Tennessee Bills

HB 2081 amends Tennessee laws related to child abuse and sexual abuse by adding the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services to the Second Look Commission (Section 1). It updates legal definitions to include "strangulation" in abuse statutes (Sections 7, 8) and requires law enforcement officers to refer victims of child sexual abuse to child advocacy centers for forensic interviews (Section 9). The bill also expands the commission’s access to state agency records for its work (Section 6). These changes directly affect child protective teams, law enforcement, and child advocacy centers handling abuse cases. Most provisions take effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1891 allows Tennessee drivers who pay the fine for a speeding ticket without appearing in court to enroll in an approved online driver education course. If they complete the course within 90 days of their conviction, up to five points will be removed from their driving record. Court clerks must provide online registration for these courses through their websites. This change applies specifically to speeding convictions and takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1886 requires Tennessee public schools and charter schools to adopt internet acceptable use policies that include specific safety protocols, parental communication guidelines, and restrictions on student access to harmful content like pornography, violence, or self-harm material. The bill specifically prohibits schools from allowing students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade to use school-created email addresses for sending or receiving messages, though schools may create email addresses solely for identifying students in security or grading systems. It mandates annual audits to ensure compliance with these policies and requires third-party digital resource providers to filter prohibited content and verify safety protections. These changes directly affect all Tennessee public schools, charter schools, and digital resource vendors serving pre-K-12 students.

HB 2018 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies to accept and honor federal immigration detainers by maintaining custody of individuals for 48 hours beyond their scheduled release date (excluding weekends and holidays) to allow federal authorities to take custody. It also mandates that agencies notify federal immigration officials as soon as possible before releasing someone subject to a detainer. This applies to all Tennessee law enforcement agencies and takes effect July 1, 2026. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections related to law enforcement procedures to implement these requirements.

HB 1956 expands protections for cancer patients by removing restrictions on when health insurance plans must cover approved cancer treatments without requiring "step therapy." The bill changes Tennessee law to prohibit health benefit plans from forcing patients to try less expensive treatments first for *any* cancer diagnosis (previously limited to stage 4 advanced metastatic or blood cancers). This directly affects all health insurance plans covering cancer treatment and enrollees diagnosed with cancer, ensuring coverage for approved drugs without prior step therapy requirements. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, for new or renewed policies.

SB 1612 amends Tennessee law to allow state agencies to operate child care programs for state employees in leased office buildings, not just state-owned ones. This change directly affects state agencies that lease office space and their employees who rely on workplace child care. The bill updates existing code (Title 8) by replacing "state-owned office buildings" with "state-owned or leased office buildings" to expand where such programs can be located. It does not create new funding or services but adjusts eligibility for existing child care program locations. The amendment takes effect upon becoming law.

HB 2272 limits liability for celebrities who endorse alcoholic beverage brands or on-premise establishments (like bars) in Tennessee. It states that celebrities are not liable for injuries, deaths, or damages related to the endorsed products unless they personally sold, supervised, or were directly involved in the sales. To qualify, celebrities must meet specific requirements, including being 21+, U.S. citizens, and having no recent alcohol-related convictions. The bill clarifies that endorsement agreements and promotional activities do not create ownership or management control over the business. This directly affects celebrities, beverage brands, and establishments by shifting liability to the businesses themselves.

HB 2368 shortens the reporting deadline for certain offenses occurring within Tennessee penal institutions. It changes the required timeframe from five business days to three business days for wardens or chief administrative officers to notify the district attorney general of the institution's judicial district. This amendment applies to multiple sections of Tennessee law related to criminal justice, including Titles 8, 10, 33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 49, 50, 55, and 70 of the Tennessee Code Annotated. The bill directly affects penal institutions' administrative procedures and the district attorneys handling these reports.

SB 2377 changes the annual deadline for Tennessee's Department of Education to update its list of student rights laws. The bill requires the department to complete this update by July 1 each year, instead of within 60 days after the legislative session ends. This affects the department's administrative process and ensures parents, students, and schools have a consistent, yearly updated reference for student rights under Tennessee law.

HB 2532 increases the maximum number of education freedom scholarships available to eligible Tennessee students from 25,000 to 40,000 for the 2026-2027 school year. It directs the governor to elect Tennessee’s participation in a federal education tax credit program by December 2026 and comply with all future requirements to maintain that participation. The bill amends Tennessee Code to clarify scholarship eligibility for K-12 students and establishes the 40,000 cap as the new maximum limit. These changes directly affect students qualifying for the education freedom scholarship program and the state’s administrative processes for the program.

SB 2361 changes Tennessee's requirement for the Department of Education's Office of Early Learning to report on pre-kindergarten programs from annually to once every three years. The bill modifies reporting requirements in state code to mandate a triennial report covering the number, location, and types of pre-K providers, along with the number of at-risk children served. This directly affects the Office of Early Learning, reducing its reporting burden from yearly to every three years. The report must still be published online and sent to the governor and legislature, but the frequency of submission is the key change.

HB 2567 changes the deadline for court clerks to forward certified copies of domestic violence conviction records to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) from seven calendar days to seven business days. This procedural adjustment affects court clerks, who must now account for weekends and holidays when meeting the deadline, and the TBI, which uses these records for its databases. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (Title 18, Section 38-6-103; Title 39; and Title 40) to implement this timeline change. The policy update streamlines administrative processing without altering the substance of domestic violence reporting requirements.