Tennessee Bills

HB 117 permanently extends a requirement for retailers selling food, candy, or nonalcoholic beverages (including bottled soft drinks) to submit sales data to the Tennessee Department of Revenue. It removes the July 1, 2025, expiration date from existing law (TCA § 67-6-410), making the reporting obligation indefinite. This affects retailers who sell the specified products, requiring them to continue filing annual net sales reports. The bill became effective May 2, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

HB 496 amends Tennessee's ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) account rules to allow account earnings to be used for non-education expenses, such as housing or transportation, rather than being restricted to education costs. It aligns Tennessee's definitions of "disability certification" and "eligible individual" with federal Internal Revenue Code standards. The bill directly affects Tennesseans with disabilities who use ABLE accounts to manage savings without losing federal benefits. Key changes include removing the education-only spending restriction and updating account ownership rules to match IRS guidance. The law became effective May 2, 2025, with some provisions taking effect January 1, 2026.

HB 1256 reduces the number of missed court appearances required for a defendant to be placed on a fugitives list from five to three. This change directly affects criminal defendants who repeatedly fail to appear in court for their cases. The bill amends Section 39-16-202 of Tennessee law (within Title 39) and related provisions across multiple criminal justice codes to implement this threshold adjustment. The law became effective on July 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

HB 863 requires Tennessee municipalities and counties to post new ordinances and resolutions on a website within one month of adoption. Local governments may choose to post on their own website or the secretary of state's website. The law, effective May 2, 2025, applies to all new ordinances and resolutions adopted after that date.

HB 103 extends voluntary foster care services in Tennessee to young adults aged 20-23 who were in state custody at age 18 or were adopted from the state’s foster care system (or approved for subsidized guardianship) at age 16 or older. It requires these individuals to meet one of five criteria to continue receiving support: pursuing education, working at least 80 hours monthly, participating in job-training programs, or having a medical condition with treatment compliance. The bill also removes fees for driver’s licenses and ID cards for eligible youth. This change, effective July 1, 2025, directly affects former foster youth transitioning to adulthood by providing extended housing, education, and employment support.

HB 1306 clarifies that Tennessee's definitions of housing facilities for economic development include affordable and workforce housing, explicitly expanding eligibility for industrial development corporation projects. It modifies housing definitions in multiple statutes to cover multifamily, single-family, condo, and townhome developments intended for low-to-moderate-income, elderly, or disabled residents. The bill also streamlines approval processes by allowing municipalities to amend economic impact plans without new public hearings, reducing administrative barriers for housing projects. This directly affects local governments, housing developers, and residents of affordable housing developments across Tennessee.

HB 1328 makes Tennessee's criminal proceedings notification system permanent by removing the temporary "pilot program" language and eliminating its July 1, 2025, expiration date from state law. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 40-38-507 to establish this system as a permanent requirement for criminal court notifications. This change affects how courts deliver notifications to defendants and others involved in criminal cases, ensuring the system continues without needing future legislative renewal. The law took effect immediately upon the Governor's signature on May 2, 2025.

HB 1329 reduces the administrative fee the Tennessee Department of Revenue charges on several local taxes - from 1.125% to 0.75%. This applies to business taxes, short-term rental occupancy taxes, coal severance taxes, and local option sales taxes. The fee is deducted before the remaining tax proceeds are sent to counties, cities, or towns. As a result, local governments will retain more tax revenue after administrative costs, effective July 1, 2025.

HB 495 sets maximum fees healthcare providers and third-party record release companies can charge when providing medical records to patients or other requesters. For paper copies, fees are capped at $25 for the first five pages, then 50 cents per page after that. For electronic copies, fees are limited to $5 for up to ten pages (25 cents per page after), with specific caps for radiology images and mailing costs. The bill requires providers to offer records electronically when available and prohibits third parties from exceeding these fee limits.

HB 1090 requires Tennessee's Department of Correction to study the challenges of building and operating reentry facilities for eligible inmates transitioning back into the community. The bill mandates that the department submit an annual report by February 1st detailing its findings. This law directly affects the Department of Correction, which must now conduct this study and report its results each year, without creating new facilities or changing inmate eligibility.

HB 1073 modifies Tennessee's election law by extending the deadline for holding special elections from 10 to 15 days after receiving an order. This change directly affects election administrators and officials responsible for scheduling special elections. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-14-105, to adjust this timeline without altering campaign finance rules or other substantive election procedures. It became effective on May 2, 2025, following gubernatorial approval. The policy change is procedural, focusing solely on administrative timing for special elections.

HB 114 amends Tennessee's STRONG Act to expand educational benefits for National Guard members. It explicitly covers mandatory fees (like parking, tech, and library fees) and master's degree program fees, in addition to 100% of in-state tuition. The bill increases the maximum credit hours for eligibility from 120 to 130 and requires reimbursement applications within 45 days of course completion. It also adds eligibility requirements, barring members suspended from federal tuition assistance due to academic issues. This law, effective May 2, 2025, directly affects Tennessee National Guard members pursuing higher education.