Tennessee Bills

SB 134 amends Tennessee law to require the Department of Education to submit an annual early grades reading report to both the Senate and House education committees by October 15 each year. This procedural change directly affects the Department of Education and legislative committees by establishing a new, fixed deadline for this reporting requirement. The bill does not alter educational standards or funding but streamlines the process for sharing reading assessment data with lawmakers. It became effective May 2, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

SB 1423 requires Tennessee public schools and charter schools to include two specific reading assessment results on every K-8 student's report card each school year: the student's score from the universal reading screener (if administered) and the most recent dyslexia screener results (if applicable). This applies to all local school boards and public charter school governing bodies starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The law mandates that these results be provided directly to parents or guardians alongside standard academic grades. It does not change teaching methods or funding but ensures families receive standardized reading progress data.

SB 357 requires utility district board commissioners in Tennessee to serve without pay, with limited exceptions allowing per diem payments for up to 12 meetings per year at $500 maximum per meeting. This applies directly to commissioners serving on utility district boards across the state, not just Sullivan County. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law (Titles 2, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 66, and 67) to implement this compensation rule. The law became effective on July 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on May 2, 2025.

SB 464 amends Tennessee's bail bond laws to set a minimum 5% premium fee for bonds, replacing the previous 10% cap. It directly affects defendants using bail bonds and bondsmen/insurance agents by requiring fees to be between 5% and 10% of the bond amount (e.g., $125-$250 on a $2,500 bond), while allowing up to 15% for certain bond types. The bill changes specific sections of Tennessee Code (40-11-151, 40-11-316, and 40-11-316(c)) to establish these new fee ranges. It takes effect July 1, 2025, impacting all professional bondsmen and insurance agents providing appearance bonds for criminal cases.

SB 870 requires the Tennessee Department of Education to conduct a landscape analysis of teacher evaluation practices in Tennessee and other states by June 1, 2025. It mandates the creation of a temporary teacher evaluation advisory committee, composed of educators and experts, to review current practices and provide recommendations. The department and state board must then submit a final report - including the analysis, committee findings, and their own suggestions - to relevant legislative committees by January 31, 2026. This bill directly affects Tennessee’s teacher evaluation system and the process for reviewing it, with no immediate changes to existing evaluation methods.

SB 763 requires Tennessee's Department of Revenue to maintain an online directory of all vapor products (like e-cigarettes) certified for sale in the state. It imposes new taxes: $0.07 per milliliter on closed-system vapor products (e.g., disposable pods) and 10% of wholesale cost on open-system products (e.g., refillable devices). Manufacturers must certify compliance with federal FDA requirements to be listed in the directory. The bill directly affects vapor product manufacturers, retailers, and consumers by creating a regulatory framework and funding enforcement through dedicated tax revenue.

SB 1311 creates three types of temporary teaching credentials to help Tennessee schools fill vacancies when qualified licensed teachers are unavailable. It allows schools to hire individuals with bachelor's degrees (via a "temporary academic permit"), those enrolled in educator preparation programs (via a "temporary clinical permit"), or licensed teachers seeking additional endorsements (via a "license endorsement exemption"). These credentials expire June 30 after issuance, require mentorship for courses with end-of-course exams, and cannot be used for special education. The bill directly affects school districts struggling to recruit licensed staff, non-licensed candidates, and educators in training programs.

SB 298, now law in Tennessee, allows public schools and charter schools to offer nonsectarian, nonreligious Bible courses as academic electives. It requires local school boards or charter school governing bodies to approve these courses and mandates schools to post approved curricula online. The state must also publish a list of approved Bible courses and their academic standards on its website. This applies to all public schools and charter schools starting the 2025-2026 school year.

SB 448 removes a specific definition of "content harmful to minors" from Tennessee's Protect Tennessee Minors Act (TCA § 39-17-912(b)(5)). This change directly affects how the law interprets restrictions on online content targeting minors by eliminating that defined term. The bill amends the statute by deleting subsection (b)(5) in its entirety, which previously provided the definition. The law was enacted on May 8, 2025, and became effective May 13, 2025. This is a procedural adjustment to the statute's language, not a new policy.

SB 1360 limits civil lawsuits against sellers of certain weapons and accessories by removing negligence per se claims and expanding the definition of "qualified products" to include knives, body armor, pepper spray, silencers, and other items. It requires plaintiffs to prove actual physical injury (not just an unreasonable risk of injury) for negligent entrustment claims against sellers. The bill also clarifies that local governments cannot impose stricter firearm regulations than state law allows and specifies who qualifies as an "adversely affected party" for filing lawsuits. These changes directly affect civil cases brought against gun dealers, manufacturers, and sellers in Tennessee.

SB 346 requires schools and similar educational facilities to conduct full evacuation fire drills at least once every 30 school days, with two drills held during the first 30 days of the school year. It also mandates four annual fire safety announcements for students, with schools developing the content. Schools must document all drills (including times/dates) and make records available to state fire marshals for review. This law supersedes any conflicting local or municipal fire drill requirements.

SB 161 requires Tennessee school districts with high schools to adopt a policy allowing one junior or senior student to serve as a nonvoting representative on each school board. The student must attend all public board meetings (excluding confidential sessions), serve at least one school year, and meet eligibility criteria set by the board. School boards must establish a fair selection process ensuring all high schools within the district have equal opportunity for student representation. The policy must be implemented by the 2025-2026 school year, with students receiving no salary but possible reimbursement for reasonable expenses. This bill directly affects local education agencies and high school students in Tennessee.