Tennessee Bills

HB 1408 amends Tennessee Code to allow state agencies managing the Access Tennessee health insurance program fund to report financial activity either monthly or quarterly, instead of strictly monthly. This change applies to agencies handling funds established under the Access Tennessee Act of 2006. The bill modifies specific sections across multiple code titles to align with annual budget implementation requirements. It directly affects state agencies responsible for administering the health insurance program fund. The bill became effective May 21, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

HB 1376 creates a regulatory framework for hemp-derived cannabinoid products (HDCPs) in Tennessee, requiring licenses for businesses that manufacture, distribute, or sell these products. It establishes taxes on HDCPs, mandates age verification (proof of age 21+), and defines specific products like Delta-8 THC (limited to 0.3% THC) while excluding most CBD products. The law directly affects suppliers, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers, with enforcement handled by the Alcoholic Beverage Commission and Department of Revenue. Signed into law on May 21, 2025, it takes effect on May 21, 2025, with some provisions effective January 1, 2026.

HB 504 amends Tennessee's Future Teacher Scholarship Act to support aspiring educators. It establishes a $5,000 annual scholarship for students enrolled in approved teacher preparation programs who agree to teach in Tennessee public schools for two consecutive years in high-need areas. The bill updates eligibility requirements (including residency and enrollment rules), requires a promissory note for the teaching commitment, and mandates repayment of half the scholarship amount per year if the teaching obligation isn't met. The program runs as a pilot from 2023 through 2030, with mandated evaluations to assess its effectiveness in increasing licensed teachers.

HB 576 amends Tennessee bond laws to require that notices on bonds (used by bondsmen) must be formatted with different font sizes and colors to ensure the notice is conspicuous and easy to read. This change directly affects bondsmen and the individuals they assist, as it modifies how critical information must appear on bond documents. The bill specifically adds this formatting requirement to existing bond notice rules in Tennessee Code. The amendment took effect on May 21, 2025, with additional applicability on January 1, 2026. It is a procedural change focused solely on notice visibility, not substantive policy.

HB 594 amends Tennessee law to allow religious institutions to hold up to four annual temporary sales events without needing to register for sales tax collection, increasing the previous limit of two events. This change directly affects bona fide religious organizations in Tennessee that sell goods directly to consumers during these limited sales periods. The bill updates Tennessee Code Annotated Section 67-6-102 by adding religious institutions to the list of exempt entities, alongside volunteer fire departments. The policy change, effective May 21, 2025, reduces administrative burdens for religious groups conducting fundraising or community sales.

HB 780 requires Tennessee's Department of Economic and Community Development to annually update and certify county and municipal population figures before July 1 each year, using estimates generated by the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Tennessee. These revised population figures will be used to allocate state revenue to counties and municipalities during the period between decennial federal censuses. The bill amends multiple Tennessee statutes to ensure revenue distributions are based on these annual population updates rather than outdated census data. This change takes effect on January 1, 2026, affecting how state funds are distributed to local governments across Tennessee.

HB 641, the "Savannah Grace Copeland Act," requires Tennessee to increase funding for child advocacy centers whenever state funding for child protective services grows. Specifically, it mandates that 75% of any increase in child protective services funding must be allocated to child advocacy center contracts starting July 2026. The bill sets specific base funding amounts: $127,855.98 for full centers and $85,000 per forensic interviewer. These centers, which serve over 32,000 children annually with services like forensic interviews and mental health support, directly benefit from this policy change. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, but requires separate annual appropriations to implement the funding adjustments.

HB 69 requires Tennessee to create two secure electronic portals by January 1, 2028, to verify voter eligibility before processing registration applications. The first portal will let county election offices check if applicants are U.S. citizens using records from the Department of Safety (like driver's license data), and the second will verify felony conviction status using Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) records. The bill also updates driver's license laws to require proof of U.S. citizenship for new licenses and removes references to non-citizens in eligibility criteria. These changes directly affect voter applicants, county election administrators, and the Department of Safety/TBI in their verification processes.

HB 160 exempts wine sales for on-premise consumption at wineries, farm wine producers, and their satellite facilities from Tennessee's liquor-by-the-drink tax. This includes tastings (with or without charge) and sealed wine bottles sold retail for immediate consumption on-site, aligning with federal wine sales rules. The bill amends Tennessee Code §57-3-207 to clarify these exemptions, directly affecting wineries and farm producers by reducing their tax burden on specific sales. The change takes effect July 1, 2025.

HB 132 amends Tennessee law to require that governor-declared emergencies must not violate constitutional rights and to give the General Assembly the power to terminate or extend such emergencies through a joint resolution. If the legislature is not in session, a special legislative council composed of top leaders from both chambers can extend the emergency for up to 30 days by majority vote. The bill also limits the maximum duration of any emergency to 30 days without renewal by the legislature or the council. These changes directly affect how state emergencies are managed, ensuring legislative oversight and constitutional compliance.

HB 1177 extends the time limit for filing misdemeanor charges against defendants found incompetent to stand trial from 11 months and 29 days to two years after arrest, unless the defendant is restored to competency. It directly affects misdemeanor defendants declared incompetent by a court, requiring prosecutors to move faster or dismiss charges if competency isn't restored. The bill also mandates that when such a defendant is released into the community after charges are dismissed due to incompetence, the chief officer must notify the court, provide a discharge notice, and share an outpatient treatment plan designed to ensure community safety. These changes update Tennessee Code Sections 33-7-301 and 52-6-102.

HB 542 requires utilities (including county or municipal water systems) to review development plans for water, electricity, or gas infrastructure within 30 days. If a utility misses this deadline, developers can hire a third-party examiner to certify compliance with codes and submit documentation to the utility. The utility must then approve the plans within 10 business days, refund fees for delays, or provide deficiency reports. The bill also caps utility inspection fees for approved projects at 2% of development costs and mandates utilities to publish approved material specifications. This directly affects developers seeking faster approvals and utilities managing infrastructure reviews.