Tennessee Bills

SB 1400 revises Tennessee's driving under the influence (DUI) laws by two key changes: it permits law enforcement officers to assist medical professionals in obtaining blood samples from drivers using reasonable force during DUI investigations, and it increases the minimum jail sentence for a first-time DUI conviction from one year to one year and six months. These provisions directly affect drivers charged with DUI, law enforcement officers conducting blood tests, and medical personnel involved in the sampling process. The blood sample provision took effect immediately upon the governor's signature on May 5, 2025, while the sentence increase will apply starting January 1, 2026. The bill does not alter DUI testing standards or expand penalties beyond these specific changes.

SB 1332 amends Tennessee education law to regulate "released time courses" (outside-school religious or moral instruction) by requiring background checks for instructors and entities running these programs. It directly affects independent religious instruction providers, school districts (LEAs), and students attending such courses. Key provisions mandate that all instructors undergo Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) background checks, with results shared with schools; schools must then review these checks and notify parents if an instructor has a conviction for offenses listed in state law. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and aims to ensure safety by prohibiting unvetted individuals from having proximity to students during these courses.

SB 510 requires all new state legislators, judges, county officials, and district attorneys general taking office on or after July 1, 2025, to join Tennessee’s public retirement system (TCRS) as a condition of taking office. It also mandates that part-time state employees hired on or after July 1, 2025, become TCRS members unless excluded by specific categories (e.g., students, seasonal workers). The bill allows retirees to update their beneficiary designations to a new spouse following a divorce that cancels a former spouse’s benefit. Effective May 5, 2025, the law amends multiple retirement chapters (Titles 8, Chapters 25, 34-37) to implement these changes.

SB 408 changes Tennessee law to ensure school bus contractors are held accountable for accidents during school transportation. It prohibits school boards or local governments from extending legal immunity to contractors (instead of the actual bus owners/operators) and requires contracts to include liability insurance meeting state law standards. The bill allows school boards to verify coverage through an insurance certificate listing them as an "additional insured," ensuring they can seek compensation if accidents occur. This directly affects local school boards and independent school bus contractors by shifting liability responsibility and clarifying insurance requirements.

SB 1018 prohibits Tennessee county public schools and public charter schools from charging registration, enrollment, or tuition fees to students who reside in the same county and transfer from one local school (LEA) to another public charter school within that county. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 49-13-113 and 49-13-106 to explicitly ban these fees for intra-county transfers. This directly affects county school districts, public charter schools operating within them, and students moving between such schools within the same county. The law took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature on May 5, 2025.

HB 728 extends Tennessee's nursing home annual assessment fee deadline from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 71, Chapter 5, changing the fee collection period to run from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, instead of the previous 2024-2025 fiscal year. This directly affects nursing home facilities in Tennessee required to pay the annual assessment fee. The change delays the fee payment timeline for these facilities by one year, with the new period effective July 1, 2025.

HB 1418 changes Wilson County's Tenth School District governance by expanding its governing board from three to five members, dividing the district into five population-based districts, and implementing staggered four-year terms for board members. It requires Wilson County's legislative body to approve the change by two-thirds vote before taking effect. Board members must reside in their district for one year prior to election, serve no more than two terms, and be elected from their specific district under Tennessee's general election laws. The district must submit new boundary maps to the Wilson County Election Commission by September 1, 2025, to implement the changes.

HB 1415 would establish a new annual $65.35 motor vehicle privilege tax for vehicles owned by Chester County residents, excluding auto dealers' vehicles and farm tractors. The tax must be paid to operate a vehicle in Chester County, with collection handled by the County Clerk and proof required via a decal on license plates. The bill requires two-thirds approval from Chester County’s legislative body to take effect, as specified in Section 2. It became law after Governor's signature on May 2, 2025, and applies only to Chester County residents. This is a local tax measure, not a statewide policy.

HB 1406 changes how Fayette County collects and uses its wheel tax (a fee tied to vehicle licensing). It requires the county clerk - not the county court clerk - to collect the tax and keep the $1 administrative fee, while directing all tax revenue (excluding fees) to be placed in the county general fund or specific funds for school construction, county facilities, or debt repayment as decided annually in the budget. This affects Fayette County residents who pay vehicle registration fees and alters how local tax dollars are allocated, shifting funds from direct debt repayment toward general budget flexibility. The bill requires approval by Fayette County's legislative body to take effect.

HB 635 amends Tennessee tax law to require the Department of Revenue to study how adjusting taxable income (via adding back certain deductions or subtracting specific amounts) affects the economy. This study, mandated by the bill, must be completed and reported to legislative committees by January 1, 2026. The bill itself does not change current tax calculations but sets a process for potential future adjustments to net earnings. It became effective May 2, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

HB 612 modifies Tennessee's water pollution permitting rules to exempt certain applicants from requiring compensatory mitigation. Specifically, if a project applicant would qualify for a general permit (covering routine activities) but is disqualified solely due to the project's size, the Department of Environment and Conservation must exempt them from needing to replace lost wetland or aquatic habitat. This applies to all areas covered by aquatic resource alteration permits, not just wetlands. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, streamlining permits for smaller projects that otherwise meet general permit criteria. This directly affects developers, contractors, and landowners seeking permits for water-related projects.

HB 550, the "Fairness in Benefits Act," requires public employers participating in Tennessee's state retirement system to allow private retirement providers to share information about their alternative retirement plans (like 401(k) or 403(b) plans) with employees during non-work hours on employer premises. It specifically mandates that these private plans must meet IRS standards for qualified retirement plans. The law directly affects public employees in Tennessee's state retirement system and their employers, enabling them to access details about private retirement options alongside their current benefits. Signed into law on May 2, 2025, it updates Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 36, Part 1.