SB 2569 requires Tennessee's state treasurer to allocate and deposit 10% of the investment income earned by the state pooled investment fund each fiscal year into the state highway fund by June 30. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 9-4-603 to mandate this annual transfer, directly affecting the state treasurer's responsibilities and the highway fund's funding source. The provision applies to all investment income generated by the pooled fund during the fiscal year, without altering existing highway funding mechanisms or spending priorities. It creates a new, automatic annual allocation process for a specific portion of state investment earnings. The bill does not change the total amount of highway funding or how those funds are used.
HB 2115 extends the deadline for joint county consolidation committees in Tennessee from 90 to 100 days to review petitions and report findings on merging counties. This bill directly affects counties that file consolidation petitions, giving committees more time to assess feasibility before making recommendations. The change modifies Tennessee Code Sections in Titles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, and 67 related to local government procedures. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on adjusting the review timeline without altering consolidation requirements or outcomes.
SB 2406 allows healthcare organizations' quality improvement committees to evaluate existing security measures at their facilities. This expands the committees' role to specifically assess security protocols aimed at protecting both patients and staff. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections governing healthcare facilities (Titles 8, 38, 62, and 68) to include this security evaluation requirement, directly affecting healthcare organizations across Tennessee.
SB 2200 requires Tennessee to gradually reduce state funding to counties and municipalities that experience population declines, rather than making immediate cuts. Instead of applying the full funding reduction at once, the state must phase it in over five years with 20% reductions each year (20% in year one, 40% total by year two, etc.), until the allocation matches the new population. This applies to local governments affected by annual population certifications from the Department of Economic and Community Development. The law also mandates recalculating reductions if a jurisdiction's population rebounds during the phase-in period. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
SB 2485 allows Tennessee public school districts and charter schools to install video monitoring systems in special education classrooms to enhance safety during instruction. It requires written parental consent from a majority of parents before monitoring students, teachers, and staff continuously while special education services are provided. The bill restricts access to recorded footage to parents (under FERPA privacy rules) or teachers documenting assaults, and mandates schools to create policies for footage retention. This applies only to self-contained special education classrooms where students receive specialized instruction for at least half their school day.
SB 2587 creates a $800 annual cash bonus for local Tennessee correctional officers who complete at least 40 hours of approved in-service training each year. The bill directly affects full-time, certified correctional officers (like jailers or deputies) employed by counties, provided they have completed 8+ months of service and the training meets specific criteria. Key provisions require counties to use the funds solely as a bonus - never to replace regular pay or salary increases - and exclude support staff or officers with dual certifications. The bonus is not counted toward future pay increases or retirement calculations, and funds are only available if specifically appropriated by the legislature. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
SB 2581 extends the deadline for a joint committee to review county consolidation petitions from 90 to 100 days. The committee must now take 100 days, instead of 90, to report on the feasibility of merging the petitioning county with another county. This change directly affects the joint committee and the county that submits the consolidation petition. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections in Titles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, and 67 related to local government.
SB 2480 creates a $210 million annual "rural revenue equity fund" to support Tennessee counties classified as rural. Funds are distributed based on a scoring system evaluating agricultural land area, farm sales, county population, and other factors like lack of development tax authority. Rural counties must apply to receive funds, which can only be used for infrastructure, emergency services, capital projects, or property tax stabilization. The money comes directly from the state general fund, with unspent balances carried forward annually.
SB 2325 modifies Tennessee law by changing the required notice period for meetings of the district public defenders conference from "10 days" to "10 business days" for the president to provide written notice before calling an at-will meeting. This change directly affects the president of the district public defenders conference and their ability to schedule meetings. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 8-14-204 and 9-4-101 to implement this procedural adjustment. The change takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not alter substantive policies or funding for public defenders.
SB 2430 requires property owners or managers to post clear, defined boundaries on signs warning that driving, parking, or operating a vehicle on their property is prohibited. It amends Tennessee trespassing law (TCA Title 39) to mandate that signs must explicitly state the exact area where vehicle use is banned, rather than using vague language. This change directly affects landowners, businesses, and local governments that enforce vehicle restrictions on their property. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, aiming to reduce confusion about prohibited zones for drivers. It does not alter penalties for trespassing but focuses solely on standardizing sign requirements.
This bill changes the deadline for Tennessee's Department of Revenue to submit an annual report on sales taxes collected from electronic nicotine delivery devices (ENDS). Instead of submitting the report by February 1 each year, the department must now submit it by February 15. The report details findings and recommendations about these taxes and is sent to legislative leadership and finance committees. This is a procedural change affecting reporting timelines, not tax rates or policy.
SB 2314 exempts the retail sale of food and food ingredients from Tennessee's state sales tax (Section 1), directly affecting grocery stores, restaurants, and food retailers. It removes a requirement that restaurants must derive at least 20% of their sales from taxed food (Sections 7-8), simplifying sales tax compliance for these businesses. The bill also creates a new tax provision for food under a different section (Section 2) and eliminates a funding mechanism that previously earmarked 0.5% of sales tax revenue for K-12 education (Section 3). The changes take effect July 1, 2026.
