Tennessee Bills

SB 343 extends the deadline for Tennessee licensing boards to respond to health department inquiries about prescribers with concerning prescribing patterns. Specifically, it increases the response time from 30 to 45 days when the Department of Health asks about actions taken (or lack thereof) against prescribers identified as statistical outliers, top prescribers, or high-risk prescribers of controlled substances. This change directly affects licensing boards responsible for reviewing prescriber conduct under Tennessee health regulations. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law (Titles 4, 29, 33, 56, 63, 68, and 71) to implement this procedural adjustment.

HB 705 amends Tennessee's insurance law to change the annual disclosure deadline for insurers. It moves the submission date from June 1 to July 1 each year for insurers and insurance groups required to report to the commissioner of commerce and insurance under the Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Act. This bill directly affects insurance companies operating in Tennessee that must file these annual disclosures. The change is purely procedural, adjusting a specific deadline without altering the substance of the disclosure requirements.

SB 1225 requires businesses selling smoking paraphernalia (like pipes or vapor products) to prominently display a sign showing the legal age for purchasing these items. This replaces an older warning sign requirement that was permitted before April 22, 1994, and aligns with the Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco, Smoking Hemp, and Vapor Products Act. The law applies to all retail locations distributing such products in Tennessee and takes effect on July 1, 2025. It directly affects businesses selling smoking-related items by mandating a specific, updated signage requirement.

SB 502 expands the scope of practice for licensed athletic trainers in Tennessee. It changes the definition of "athletic injury" to include any condition limiting physical activity participation (not just injuries), allowing trainers to treat such conditions under physician supervision. The bill also explicitly clarifies that athletic trainers are healthcare providers and lists specific procedures they may perform, such as blood glucose monitoring, injections, and wound closure. This directly affects licensed athletic trainers by broadening their treatment authority while maintaining requirements for physician oversight and board certification.

SB 608 amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 55 to authorize the Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance to create rules governing automobile clubs and associations. This bill directly affects auto clubs operating in Tennessee by establishing a regulatory framework under the commissioner's authority. The key provision adds a new sentence to TCA § 55-18-104, granting the commissioner power to promulgate necessary rules to implement this chapter. The bill focuses solely on enabling rulemaking without specifying particular regulations.

SB 1369 removes the requirement for acute care hospitals in Tennessee to obtain state approval (a "certificate of need") to establish or operate, effective July 1, 2028. It defines "acute care hospital" as one primarily treating patients with an average stay of 25 days or less. This change directly affects new and existing acute care hospitals by eliminating a regulatory hurdle for expansion or operation. The bill amends specific Tennessee Code sections to implement this change, while maintaining certificate of need requirements for other hospital types.

This Tennessee bill (SB 259) clarifies that parents, legal guardians, or custodians can access all health and medical records of unemancipated minors - including records from treatments provided without parental consent. It also permits school staff to provide basic first aid (bandages, gauze, or ice packs) for minor cuts, scrapes, or bumps. The law affects parents, schools, and healthcare providers by expanding access to minors' health records and defining school staff's limited medical authority. It amends Tennessee codes related to healthcare, education, and minor treatment (Titles 33, 36, 37, 49, 63, and 68).

SB 520 expands the service area of the West Tennessee River Basin Authority to include Perry, Stewart, Houston, and Humphreys counties. The bill directly affects these four counties and the authority, which will now have jurisdiction over them. Key provisions require the authority to provide only technical assistance, engineering services, and project management support in these newly added counties, rather than full program delivery. This change updates the authority's jurisdictional boundaries in Tennessee Code Annotated Title 64, Section 64-1-1101(c)(1), while maintaining existing service structures for other counties.

HB 1443, the "Caring for Caregivers Act," creates a pilot program to provide financial grants to family caregivers of Tennessee residents with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. The program, running from 2026 to 2029, offers up to $6,000 annually per caregiver to cover eligible expenses like home modifications for safety, medical equipment, and respite care. To qualify, caregivers must have an adjusted income below the state median (adjusted for family size), and the person they care for must live in a private home while needing help with at least two daily living activities. Grants prioritize very low-income households and are funded through state appropriations and donations.

HB 1624 makes knowingly violating a no-contact order issued as part of a defendant's sentence or probation/parole for certain domestic abuse-related crimes a Class A misdemeanor. It directly affects individuals convicted of offenses where the alleged victim was a domestic abuse victim under Tennessee law. The bill amends Tennessee Code to clarify that violations of such orders - whether issued before release on bond or as part of sentencing - constitute a specific criminal offense. This changes the legal consequence from a general probation breach to a defined misdemeanor charge, effective July 1, 2026.

HB 1484, the "Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Act," requires Tennessee district attorneys to submit reports within 24 hours to state and federal officials whenever they take specific actions (like plea deals, charge reductions, or case dismissals) related to felony cases stemming from Operation Viper or the Memphis Safe Task Force. It directly affects district attorneys in judicial districts where these federal task forces operate. The bill mandates these reports be submitted to the Attorney General, legislative leaders, the District Attorneys General Conference, and the relevant U.S. Attorney. The key provision creates a standardized reporting mechanism to increase transparency around prosecutorial decisions involving these specific law enforcement initiatives. This is a procedural requirement focused on accountability, not on changing criminal penalties or policies.

HB 1525 requires Tennessee courts to impose consecutive sentences for defendants convicted of two or more offenses involving more than one minor victim, unless the court finds by a preponderance of evidence that consecutive sentencing isn't warranted and would harm justice. It directly affects defendants convicted of multiple crimes against minors, such as sexual offenses or abuse across separate incidents. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 40, Section 40-35-115, making consecutive sentencing the default for these cases. Exceptions are limited to specific judicial findings about case facts and the "best interest of justice," not general discretion. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, for offenses committed on or after that date.