Tennessee Bills

HB 1649, known as "Matthew Davenport's Law," makes it illegal to possess, manufacture, deliver, or sell Kratom (including synthetic versions) in Tennessee, with penalties ranging from a Class A misdemeanor for possession to a Class B felony for selling to minors. The bill requires medical examiners to test decedents who died of suspected drug overdoses for Kratom, and mandates doctors to include Kratom testing in cases of suspected overdose or neonatal withdrawal symptoms in newborns. It also adds Kratom to the state’s definition of "drug" for regulatory purposes. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, directly affecting individuals using Kratom, medical professionals, and law enforcement.

HB 1504 establishes a "capitol hill protection zone" around Tennessee's state capitol grounds and 10 surrounding government buildings, including the legislative offices and Supreme Court building. It requires the Commissioner of Safety to ensure these areas are adequately staffed with law enforcement officers who have concurrent authority with local police to arrest, carry firearms, and investigate crimes. Officers assigned must be POST-certified, complete additional training on protest laws and crowd management, and protect state officials, employees, and the public. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

HB 1668 creates a new criminal offense in Tennessee for knowingly traveling with intent to steal cash from businesses or financial institutions while following another person's path without deviating and carrying two or more "criminal instruments" (tools designed for theft, like lockpicks). It directly affects individuals who plan cash thefts by mirroring others' routes while possessing multiple theft tools. Violations start as a Class A misdemeanor, but escalate to a Class D felony if the person also violates other theft laws (Chapter 13, Part 10) or a Class B felony if they violate firearm laws (Chapter 13, Part 4). The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1550 expands Tennessee school policies to allow public and nonpublic schools to administer any prescribed form of epinephrine (not limited to auto-injectors) for students experiencing life-threatening allergic reactions. The bill requires schools to maintain epinephrine in at least two secure locations and permits school nurses or trained staff to use school-stored epinephrine when a student lacks personal medication or a prescription on file. It clarifies that physicians and school staff administering epinephrine under this policy are not liable for harm unless there was intentional disregard for safety. The law amends Tennessee Code Sections 49-50-1602(f) and 68-140-501(1) to remove the restriction to "epinephrine auto-injectors" and replace it with "epinephrine." This directly affects schools, students with allergies, and school medical personnel.

HB 1673 amends Tennessee utility laws to streamline consolidation processes for water, electric, and other utility systems. It updates petition procedures for merging utility systems (including districts) and clarifies approval criteria for county mayors, requiring them to consider public convenience, economic feasibility, and public interest. The bill mandates consolidation agreements to detail asset distribution, service boundaries, and bond protections, while changing terminology to include "utility authorities" alongside municipalities. These changes directly affect utility governing bodies, local governments, and service areas involved in utility mergers.

HB 1691 clarifies that joint boards formed by two municipalities and two counties under an interlocal agreement for operating an airport gain all powers, duties, and privileges of a regional airport authority under Tennessee law. This directly affects those specific joint boards, recognizing them as public entities with expanded authority to manage airports. The bill amends state code to vest these boards with the full legal standing of a regional airport authority, including the ability to file a charter with the secretary of state as a nonprofit corporation. It requires governance details (like member terms and composition) to be defined solely in the original interlocal agreement, not in the amended statute.

HB 1553 removes the $200 filing fee required to terminate a corporation's existence with Tennessee's Secretary of State. It extends the deadline for individuals or businesses ending donation solicitation activities from 30 to 90 days to notify the Secretary of State. Additionally, it eliminates the requirement for charitable organizations with over $1 million in annual revenue to submit audited financial statements or IRS forms when ceasing solicitation. The bill affects corporations ending operations and large charitable organizations, taking effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1536 creates the "Tennessee Agricultural Innovation and Education Initiative" under the Department of Agriculture. It authorizes partnerships with private or academic groups to develop digital tools, educational programs, and workforce training focused on agricultural technology, market access, and entrepreneurship - specifically prioritizing small, minority, and beginning farmers. The initiative requires annual evaluations to track farmer participation, economic outcomes, and taxpayer return, with results publicly reported to lawmakers. Partners retain ownership of all creative content and digital platforms developed under the program.

HB 1464 would provide a $50,000 annual payment for five years to the estate of an electrical lineman who dies while working in the line of duty. The bill extends this benefit, currently available to emergency responders, to electrical linemen by amending Tennessee law to include them in the same eligibility category. It defines an "electrical lineman" as a worker who installs, maintains, or repairs electrical systems for a local government or its contractors. The bill is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.

HB 1034 would make non-compete clauses unenforceable for Tennessee employees and contractors after their employment or contract ends. The bill removes an existing exception that previously allowed some restrictions to be enforced, effectively banning all post-termination professional restrictions in contracts. This change applies to contracts entered into or amended on or after July 1, 2025, affecting workers in professions covered by Tennessee’s labor laws. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee Code (Titles 50, 63, and 68) to eliminate references to the former exception.

HB 1263 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services to post all adoption-related forms on its website. This affects courts, social service agencies, and individuals navigating the adoption process by making these forms easily accessible online. The bill amends Tennessee law to mandate this change, ensuring forms previously available through other channels are centralized on the department's website for public access. It does not alter adoption eligibility or procedures, only the method of form distribution.

HB 1268 requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to submit its annual report on narcotics investigations to specific legislative committees by February 15 each year, instead of the previous unspecified annual deadline. The bill amends Tennessee law (specifically Titles 8, 10, 16, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 55) to update the submission date and clarify which committees receive the report (the House committee with jurisdiction over criminal justice and the Senate Judiciary Committee). This change directly affects the TBI's narcotics division and the legislative committees responsible for oversight. The bill modifies reporting procedures without altering the content or scope of the investigations themselves.