Tennessee Bills

SB 110 expands an existing residential pilot program for people with disabilities to include the eastern part of Tennessee, which previously only covered the western and middle regions. It requires one facility in each grand division (eastern, middle, western) and sets specific eligibility rules for eastern division participants, including a minimum 26-acre property in a county with 108,600-108,700 residents (per 2020 census), offering services for up to 60 additional adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, and dedicating 25% of homes to inclusive housing. Applications for eastern division participation must be submitted by March 31, 2026, with facilities needing completion by June 30, 2028. The bill modifies licensing and reporting requirements for these facilities under Tennessee’s disability and aging department.

SB 536 requires the Tennessee higher education commission to report by December 31, 2025, on how public universities use tuition discounts and waivers, including their financial impact and effects on student academic outcomes. The bill directs the commission to evaluate state financial support tied to these discounts and submit the report to the governor and relevant legislative committees. It does not address athlete name/image/likeness rights (as incorrectly stated in the title), but instead mandates a state-level review of tuition discount policies. The law took effect May 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

SB 48 amends Tennessee law to add Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., Indivior Inc., Viatris Inc., and Purdue Pharma L.P. to the list of companies that can be released by the attorney general from pending or future opioid-related lawsuits. The bill specifically updates Tennessee Code Annotated sections 20-13-203 and 33-11-103 to replace "The Kroger Co." with these pharmaceutical companies in the release provisions. This change directly affects the listed companies by allowing them to be released from opioid litigation claims under the specified legal framework. The law took effect on May 2, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

SB 7 prevents the Tennessee Historical Commission and other state agencies (except the state building commission) from regulating or fining owners of non-listed historic properties for renovations, alterations, or demolition. It applies to both public and private buildings not listed on the Tennessee Register of Historic Places. The Commission retains authority to regulate non-structural changes for properties that *are* listed on the Register. This law removes regulatory barriers for owners of non-listed historic properties while preserving oversight for listed historic sites.

SB 128 reduces the required education hours for chiropractors in Tennessee from 60 to 50 hours. It directly affects licensed chiropractors, including those practicing animal chiropractic, by modifying licensing requirements under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 63. The bill amends Section 63-12-112(a)(2)(A) to update the education standard, explicitly covering both human and animal chiropractic practice. The law took effect on May 2, 2025, with additional provisions effective January 1, 2026.

SB 407 changes how Tennessee restores voting rights after felony convictions. It removes the requirement for a governor's pardon, instead automatically restoring voting rights once a person completes their sentence (including probation or parole) for most felony convictions. The bill affects individuals with past felony convictions who were previously barred from voting without a pardon. However, voting rights remain restricted for those convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated rape, treason, or certain violent sexual offenses, as specified in the law.

SB 252 adjusts Tennessee's maximum compensation for crime victims under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act to 105% of the national average compensation offered by all 50 states, D.C., and U.S. Virgin Islands. It requires the state treasurer to review and adjust this maximum amount every three years (starting January 2026), comparing it to the national average and rounding up to the nearest $100 if needed. The adjusted amount must be published on the Treasury website by March 1 each comparison year, effective for claims filed on or after July 1. This directly affects crime victims in Tennessee who file claims for compensation after the effective date.

SB 158 requires Tennessee elementary schools to provide students with 60 minutes of physical activity daily (split into two 30-minute sessions), replacing the prior weekly minimum of 130 minutes. It specifies that activity must include unstructured outdoor play when weather permits, excludes time using electronic devices or during physical education classes, and prohibits withholding activity as punishment. The bill applies directly to all Tennessee public elementary schools and their students, effective July 1, 2025. It aims to increase daily physical activity opportunities beyond standard PE class time.

SB 202 requires the Tennessee Department of Transportation to submit an annual report to legislative transportation committee chairs by January 1, 2026, detailing progress on high-priority bridge replacement projects. The bill directly affects the state transportation department and state legislators overseeing infrastructure funding. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 54 to establish this reporting requirement, with no changes to funding or naming conventions as the bill title suggests. The measure became law on May 2, 2025, and applies to bridge replacement projects funded under the existing high-priority program.

SB 227 amends Tennessee law to allow charitable organizations providing housing to individuals unlawfully present in the U.S. to be held legally responsible for injuries or deaths resulting from crimes committed by those individuals - *if* the charity was negligent, grossly negligent, or engaged in willful misconduct while providing housing. It directly affects homeless shelters, food banks, and similar nonprofits offering housing services to undocumented immigrants. The law does not create new obligations but clarifies that existing negligence standards apply when charities knowingly house undocumented individuals. This change applies to any housing services provided by such organizations, with liability triggered only by the charity’s own negligence, not the actions of the person they house.

SB 181 removes outdated references to Tennessee's defunct joint select committee on veterans services from state laws, affecting all government agencies that previously cited it. The bill updates the list of entities under the Tennessee Governmental Entity Review Law and revises retirement bonus rules for Public Service Commission employees. It also eliminates an expired reporting requirement, streamlining administrative processes without changing core policies. The changes are technical, focusing on modernizing statutes rather than creating new obligations.

SB 217 requires Tennessee's Department of Transportation (TDOT) to create a policy for handling personal belongings left behind by people camping in highway areas (like shoulders, under bridges, or overpasses). The policy mandates a 72-hour notice before removal, 90 days of storage for unclaimed items, and specific handling for medical items or hazardous property. It directly affects people camping in these areas, TDOT, and local governments, which must confirm no one occupies a site before cleanup begins. The law also requires TDOT to partner with homeless services providers and post clear retrieval instructions at removal sites. The bill became law on May 2, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.