Tennessee Bills

HB 99 revises Tennessee's unlawful photography law (TCA § 39-13-605) to strengthen penalties and protections. It upgrades certain offenses to higher felony classifications (e.g., Class E felony for non-minor offenses, Class D felony when a minor under 13 is involved), adds mandatory sex offender registration for violations, and specifies aggravating factors like using a position of trust over a victim. The law directly affects individuals who take unauthorized photos in private settings, particularly when minors under 13 are involved or the offender holds a position of authority over the victim. Key provisions include increased criminal penalties, mandatory registration under Tennessee’s sex offender registry, and updated definitions for sentencing. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

HB 479 creates the "Tennessee National Guard Servicemember's Medical Readiness Act," establishing a state reimbursement program for eligible Tennessee National Guard members. It directly affects Guard members who pay premiums for TRICARE Reserve Select or TRICARE Dental coverage, allowing the state to reimburse them for those premiums if not already covered by federal funds. The program requires members to apply through the military department's guidelines, with reimbursement ceasing if federal assistance covers the same costs. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and requires separate state funding appropriations to operate.

HB 1089 requires courts to order mental health evaluations for defendants convicted of specific abuse-related crimes - including domestic assault, child abuse, aggravated child abuse, or cruelty to animals - before sentencing. The law directs Tennessee's Department of Mental Health to create a process where community mental health centers or qualified professionals conduct these evaluations. It directly affects defendants in these cases and the state's mental health evaluation system, adding a pre-sentencing step to assess potential mental health factors. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-14-202 and related titles to implement this requirement, effective May 21, 2025.

HB 1278 creates a $200 million Hurricane Helene disaster recovery fund to assist counties and households affected by flooding from Hurricane Helene. The fund provides fixed grants to counties based on 2020 census population ranges (e.g., $15 million for counties with 17,900-18,000 residents) for infrastructure repairs and general flood-related expenses. It also allocates $100 million for direct household assistance to cover property repairs, replacement of personal items, rent, and utilities, distributed through county offices based on need. Funds must remain dedicated to recovery efforts and cannot revert to the general state budget.

HB 578 expands Tennessee's list of "dangerous felonies" to include new offenses like human trafficking, aggravated stalking, methamphetamine manufacturing, and drug trafficking. This change means that if someone possesses a firearm (including antique firearms) while committing or attempting any of these newly listed crimes, they face enhanced penalties. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of these specific offenses who own firearms, increasing legal consequences for firearm possession during such crimes. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-17-1324 to add 14 new offenses to the existing dangerous felony list, effective July 1, 2025.

HB 1162 allows public charter schools authorized by a county school system to use available buildings or facilities within a city school district in the same county, under specific conditions. It applies only to counties where a single city school system operates, requiring charter schools to lease facilities through a written agreement for educational use. The bill modifies Tennessee law to permit this limited expansion beyond a charter school's originally authorized geographic area. This change enables charter schools needing additional space to access city facilities without requiring the city school district to approve enrollment outside its boundaries.

HB 1409 is Tennessee's enacted state budget for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, authorizing funding for all state government operations. It allocates specific amounts to the legislative branch (including $33.6 million for the House of Representatives), judicial systems (covering courts, legal aid, and court services), and executive agencies (such as the Attorney General's office). The bill details funding for routine functions like salaries, court operations, and public services, without creating new policies or programs. It became law on May 21, 2025, and takes effect July 1, 2025.

HB 175 authorizes Tennessee's Fish & Wildlife Commission to create rules or issue proclamations allowing hunters to use drones solely for locating and recovering deer that have been wounded during lawful hunting. The bill amends Tennessee Code (Titles 39 and 70) to permit this drone use under commission oversight, requiring rules to follow standard administrative procedures. It directly affects hunters and the commission, restricting drone use to wounded-deer recovery during valid hunting activities. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not permit drones for general hunting or tracking.

HB 1200, known as "Savanna's Law," creates a public online registry for "persistent domestic violence offenders" in Tennessee. This applies to individuals convicted of domestic violence offenses with at least one prior conviction against a domestic abuse victim, as defined in the bill. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) must maintain the registry using court-provided data (name, date of birth, conviction details, and photos), excluding sensitive information like addresses. The registry becomes accessible online after January 1, 2026, with names automatically removed 2-10 years after the most recent conviction based on prior offense counts.

HB 1314 creates two new criminal offenses in Tennessee. First, it makes it a felony (Class E or D depending on circumstances) to recklessly threaten mass violence (defined as an act likely to cause serious harm to four or more people), especially if targeting schools, government buildings, or events. Second, it creates a misdemeanor (Class B or A) for posting someone’s home address or phone number online with the intent to cause harm to them or their family. The law applies to all individuals, including threats made via social media or text, but excludes public officials acting within their legal duties. Violators may face prison time and be ordered to pay restitution for disruptions caused by their threats.

HB 1407 authorizes Tennessee to issue up to $1.009 billion in state bonds to fund infrastructure projects. The bill directs funds specifically for state building improvements ($795.5 million), state office facilities ($134 million), and highway/bridge construction and repairs ($80 million). These bonds will finance equipment, site acquisition, construction, and repairs for state agencies, local governments, counties, and special districts. The funds are allocated through the Department of Finance and Administration and the Department of Transportation for approved public projects.

HB 1330, the "Less is More Act of 2025," requires Tennessee state boards and commissions to allow public participation via video or audio conference during meetings, with specific rules for accessibility. It mandates that governing bodies provide real-time public viewing/listening options, publish clear notices about electronic participation, post meeting recordings online within three business days, and maintain recordings for at least one year. The bill directly affects all state boards, agencies, and commissions by changing their meeting procedures to increase transparency and public access. Key provisions include requiring electronic meeting notices to specify physical attendance locations, ensuring audio clarity for remote participants, and requiring annual physical quorum meetings to prevent prolonged virtual-only governance. This law took effect May 21, 2025, for most provisions.