Tennessee Bills

SB 953 allows Tennessee local governments (like counties and cities) to create supplemental bridge benefits for public employees in roles with mandatory retirement ages. These benefits provide temporary income between retirement eligibility and full pension payments. The bill changes existing law by removing the requirement that such benefits be paid "annually," giving local retirement boards flexibility to set payment intervals. This policy directly affects public sector workers covered by mandatory retirement provisions, ensuring smoother financial transitions to full retirement benefits.

SB 1237 requires licensed bail bondsmen in Tennessee to submit quarterly reports to the Department of Revenue detailing the number and total value of bonds issued in each county they operate. Court clerks who admit defendants to bail must also file quarterly reports on bonds accepted from bondsmen, including total counts and values. These reports will enable the Department of Revenue to conduct audits of the bail bonding tax. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all bail bonds executed on or after that date.

SB 713 requires all Tennessee public senior high schools to allow military recruiters access during student lunch periods at least once a month and provide additional targeted access every other month for students who express interest in military opportunities. The bill directly affects public high schools and military recruiters by mandating scheduled access to students for career and educational information about military service. It amends Tennessee law (Title 49) to establish these specific access requirements, replacing a previous section. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not alter military programs but changes school access protocols.

SB 1240 changes the annual certification deadline for mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities and recovery residences in Tennessee from February 15 to March 1. This directly affects providers seeking state certification under Tennessee law, requiring them to submit applications by March 1 each year instead of February 15. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law (Titles 5, 6, 7, 13, 33, 47, 63, and 68) to implement this deadline shift. The change took effect immediately upon the governor's signature on May 8, 2025, with the new deadline applying to certifications starting January 1, 2026.

The bill title provided in your query (about housing) does not match the actual bill text, which is about veterans' property tax exemptions. SB 948 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, to require disabled veterans to provide documentation of their military service and disability to qualify for a property tax exemption. This change directly affects disabled veterans seeking the exemption, as they must now submit proof of service and disability to the relevant authority. The bill was signed by the Governor and takes effect on July 1, 2025.

SB 1388 requires Tennessee's Department of Human Services to establish a process for state entities (like public property managers) to formally complain about licensed blind vending facility managers operating under the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. If a state entity submits three complaints within six months about a specific manager's conduct or performance, the department must assign a new manager to that location. This bill amends Tennessee law to create this specific complaint mechanism, directly affecting blind individuals licensed to operate vending facilities on public property through the state's vocational program for disabled individuals. It does not change eligibility for the program but adds a procedural step for resolving repeated issues.

SB 626 amends Tennessee's election laws to require county election commissions to publish locations of provisional counting boards and prohibit tabulating marked ballots submitted online. It also bans voting machines from connecting to the internet, directly affecting how counties manage ballot processing and voting technology. The bill makes these specific procedural changes to election administration without altering voter eligibility or ballot access. Signed by the governor on May 5, 2025, it became effective May 13, 2025.

SB 1414, effective May 5, 2025, strengthens Tennessee's alignment with the federal 340B drug discount program by prohibiting drug manufacturers from restricting access to 340B drugs or imposing unfair requirements on participating entities. The bill directly affects 340B entities (such as community health centers and hospitals) and their contracted pharmacies, banning actions like denying 340B drug access, demanding extra health data, or applying stricter audit rules than for non-340B providers. Key provisions require manufacturers to comply with federal 340B rules and prohibit interference with 340B entities' drug choices or contracts. Violations carry a $50,000 civil penalty per violation, enforceable by the state commissioner or attorney general. The law explicitly states it does not override applicable federal 340B regulations.

SB 1241 expands Tennessee's definition of child abuse to include children under 18 who witness another child being abused in their household or domestic violence against a family member in their home. This change directly affects minors in households experiencing abuse, as it now classifies their exposure as abuse under state law. The bill also requires that children placed in foster care due to abuse cannot be reunited with parents unless the parent follows their court-ordered plan and the child receives mental health counseling. These provisions apply to cases handled under Tennessee's child welfare system, specifically in Title 37 (child protective services) and related statutes.

SB 1166 requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to annually report to legislative leaders on DUI arrests where no alcohol or intoxicants were detected in the person's blood or breath. Specifically, the TBI must submit a report by January 1 each year (starting in 2026) detailing these cases from the most recent complete data year, including the arresting law enforcement agency. The bill affects the TBI (as the reporting entity) and the Tennessee General Assembly (as the recipient of the data). This provision amends Tennessee law to create a new annual reporting requirement under Title 38, focusing solely on data collection without changing DUI penalties or procedures.

SB 359 allows Tennessee healthcare licensing boards to issue licenses with a "private advocacy order," requiring applicants to participate in a board-approved peer assistance program instead of facing immediate disciplinary action. This applies directly to healthcare professionals (like doctors or nurses) whose medical conditions may impair their ability to practice competently. The key provision makes these orders confidential and non-public records, but if a provider fails to maintain participation, the order becomes public and triggers disciplinary proceedings. The law amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 63 to create this alternative to traditional licensing restrictions.

SB 657 amends Tennessee's racketeering law (TCA §39-12-203) to explicitly include organized retail crime, firearm possession during dangerous felonies, and carjacking as racketeering activities. This change directly affects individuals committing these specific offenses, making them subject to enhanced penalties under racketeering statutes. The bill adds new definitions to the law (effective July 1, 2025) and clarifies that carjacking is now explicitly covered under racketeering. It does not create new crimes but reclassifies existing offenses for prosecution under racketeering provisions.