Tennessee Bills

HB 2568, the "Election Integrity Act of 2026," allows candidates in local Tennessee elections (such as county or city offices and school board positions) to challenge election results if they believe errors occurred in the election process. Candidates must file a written challenge with their county election commission within 10 business days of the election, triggering a 15-day county investigation and a 21-day state review by the election commission. The state commission can either certify the election (if errors didn’t change results) or order a special election (if errors likely altered the outcome). This process only affects the specific election being challenged, leaving other races on the ballot unaffected.

HB 2249 prohibits U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from entering or conducting law enforcement activities in healthcare facilities, physician offices, or shelters within Tennessee. It defines these locations to include hospitals, mental health institutions, licensed medical offices, and shelters providing temporary housing for homeless individuals or domestic violence survivors. The bill directly restricts ICE operations in these settings by amending Tennessee state law to create this prohibition, without altering existing federal immigration authority.

HB 2247 requires private schools participating in Tennessee's education savings account, individualized education account, or education freedom scholarship programs to publish specific information (like lesson plans and library collections) on their websites. It mandates these schools ensure all teachers hold valid public school teaching licenses, evaluate educators using public school standards, and administer state-mandated tests (including TCAP assessments and reading screeners) to students in these programs. The bill also requires the Tennessee Department of Education to assign letter grades to participating private schools based on student performance. These provisions directly affect private schools enrolled in voucher programs, aiming to align accountability measures with public school requirements.

HB 1937 prohibits Tennessee law enforcement agencies from detaining individuals based solely on ICE immigration detainers, administrative warrants, or suspected immigration status. It requires ICE to present a valid judicial warrant (signed by a judge, showing probable cause) for any detention or transfer to ICE, and bans transfers that extend detention beyond state law release dates. The bill creates civil liability for unlawful detention, allowing affected individuals to sue for $1,000 per day in damages plus attorney fees. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and explicitly states that compliance with ICE requests does not excuse violations of state law.

HB 1896 modifies Tennessee's requirements for private schools offering fully online, self-paced education. It prohibits the state board from mandating annual standardized English language arts and math tests for these schools. Instead, it requires private high schools to administer such tests to students who have completed 50% or 90% of their high school program (if under 18), unless they finish the program within a year. The bill directly affects Tennessee private schools providing fully online programs and their high school students.

HB 1938 prohibits Tennessee state agencies and local governments (counties, cities, or metropolitan governments) from entering new contracts or renewing existing contracts for private prisons. It directly affects entities currently using private facilities to house inmates under the custody of the Tennessee Department of Correction or local governments. The bill amends Tennessee law to ban all new or renewed agreements for correctional services or facilities for these inmates, effective upon enactment. This bill is currently pending in the State & Local Government Committee after being introduced in early 2026.

HB 1482 prohibits Tennessee state and local governments from using public parking lots, school campuses, and tax-exempt religious properties as staging areas, processing sites, or operations bases for federal immigration enforcement activities. It requires property managers of these locations to implement physical barriers (like locked gates) and report any attempted immigration enforcement use to local officials. The bill also mandates state departments to create and share public materials explaining individuals' rights regarding federal agents on state property. These provisions aim to protect community trust and prevent the misuse of public resources for immigration enforcement, without affecting lawful criminal warrants or judicial processes.

HB 1883, the "Super Speeder Accountability Act," requires intelligent speed assistance (ISA) devices on vehicles for drivers convicted of repeated speeding offenses, such as reckless driving or drag racing where speed was a factor. These devices limit vehicle speed to posted limits, are tamper-resistant, and report disabling attempts. The bill creates a licensing system for device providers, allows for compliance-based device removal, and enables low-income drivers to seek assistance through an indigency fund. It applies only to noncommercial vehicles and focuses on high-risk drivers with license suspensions or revocations due to speed-related violations.

HB 1889 would limit Tennessee's education freedom scholarship program (vouchers) to families with annual incomes under 300% of the threshold for free or reduced-price lunch. It requires scholarship students to take the same state standardized tests as public school peers and mandates private schools receiving vouchers to undergo annual audits, disclose financial data, and publish test results. The bill also requires the education department to report annually on program participation, test outcomes, and scholarship spending to the legislature. These changes apply directly to low-income families seeking vouchers and private schools enrolling scholarship students. The program would expire on July 1, 2030.

HB 1941 prohibits Tennessee state agencies from using state funds, personnel, or resources to support U.S. immigration and customs enforcement activities within the state. It specifically bans state involvement in federal immigration enforcement actions, such as conducting criminal investigations or enforcing immigration laws. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections (Titles 4, 8, 9, 38, and 39) to implement this restriction. This policy change directly affects all state agencies and local governments that might otherwise coordinate with federal immigration authorities using state resources.

SB 2111 limits Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) case managers to a maximum of 12 active cases involving no more than 12 families or 20 monitored children at any time. It requires DCS to resolve each active case within 12 months, mandating a juvenile court status review hearing if resolution isn't achieved by that deadline. The bill replaces the previous cap of 20 active cases or 20 monitored children with these stricter limits and timelines. This policy change directly affects DCS case managers and the agency's operational structure, with the law taking effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1544 requires Tennessee’s Department of Education to submit an annual report to the state legislature about the Education Freedom Scholarship Program (school vouchers). The report must include data on scholarship recipients’ counties, enrollment schools, grade levels, household incomes, and program costs (like administrative expenses and third-party contracts), while excluding personal student information. This bill directly affects the Department of Education (as the reporting entity) and the General Assembly (as the recipient of the data). The first report is due June 1, 2026, with annual reports due October 1 thereafter.