Tennessee Bills

SB 1945 amends Tennessee's bail laws to allow courts to temporarily revoke a defendant's bond and order them held without bail for up to 10 days if they violate release conditions, commit a new offense while released, or disrupt trial proceedings. This directly affects defendants who are already on bail but breach their release terms. The bill requires courts to issue a written order and schedule a hearing before imposing the temporary hold, with a separate hearing needed for permanent bond revocation. The change modifies existing procedures under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 40, Chapter 11, without creating new offenses or penalties.

SB 2141 modifies Tennessee's higher education financial aid system. It removes specific report deadlines for educational entities, updates eligibility criteria for the Tennessee Student Assistance Award (including defining "financial need" based on FAFSA data), and requires the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to review transfer pathways annually. The bill changes how aid is distributed - requiring payments directly to colleges first, with remaining funds going to students - and clarifies TSAC's authority to set rules. These changes affect Tennessee students applying for state aid, eligible colleges, and the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation.

SB 1823 shortens payment timelines for state contracts in Tennessee, requiring state departments and agencies to pay businesses within 30 days of receiving an invoice (down from 45 days). It also mandates annual reports by January 10 each year, starting in 2027, detailing the number and total amount of late payments made in the prior year, along with unpaid interest. This applies directly to all state entities contracting for property or services, including departments like transportation and education. The bill aims to improve cash flow for businesses by reducing payment delays and increasing transparency through mandatory reporting to legislative committees.

HB 1709 requires applicants for most licensed professions in Tennessee to be either a U.S. citizen or a "qualified alien" (as defined in existing law) to obtain a license, certificate, or permit. It directly affects professionals in fields covered by the amended code sections, including court reporters, lawyers, aeronautics instructors, and healthcare providers. The bill adds this citizenship or immigration status requirement to eligibility criteria across multiple licensing statutes, replacing prior language without specifying alternative qualifications. This change applies to all new applications and renewals under the affected professions, though it does not alter existing license holders' status. The bill is currently in committee review as of January 2026.

SB 1613 amends Tennessee law to allow state veterans' homes to provide services beyond skilled nursing care to honorably discharged veterans, directly affecting veterans seeking non-nursing support. The key provision (added to § 58-7-101(e)) explicitly permits homes to offer "other services for the support and care" of veterans, as authorized by existing state or federal law. This expands the range of care options available at veterans' homes without creating new services, only enabling previously authorized ones. The bill also makes minor technical updates to sections about home locations, contracts, and the purpose of veterans' homes.

SB 1983 amends Tennessee law (TCA Section 67-5-2701) to change the redemption period for properties sold due to unpaid property taxes. It sets a one-year redemption period for properties with three years or less of tax delinquency, and a 90-day period for properties with more than three years of delinquency. This directly affects property owners who miss tax payments and face tax sales, giving them different timeframes to reclaim their property after a sale. The change takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to tax sale confirmations on or after that date.

HB 1729 updates Tennessee's homeschooling testing requirements by allowing the Classic Learning Test (CLT) to be used alongside the ACT and SAT for academic assessments. It requires homeschool parents to administer either a nationally normed test (like the CLT) or public school-approved tests in grades 5, 7, and 9, with results shared with schools and the state board. The bill also establishes remediation steps if students don't meet proficiency, including consulting licensed teachers, and permits homeschoolers to take public school advanced courses or preparatory exams (like the CLT) if space is available. This directly affects Tennessee homeschooling families by expanding testing options and academic support pathways.

HB 1892 allows housing authorities, industrial development corporations, and community redevelopment agencies in Tennessee to require property owners in designated redevelopment areas to make payments securing the agencies' bonds. These payments create a recorded lien on the property that takes priority over all existing and future mortgages or liens, treated like property taxes for enforcement. The agreement must include specific details like property description and owner names when filed with the county, and the lien remains with the land even if other debts are paid.

HB 1708 requires non-English speaking applicants for Tennessee driver licenses to receive a one-year restricted license (valid only for school, work, or medical appointments) and retake the written test in English to obtain a full license. It also mandates that vehicle owners provide proof of U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or temporary legal status when registering a vehicle. The bill directly affects non-English speaking residents applying for driver licenses and all vehicle owners registering vehicles in Tennessee. These provisions aim to ensure language proficiency for full driver privileges and verify legal status for vehicle registration.

HB 1847 requires data center owners or operators (including for new construction, expansion, or upgrades) to pay the full cost of all infrastructure needed to support the data center, including utility infrastructure like power lines, substations, and cooling systems. This includes costs for utility infrastructure upgrades necessary to serve the data center without disrupting service to existing customers. The bill also mandates that electric utilities cannot pass these infrastructure costs to residential or other commercial customers through rate increases, ensuring existing customer rates remain unchanged due to data center operations. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to contracts entered into after that date.

HB 1857 requires all Tennessee public schools and charter schools to designate one instructional day each school year for K-12 students to learn about the founding of the United States. The bill mandates age-appropriate lessons on the Fourth of July, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and American civic principles - such as basic freedoms for younger grades, historical context for middle school, and analysis of founding documents for high school. Schools must ensure this teaching is nonpartisan, aligned with state academic standards, and focuses solely on historical facts and civic principles. The requirement would begin for the 2026-2027 school year.

HB 1753 amends Tennessee law to allow governments providing emergency aid to request extra time to submit detailed cost invoices to the requesting government. Currently, responding agencies must submit itemized bills within 60 days after emergency assistance ends; this bill adds a provision for requesting additional time due to "extenuating circumstances." It directly affects local governments, counties, or agencies that assist other jurisdictions during emergencies like natural disasters. The change modifies Tennessee Code Annotated § 58-8-111(g) to clarify this extension process without altering emergency response procedures. This is a procedural adjustment focused on billing timelines, not policy substance.