Tennessee Bills

HB 165 changes the start date for when Tennessee's Department of Transportation can reduce maximum vehicle weight limits from January 15 to January 1 annually. This extends the period during which weight restrictions may be implemented to protect roads from damage during early spring thaw, beginning two weeks earlier. The bill directly affects commercial trucking companies and heavy vehicle operators traveling on Tennessee roads between January 1 and April 15. The change does not alter the April 15 end date for the weight restriction period.

HB 163 (introduced by Rep. Baum) amends Tennessee law to extend the timeframe from 30 to 45 days for cities to stop enforcing traffic ordinances on state university and community college campuses after the institution requests it. This change directly affects municipal corporations (cities/towns) and state institutions of higher education, requiring cities to cease traffic rule enforcement within 45 days of a formal request from the university or college system. The bill modifies Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49, Section 49-7-105(c), to provide institutions more time to transition traffic management on campus property. It is a procedural bill focused solely on adjusting the compliance timeline, with no additional policy changes.

HB 168 (Tennessee) directs the Department of Agriculture to study the effects of selling and distributing smokeless nicotine products (like snus) and other alternative nicotine products to people under 21. It urges the department to make recommendations to the legislature about reducing such sales, amending multiple sections of Tennessee law to include these products under the study scope. The bill does not ban products but requests a review to inform future policy.

This Tennessee House Joint Resolution urges the U.S. Congress to pass laws that expand treatment options for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. The bill specifically calls for the inclusion of hyperbaric oxygen therapy alongside existing medications and counseling, citing clinical evidence that such treatments can improve recovery outcomes. It also requests that the federal government support research into additional therapies to better address these conditions. As a non-binding resolution, the measure does not change state law but serves as a formal request to the federal legislature to act on this issue.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Tennessee that would stop the state government from imposing any taxes on property. Currently, the state constitution allows property taxes to be levied by local authorities like counties and cities, but this measure would add a specific rule preventing the state legislature from creating or authorizing its own property tax. If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, the change would legally bar the state from taxing property, leaving only local jurisdictions with the power to levy such taxes. The bill is sponsored by Senator Haile and follows the standard process for submitting constitutional amendments to the public.

This bill creates the Education Freedom Scholarship Act, a new program that allows eligible Tennessee students to receive state-funded scholarships to attend approved private schools. The program is designed to give parents more choice in education by letting them use these funds at private institutions instead of only public schools. Priority for the initial 20,000 scholarships will be given to students from low-income households or those with specific disabilities, while future funding levels and eligibility tiers will depend on available state money and application volume.

This bill, titled the Education Freedom Act of 2025, creates a new scholarship program in Tennessee that allows eligible public school students to attend private schools using state funds. The program is designed to give parents more choice in selecting educational institutions for their children by providing financial assistance to cover private school tuition. For the initial 2025-2026 school year, up to 20,000 scholarships will be awarded, with priority given to students from low-income households or those with specific eligibility statuses, while remaining slots are open to all eligible students. In subsequent years, the number of available scholarships will depend on the amount of money the state legislature appropriates, with a provision to increase the cap if demand exceeds 75% of the available funds. The Department of Education will administer the program, and recipients must enroll in a state-approved private school to receive the scholarship.