Tennessee Bills

HB 888 prohibits political campaign committees formed to support or oppose a ballot measure from accepting contributions or expenditures from foreign nationals. It requires these committees and individuals making independent expenditures on such measures to disclose funding sources to Tennessee’s election finance registry within 48 hours. The law defines "foreign national" broadly to include foreign governments, entities, and individuals not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. It also mandates committees to certify no foreign funding supported preliminary activities like polling or drafting ballot language. The law became effective May 21, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

HB 1133 amends Tennessee's tax code to allow nuclear energy production facilities to claim pollution control tax credits for specific machinery and equipment, expanding an existing program previously limited to wind energy. This change directly affects nuclear power plants in Tennessee by providing them with a new financial incentive to invest in pollution control technology. The bill modifies Section 67-4-2004(9)(A) of the Tennessee Code to explicitly include nuclear facilities alongside wind energy sources. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.

HB 1097 creates a process for Tennessee's Attorney General to review local government actions (like ordinances or written policies) that may violate state law or the Tennessee Constitution. If a legislator requests an investigation, the Attorney General must investigate within 30 days and report findings. If a violation is confirmed, the local government has 30 days to fix it or face potential withholding of state funds (except for contracts, federal requirements, or court judgments). This bill directly affects counties and cities by establishing a state-level mechanism to enforce compliance with state law against local actions. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

HB 486 modifies Tennessee law to require district public defenders to meet certain deadlines within ten business days instead of ten calendar days, effective July 1, 2025. This change directly affects public defenders' offices across Tennessee by extending the timeframe for completing specific legal tasks, accounting for weekends and holidays. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated sections related to public defender procedures (Title 8, Chapter 14; Title 9, Chapter 4) without creating new positions or altering funding. It streamlines administrative processes for public defenders while maintaining existing service requirements.

HB 1383 requires Tennessee counties with charter government to hold school board elections simultaneously with county council elections. It mandates that school board members serve staggered terms and face identical term limits as county council members. This aligns election schedules, term structures, and term limits for school boards with the county's main legislative body. The law applies to county school boards and county legislative bodies in charter counties and became effective May 21, 2025.

HB 411, known as "Lucca's Law," requires Tennessee's TennCare program to cover medically necessary treatments for children with PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections) and PANS (pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome). It mandates that all TennCare-managed care organizations (MCOs) provide coverage for specific treatments - including antibiotics, behavioral therapy, immunomodulating medicines, plasma exchange, and IVIG therapy - without higher co-pays or delays, and prohibits denial based on prior treatment or diagnosis changes. The law also requires MCOs to use "autoimmune encephalitis" coding for billing until specific PANDAS/PANS codes are established. This directly affects pediatric patients with these conditions and their families, ensuring consistent access to covered care under TennCare.

HB 858 requires Tennessee's insurance commissioner to study how easily patients and doctors can request exceptions to step therapy rules online. The study will assess whether insurers' processes are accessible without unnecessary barriers for those seeking coverage for cancer treatments. The commissioner must submit findings and recommendations by December 2025. This bill affects insurers and healthcare providers who handle step therapy requests but does not change current coverage requirements. It becomes effective January 1, 2026.

HB 1128 revises Tennessee's laws governing county constables by establishing new training requirements and removing certain certification barriers. It requires all constables newly elected or appointed on or after July 1, 2025, to complete 128 hours of law enforcement training within their first year, with a pairing requirement with experienced officers during training unless they have prior POST-certified experience. The bill eliminates the requirement for constables to be certified by the POST commission to perform their duties and removes any mandated work-hour minimums for maintaining certification. This directly affects county constables in Tennessee, changing how they qualify and train for their roles.

HB 979 establishes a new licensure process for anesthesiologist assistants in Tennessee, directly affecting these healthcare professionals and hospitals that employ them. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 63-1-160(g) and related provisions in Titles 47, 63, and 68, removing restrictions that previously limited hospitals from employing certain licensed physicians for specific medical services. This change updates hospital staffing rules to align with current healthcare practices. The law became effective on July 1, 2025, following the Governor's signature on May 21, 2025.

HB 622, the "Dismantle DEI in Employment Act," prohibits Tennessee local governments (counties, cities, metropolitan areas) and public universities from considering race, gender, religion, national origin, age, or disability in hiring decisions. It bans using these factors as metrics for selection and prohibits hiring to meet diversity, equity, or inclusion goals. The law applies to all employment decisions at covered entities and became effective May 27, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on May 21. It directly affects hiring practices for thousands of public sector employees across Tennessee.

HB 134 prohibits Tennessee public schools and charter schools from selling or providing food or beverages containing Red 40 (Allura Red AC) to students on school property through school nutrition programs, vending machines, or authorized third parties. The ban takes effect August 1, 2027, and applies to all school nutrition offerings except fundraising events. This directly affects school districts, charter schools, and vendors operating under school authorization. The law aims to restrict a specific artificial dye in student food items, with no exemptions for general cafeteria sales.

HB 751 creates a new criminal offense in Tennessee for knowingly exposing children to fentanyl, carfentanil, remifentanil, alfentanil, thiafentanil, or related drugs in a way that places them in immediate risk of death, injury, or impairment. It directly affects adults who possess these substances in the presence of children. The law classifies this as a Class E felony for children over age 8 and a more serious Class B felony for children age 8 or younger. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections 39-15-401 to establish these penalties, effective July 1, 2025.