Tennessee Bills

This bill removes a requirement that unemployed workers' new jobs must pay at least certain percentages of their previous highest-earning quarter wages to be considered "suitable" for unemployment benefits. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated §50-7-303 by deleting specific wage threshold rules (subdivisions i-iv) from the eligibility criteria. The change directly affects workers applying for unemployment benefits who might have been denied claims under the old rules due to wage calculation requirements. The bill simplifies the process by eliminating these percentage calculations from the definition of suitable work.

SB 1692, the "Military Families Licensing Recognition Act," allows Tennessee to issue occupational licenses to active or retired military members and their spouses/dependents who hold valid licenses in another state or the military. It requires applicants to confirm they held a license in good standing for at least one year, meet education/experience standards, and have no disqualifying criminal records or pending complaints. Licensing boards must issue licenses within 10 business days after verifying the applicant’s claims under penalty of perjury. The law does not override state regulations or allow out-of-state work under interstate compacts, and licenses are valid only within Tennessee.

SB 2102 requires Tennessee's Public Utility Commission to submit its annual report comparing utility rates (for telecommunications, electricity, natural gas, water, and wastewater) between Tennessee and southeastern states via electronic means. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to authorize this electronic submission method, replacing previous requirements for physical copies. This change directly affects the Public Utility Commission, streamlining how it delivers this comparative rate analysis to the General Assembly. The bill focuses solely on the reporting method, not on altering utility rates or regulations.

SB 1672 extends the deadline for state officials to review and approve long-term tax increment revenue allocations from 30 to 45 days. It specifically applies to allocations for economic impact plans (with terms exceeding 20 years) and redevelopment/community redevelopment plans (with terms exceeding 30 years). The bill amends Tennessee law to change the timeframe for the commissioner of economic and community development and the comptroller to make written determinations on these allocations. This procedural adjustment provides additional time for administrative review without altering the policy substance or requirements.

SB 2085 (Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-24-109) increases the victims' assistance assessment fee from $45 to $125 for individuals convicted of certain crimes, including those who plead guilty, are found guilty, or enter diversion programs. The fee applies to criminal cases in Tennessee courts and directly affects convicted defendants. The bill specifies that $15 of each assessment goes to the court clerk for processing, while the remaining $110 must be sent to the county’s designated victim assistance program. This change redirects funding to support local victim services under existing state law.

HB 1844 expands safe surrender options for newborns in Tennessee by adding 24-hour ambulance stations to the list of facilities where parents can legally leave infants without legal consequences. The bill amends Tennessee Code (Sections 68-11-255) to explicitly include ambulance stations staffed 24/7 by licensed emergency medical providers, alongside existing options like hospitals and fire departments. It also updates language to require facilities to have "staff scheduled continuously on a 24-hour basis" rather than simply "being staffed." This change directly affects parents seeking to voluntarily surrender newborns, providing additional accessible, safe locations for this process.

HB 1773 allows emergency communications district boards of directors in Tennessee to participate in official meetings electronically under the state's open meetings law. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 8-44-108(a)(2) and references related provisions to explicitly include these boards within the definition of "governing body" for open meeting requirements. The change enables remote participation for board members during meetings while maintaining public access to proceedings. This is a procedural update to existing open meetings rules, not a new policy.

HB 1514 prohibits local governments from charging fees, fines, or costs against the owner of a shopping cart found on public property, unless the cart was moved from a retail store's premises or parking area by the owner or their employee. This directly affects shopping cart owners who might otherwise face penalties for carts left on public streets or sidewalks. The bill amends Tennessee law to override local ordinances that might impose such fees, ensuring they can only be charged under the specific exception noted. It takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to actions after that date.

HB 2085 extends the deadline for the commissioner of economic and community development and the comptroller to make written decisions on tax increment revenue allocations from 30 to 45 days. This applies specifically to allocations for projects lasting more than 20 years (economic impact plans) or more than 30 years (redevelopment or community redevelopment plans). The bill changes the timeframe for these administrative decisions, affecting how quickly officials must act on long-term community development funding requests. It does not alter the substance of funding approvals but adjusts the procedural timeline for review.

SB 1610 amends Tennessee law to allow Putnam County and incorporated cities within the county meeting specific 2020 census population thresholds (366,200-366,300 for the county, 79,800-79,900 for cities) to regulate sober living homes for substance abuse recovery. The bill enables these local governments to establish rules for such homes while requiring compliance with the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act. It does not create new regulations but defines which jurisdictions can implement them. The key provision adjusts the legal definition of "local government" in state code to include these specific areas.

SB 1815 creates a new Class D felony offense for AI system owners who permit their systems to advise or encourage suicide when the user has already communicated suicidal intent. Specifically, it targets owners of AI systems (including generative AI like chatbots) that, knowing the user expressed intent to harm themselves, provide suicide-related advice without adequate safeguards. The law applies if the AI owner negligently allowed the system to remain accessible to the user during this high-risk period. This bill directly affects AI developers and companies operating systems in Tennessee, imposing criminal liability for specific AI interactions involving imminent suicide risk. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1706 would make it a serious misdemeanor for someone without legal immigration status to operate a commercial motor vehicle in Tennessee. It also requires law enforcement to notify federal immigration authorities when arresting such individuals and holds employers strictly liable for injuries caused by undocumented drivers operating commercial vehicles. The bill creates civil penalties of at least $1 million for employers or state officials who knowingly allow or issue licenses to undocumented drivers, and allows private citizens to file lawsuits on behalf of the state (known as "qui tam" actions). This bill directly affects undocumented immigrants working in commercial driving, employers, and state licensing officials, with no provisions for enforcement or implementation details yet.