It mandates at least 45 minutes of instruction in world history and geography courses about how communist regimes caused suffering through poverty, starvation, violence, and suppression of rights. The law specifically requires teaching about historical examples including Stalin’s Soviet Union, Mao Zedong’s China, Pol Pot’s Cambodia, Fidel Castro’s Cuba, and Nicolás Maduro’s Venezuela. This policy directly affects all high school students in Tennessee public schools taking world history or geography courses. The requirement applies starting with the 2026-2027 school year.

HB 2536 changes who serves on three Tennessee insurance committees. It replaces members appointed by organizations (like the Tennessee State Employees Association or Tennessee School Boards Association) with members appointed directly by the commissioner of finance and administration. Specifically, it adds a "preferred service employee" to the state insurance committee, requires school board representatives to be chosen by the commissioner (not the School Boards Association), and has municipal/county employees appointed by the commissioner for local government insurance roles. These changes apply to state employees, school districts, and local governments participating in Tennessee's group insurance programs, effective July 1, 2026.