Tennessee Bills

HB 2248 establishes a Tennessee minimum wage of $20 per hour for most employees, effective January 1, 2027. Starting January 1, 2028, the wage will automatically increase annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), rounded to the nearest five cents, with no decreases even if inflation drops. Employers must post wage rules visibly and face civil liability for violations, including triple damages for unpaid wages, with employees able to sue within 2 years (or 3 years for willful violations). This bill directly affects all Tennessee employers covered under state wage laws, amending multiple sections of Tennessee Code to implement these changes.

HB 2394 requires Tennessee counties to prioritize funding for county-wide fire departments at levels equal to sheriff's department funding. It also mandates that counties prioritize funding for officially recognized volunteer fire departments when they request it. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to establish these funding priorities for local fire protection services. This policy directly affects county governing bodies and fire departments across the state.

HB 2010 requires tire manufacturers and suppliers bidding on or supplying tires to the Tennessee state government to disclose, by product and material number, which tires are made with 100% French process zinc oxide - a specific manufacturing standard for zinc oxide. This applies to all new bids, existing contracts, and price lists used in state procurement. Suppliers must update existing contracts within 120 days to include this disclosure and notify the state within 90 days of any manufacturing changes affecting the zinc oxide process. The law aims to provide transparency about material sourcing in state tire purchases without mandating the use of specific products.

SB 1975 creates Individualized Education Accounts (IEAs) for Tennessee students with medical conditions that prevent in-person school attendance. It directly affects children diagnosed with qualifying medical conditions (determined by the state board) who would otherwise attend public school. The bill allows parents to use IEA funds exclusively for approved home school program expenses, with the state monitoring fund usage and requiring compliance. Unlike general school voucher programs, this provision applies only to students with documented medical barriers to in-person schooling, not to students with disabilities under standard IEP eligibility. The policy changes take effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1468 prohibits businesses in Tennessee from setting prices for specific goods or services using "personalized algorithmic pricing" - a practice where algorithms adjust prices based on personal data about individual consumers. The bill directly affects most businesses operating in Tennessee (including retailers, service providers, and online platforms) but excludes insurance companies, financial institutions under federal law, and subscription-based agreements. Violating this rule would be treated as an unfair or deceptive practice under Tennessee's Consumer Protection Act, subjecting violators to existing penalties and remedies like fines or consumer restitution. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, and does not apply to price adjustments based on factors like mileage or trip duration in ride-sharing services.

SB 1690 allows Tennessee school districts to create their own pooled investment funds for unspent public money, directly affecting all public school districts in the state. The bill requires school districts to establish these pools through written agreements that include investment policies following state guidelines, and mandates filing these agreements with the state comptroller. School districts must also submit to comptroller audits and follow specific procedures for other districts joining the pool. This change aligns school district investment practices with existing local government pool rules, aiming to better manage idle funds without requiring new tax revenue.

HB 1918, the "Tennessee Private Workplace Due Process and Warrant Protection Act," requires federal immigration authorities to obtain a court-issued warrant before entering private business locations (like offices or non-public work areas) in Tennessee. It prohibits state and local law enforcement from assisting, facilitating, or providing resources for such entries without a warrant, and protects business owners from penalties for refusing entry without one. The law also bans state agencies from sharing employee records or participating in immigration enforcement within private workplaces absent a warrant. It explicitly states the law does not affect federal enforcement with valid warrants or operations in public business areas.

SB 2014, the "Tennessee Women's Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, and Education Act" (Trixtian's Law), protects pregnant and postpartum individuals in Tennessee's criminal justice system. It prohibits using pregnancy-related medical information (like test results or treatment disclosures) as evidence in criminal cases and prevents criminal charges based on pregnancy outcomes. The bill requires correctional facilities to report annual data on incarcerated pregnant people, births, and health outcomes while maintaining confidentiality, and mandates expeditious transfers for pregnant individuals to state custody. It also grants immunity to facilities for pregnancy outcomes and ensures pregnancy testing access within 72 hours.

SB 1696 allows Tennessee public schools to offer programs exclusively to one sex (e.g., single-gender sports teams or clubs) if they also provide a substantially similar alternative program for the other sex. The bill amends education law to clarify that such arrangements do not violate anti-discrimination rules, as long as the alternative program is reasonably comparable. This directly affects all Tennessee public institutions of higher education and K-12 schools that operate separate programs based on sex. The policy change enables schools to maintain single-sex initiatives while still complying with broader equality requirements through separate but equivalent offerings.

HB 1940 makes records of certain eviction court cases confidential after specific conditions are met. It applies to unlawful detainer actions (landlord-tenant eviction cases) filed on or after July 1, 2026, that were dismissed, have no pending appeals, and either have passed three years since filing or have written agreement from all parties to shield records. The bill requires courts to keep these records private, removing them from public inspection under Tennessee law. This change affects landlords and tenants in dismissed eviction cases by limiting public access to their court records after the specified time or agreement. The bill does not alter eviction procedures or outcomes, only the accessibility of dismissed case records.

HB 1300 requires Tennessee state departments and agencies to submit annual reports detailing their progress in achieving economic efficiency. These reports must now be sent to both the governor and legislative committees, rather than just committees as previously required. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 3-4-1-408(c), 4-1-408(c), 8, and 9 to implement this change. This directly affects all state agencies currently responsible for submitting efficiency reports.

HB 565, the "Tennessee Homebuyer Harassment Prevention Act," limits unsolicited real estate contact by restricting developers, businesses, or their representatives to one annual contact (via phone, text, email, etc.) with a property owner to offer to buy their property. It requires contactors to disclose their legal name, address, phone number, and email before reaching out. Property owners can file complaints with the Attorney General’s office, which must review them within 20 business days, and violators face civil penalties up to $2,000 per contact. The law excludes licensed real estate agents and government agencies from these restrictions.