Tennessee Bills

HB 2177 modifies Tennessee's public charter school regulations. It exempts schools with less than $50,000 in combined internal school and student activity funds from conducting separate financial audits, while requiring local school districts to submit annual financial reports by October 1 to avoid per-pupil funding cuts for charter schools. The bill also updates enrollment lottery preferences to prioritize students from pre-K programs, economically disadvantaged families, and siblings of current students, and changes requirements for charter school replication applications. These provisions directly affect public charter schools and local education agencies in Tennessee.

HB 2136 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to submit an annual report by January 1, 2027, listing all FDA-approved medications for women's health, including a brief summary of each. The report must be sent to the Senate and House speakers, providing legislators with a centralized overview of new women's health treatments. This bill does not change medication approval processes or affect patients directly; it only establishes a reporting requirement for the state health department. The legislation amends specific Tennessee Code sections to implement this information-gathering process.

HB 2093 prevents managed care organizations (MCOs) from unilaterally ending contracts with qualified nursing facilities in Tennessee's TennCare program, except under specific circumstances. The bill gives the TennCare bureau exclusive authority to decide if a nursing facility can be terminated from the program, not the MCOs. MCOs must report concerns about facilities to the bureau instead of acting alone, and must continue services during the bureau's review. This changes how MCOs manage nursing facility contracts, ensuring only the bureau can approve terminations.

HB 1913, the "Regulatory Freedom Act of 2026," requires Tennessee state agencies to create and publish "fiscal impact statements" for new or amended rules expected to negatively affect businesses or industries. These statements must estimate actual compliance costs (excluding speculative or anti-competitive costs), include feedback from affected businesses and trade associations, and be submitted before final rule adoption. Agencies must also file annual reports detailing all fiscal impact statements for rules enacted in the prior year, with the legislature reviewing rules exceeding a $750,000 five-year fiscal impact threshold. The bill directly affects state agencies creating regulations, businesses subject to those regulations, and the legislative government operations committee. It aims to increase transparency around regulatory costs while mandating specific steps for agencies to gather industry input before finalizing rules.

HB 1979, the "Promising Futures Act," redirects revenue from taxes on vapor and hemp-derived cannabinoid products into a dedicated fund to support child care assistance programs. It directly affects working families needing affordable child care and child care workers, who will receive free child care through a pilot program (categorical eligibility based on job, not income). The fund finances three priority programs: child care workforce scholarships, employer-supported "CareShare Tennessee" initiatives, and expanded access for families ineligible for existing subsidies. Funds must be used solely for these purposes, with up to 10% allowed for administrative costs, and unspent balances carry forward annually. The bill creates new provisions in Tennessee law to establish this funding mechanism and program structure.

HB 2009 allows counties or municipalities to request a highway traffic noise study for residential properties along state or interstate highways when tree zones (dense natural barriers) behind homes are removed, cut, or cleared for non-highway purposes, and no existing noise barrier or shielding is present. It applies specifically to properties where the removal of trees eliminates a natural noise barrier, potentially increasing noise exposure. The bill requires the Tennessee Department of Transportation to conduct the study upon a local government's formal request. It does not mandate the construction of noise barriers but provides a process for assessing noise impacts after tree removal.

HB 1970, the "Tennessee Real Estate Consumer Fraud Protection Act," requires key changes to real estate transactions. It mandates that title insurance premiums be split equally between buyers and sellers (Section 3), requires foreign title insurers to maintain a Tennessee office while liable (Section 2), and requires deeds for real property conveyances to be prepared by licensed Tennessee attorneys with their license number included (Section 5). The bill also requires non-resident property purchasers to designate a Tennessee agent for legal service (Section 4). These provisions take effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting buyers, sellers, title insurers, non-resident purchasers, and real estate attorneys.

HB 1987 requires Tennessee's alcoholic beverage commission to automatically reinstate licenses or permits suspended for refusing to provide business records to the revenue commissioner. It directly affects alcohol wholesalers and retailers who previously faced suspension when not submitting required books, papers, or records within five business days. The bill mandates that once these documents are provided, the license must be reinstated within five business days, with the commissioner notifying the commission. This changes the current process by removing discretion for reinstatement after the documents are submitted. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 57, Section 57-6-202.

HB 1867 amends Tennessee's TennCare reporting requirements to allow the TennCare division to submit its annual coverage assessment report more frequently than the current quarterly schedule. The bill specifically revises TCA Title 71, Chapter 5, by adding language permitting the division to submit reports at "more frequent intervals" to the finance and health committees of both legislative houses. This change affects the TennCare division (which administers Medicaid) and the legislative committees overseeing healthcare funding. It does not alter coverage policies or eligibility but modifies the reporting timeline for transparency. The bill is currently pending committee review after introduction in January 2026.

HB 1864 extends Tennessee's nursing home annual assessment fee deadline from June 30, 2026, to June 30, 2027, affecting licensed nursing facilities participating in TennCare (Tennessee's Medicaid program). The bill primarily adjusts key dates in the state's Medicaid reimbursement system for nursing homes, including extending the fee payment period and modifying fiscal year references in the law. These changes align with the existing process for recalculating reimbursement rates based on nursing home cost reports. The bill does not alter the underlying reimbursement methodology but delays the implementation timeline for the current fee structure.

HB 1985 removes the requirement for alarm contractors to hold a license when selling, installing, or monitoring still cameras and televisions. This change directly affects alarm contractors who previously needed special licensing for these devices. The bill amends Tennessee Code Section 62-32-304(j) to exclude still cameras and televisions from the list of equipment subject to licensing under the Alarm Contractors Licensing Act. The policy change simplifies licensing requirements for contractors working with common consumer electronics.

HB 2029 revises Tennessee's licensure requirements for dietitians and nutritionists, creating a new "Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Act" in Title 63. It requires licensure for medical nutrition therapy (like managing diabetes or kidney disease) but allows unlicensed providers to offer general nutrition advice (e.g., healthy eating tips for the public). The bill expands the governing board from five to nine members and defines key terms, such as "complex" cases needing licensed care versus "non-complex" situations. This directly affects dietitians, nutritionists, and healthcare consumers seeking these services in Tennessee.