Tennessee Bills

SB 2088 requires law enforcement officers with probable cause to believe someone committed a mass shooting (defined as injuring four or more people or attempting to kill four or more people) to arrange for a blood or urine test at a hospital. The test checks for psychotropic drugs, including therapeutic levels, and must be administered by a qualified healthcare provider. Hospitals must send test results and samples to the health science center, which will study drug interactions and report findings quarterly to lawmakers. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to mass shootings occurring on or after that date. It directly affects officers, hospitals, and the health science center, with no liability for practitioners acting in good faith.

HB 1787 (Criminal Offenses) increases penalties for patronizing prostitution when the victim is in specific vulnerable categories. It raises the offense to a Class B felony if the victim is a law enforcement officer posing as a minor or a person with an intellectual disability, and to a Class A felony if the victim is under 18. The bill also mandates at least 7 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for patronizing prostitution within 1.5 miles of a school. These changes apply to cases currently treated as trafficking for commercial sex acts under Tennessee law. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 1944 allows Tennessee local governments (like city councils or county commissions) to hold community meetings with some participants joining virtually via video or audio. It requires these meetings to provide real-time public access to view/listen, publish clear notice about virtual participation, post recordings online within four business days, and maintain recordings for three years. The bill specifically prohibits voting during meetings where members participate electronically, ensuring in-person voting remains the standard for decisions. This directly affects how local bodies conduct public meetings, balancing virtual access with transparency requirements.

HB 1707 requires local governments in Tennessee to comply with court orders declaring their sanctuary policies unlawful within 120 days. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee Code (Titles 4, 7, 8, 16, 17, and 38) to establish this 120-day deadline for adjusting policies. It directly affects cities and counties that have implemented sanctuary policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The key provision sets a clear, fixed timeline for local entities to align with court rulings on such policies.

HB 1718 requires Tennessee's Department of Correction to study the cost of providing body cameras to correctional officers and prison contractor employees working at Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility. The study must cover facilities meeting specific criteria: located on public property housing inmates under contractor care, in a county with a 2020 census population between 11,600 and 11,616. The department must submit findings to legislative committee chairs by July 1, 2026, detailing the financial impact of this equipment. This bill does not mandate body cameras but mandates a cost analysis for a specific facility.

HB 1816, "The Isbill Act," requires Tennessee law enforcement officers and correctional staff to undergo annual training on the criteria for involuntary hospitalization for mental health treatment. Specifically, it mandates the POST Commission and Tennessee Corrections Institute to create and adopt guidelines explaining when emergency and non-emergency involuntary admissions to inpatient care are appropriate. These guidelines will directly affect all law enforcement officers and correctional personnel in the state. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 33, 38, and 41 to implement these training requirements, effective July 1, 2027.

SB 2030 requires sexual offenders and violent sexual offenders to notify campground owners or operators in advance if they plan to stay overnight at a campground. This applies directly to individuals subject to Tennessee's sex offender registration requirements. The bill makes it a Class E felony to stay overnight without providing this notice, punishable under existing legal penalties. The law amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 40, Chapter 39, Part 2, and takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 2106 expands protections for students by adding "former students" to the definition of individuals with whom educators cannot engage in sexually related behavior, covering those who graduated or withdrew from school within the past year. It requires educators to report violations to the state board of education, which could lead to license discipline. The bill also removes the option to discipline educators for breaking employment contracts without a valid reason. These changes directly affect teachers, principals, and school staff in Tennessee whose conduct could violate these provisions. The bill is pending legislative approval and would take effect July 1, 2026.

SB 1822 requires Tennessee Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to permit high school students enrolled in private schools with fewer than 200 students - located within the LEA’s boundaries - to participate in interscholastic athletics at their zoned public high school. This applies only if the student resides within the LEA, meets the athletic organization’s eligibility rules, and the public school is part of a governing athletic association. The bill does not guarantee team selection or override existing eligibility rules set by athletic associations. It takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year, directly affecting small private school students in Tennessee LEAs.

SB 1884 amends Tennessee's Drycleaner's Environmental Response Act to clarify definitions and update the drycleaner environmental response fund program. It defines "recently abandoned" facilities (closed within 180 days) and expands "registered facility" to include abandoned sites, ensuring these qualify for fund access. The bill requires annual registration for all drycleaning facilities and wholesale distributors (including recently abandoned sites) to maintain eligibility for fund support covering cleanup costs. Key provisions include standardizing fund use for remediation, establishing site prioritization based on health/environmental risk, and requiring ongoing registration even after operations cease.

HB 1743 amends Tennessee election law to allow county election commissions to notify petitioners of defects in recall, referendum, or initiative petitions. This change directly affects individuals or groups who file these petitions by giving them the opportunity to correct errors - such as missing signatures or incomplete information - before their petition is rejected. The bill adds a specific provision to the code requiring commissions to inform filers of defects, rather than automatically discarding incomplete petitions. The amendment does not mandate corrections or extend deadlines but provides a procedural option for petitioners to fix issues.

SB 1738 exempts active-duty military service members stationed outside Tennessee from paying the additional registration fee for all-electric vehicles. It applies to members stationed out of state under military orders, provided the vehicle is titled and registered in their name (alone or with a spouse/relative). To qualify, service members must submit a copy of their official stationing orders to the county clerk when renewing registration. The exemption takes effect July 1, 2026, for registrations renewed on or after that date.