Tennessee Bills

HB 2317, the "Tennessee Anti-Grooming Act," creates a new criminal offense for adults who groom minors (under 18) or mentally compromised individuals (e.g., those with autism, intellectual disabilities, or severe mental health conditions) for sexual exploitation. It defines "grooming" as using electronic or in-person communication to build trust or control with the intent to facilitate sexual contact, simulated sexual contact, or exploitation. Penalties range from a Class E felony (standard) to a Class A felony (if victim is under 13) or higher, depending on victim age, prior offenses, or the offender’s position of trust. The bill supplements existing child protection laws and would take effect July 1, 2026, if passed.

HB 2258 extends the deadline for local governments to hold public hearings on petitions to create business improvement districts, changing the timeframe from 45 to 60 days. This directly affects municipal governing bodies in Tennessee that receive valid petitions for central business improvement districts. The bill amends Tennessee Code (Title 5 and Title 7, Chapter 84, Part 5) to provide more time for public input before decisions are made. The change aims to allow greater community engagement without altering the district's operational requirements.

HB 2156 requires Tennessee's Department of Revenue to study whether making excise tax credits transferable to third parties (beyond the original recipient) would impact the state's economy. The study must assess potential economic effects, with findings due to tax committees by December 15, 2026. This bill does not change current tax law but mandates a review of a potential policy shift affecting businesses that claim excise tax credits.

HB 2186 allows counties with metropolitan government (like Nashville-Davidson County) to either charge a lower sales tax rate on food and food ingredients than other goods or fully exempt such sales from local sales tax. Counties must adopt this through a resolution and provide a certified copy to the state revenue department, with the change taking effect only starting October 1, 2026. This bill directly affects metropolitan counties by giving them flexibility in local food sales taxation, while deleting outdated provisions about metropolitan council membership reductions. The policy change is limited to food sales tax treatment and does not alter general sales tax rates for other items.

SB 2556 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to compile and submit a report by January 1, 2027, listing every medication approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for women's health, including a brief summary of each. The report must be sent to the Senate and House Speakers, providing lawmakers with a centralized overview of FDA-approved women's health medications. This bill does not change medication approval processes or healthcare access but mandates a regular legislative update on these medications. It is a procedural reporting requirement affecting only the Department of Health and the legislature.

SB 2579, the "Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Act," establishes new licensure requirements for dietitians and nutritionists in Tennessee, replacing current standards. It defines key terms like "medical nutrition therapy" (for treating health conditions) versus "general non-medical nutrition information," and creates distinctions between "complex" (high-acuity medical cases) and "non-complex" care. The bill expands the governing board from five to nine members and sets minimum education and competency standards for licensed practitioners. This directly affects dietitians, nutritionists, and the public seeking these services, clarifying who can provide medical nutrition care versus general dietary advice.

HB 2358 requires Tennessee's Department of Human Resources to annually transfer funds from the TANF rainy-day fund to the child care development fund (CCDF). This transfer must cover child care assistance through the "Smart Steps" program for families who qualify but cannot receive help due to insufficient CCDF funding. The bill limits transfers to 30% of the rainy-day fund (per federal rules) and mandates annual public reports detailing CCDF balances and expenditures. It directly affects low-income families seeking child care assistance and the state's child care funding system.

HB 2111 creates a state family advisory board within Tennessee's Department of Correction to directly support families of incarcerated individuals. The board will consist of nine appointed family members (including grandparents, parents, spouses, or other relatives), with three members selected by the governor and one from each of Tennessee's three grand divisions by the legislative leaders. Key provisions require the board to foster communication between families and the correctional department, strengthen family reunification efforts, support community reentry, and provide feedback on department activities through regular meetings and three annual public forums. The board will operate without pay but receive travel reimbursement, with members serving three-year terms starting in 2026.

HB 2219 requires local governments in Tennessee to comply with court orders that address "unlawful sanctuary policies" within 120 days of the court issuing the order. It directly affects cities and counties that have adopted policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (notably TCA 7-68-104) to remove a previous 90-day deadline, instead establishing the 120-day compliance window. This changes the timeframe local governments must follow when courts rule such policies violate state law. The bill focuses solely on the procedural requirement for local governments to align with court decisions, without altering immigration enforcement standards.

SB 2531 creates a state family advisory board within Tennessee's Department of Correction. The board, composed of nine family members of currently incarcerated individuals (appointed equally by the governor, Senate Speaker, and House Speaker), aims to improve communication between correctional facilities and families. Key provisions require the board to meet monthly, hold three annual public meetings across Tennessee's regions, and provide feedback on department activities to support family reunification and successful reentry. This bill directly affects families of incarcerated individuals by establishing a formal channel for their input on correctional programs. The board will operate without pay but receive travel reimbursement for official duties, with the bill taking effect July 1, 2026.

HB 2121, the "Better Spending, Better Schools Act of 2026," requires Tennessee local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools to annually submit detailed spending reports to the state comptroller's office and the Department of Education by August 1. The reports must break down expenditures into specific categories like classroom instruction, student support services, administrative costs, and facility operations. The Department of Education must then publicly post these reports on the state’s school report card, alongside total state funding and local contributions for each school. This bill directly affects all Tennessee public schools and charter schools by mandating transparency in how education funds are spent.

SB 2316 vacates and reconstitutes the board of directors for the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation (TTDC), replacing its current governance structure. The bill establishes a new 12-member board: seven private-sector members (appointed by the governor, House speaker, and Senate speaker) and four public-sector members (appointed by the same officials, with specific municipal/county consultation for two). It sets initial terms of 3-4 years for members, requires annual conflict-of-interest disclosures, limits board meetings to eight per year, and mandates an executive committee for daily operations. This is a procedural change to TTDC's governance, not a policy or funding measure, affecting how the corporation is managed.