Tennessee Bills

HB 1372 removes the killing of another committed during certain crimes (like robbery or burglary) from the definition of first-degree murder in Tennessee law. It also deletes two specific criminal responsibility provisions that allowed prosecutors to charge individuals for facilitating felonies or being an accomplice. These changes would directly affect prosecutors, defendants, and courts by altering how violent crimes are classified and prosecuted. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee’s criminal code (including Titles 39 and 40) to simplify these legal definitions.

HB 754 requires gender clinics receiving state funding and insurance providers covering gender transition procedures to also offer and cover detransition services (medical or mental health care to reverse or manage effects of transition). It applies specifically to state-funded clinics and insurers, mandating they report detailed statistics on gender transition procedures to the Tennessee Department of Health. The reporting includes patient demographics, procedure types, medications, and diagnoses - while excluding personally identifiable health information. Data must be submitted monthly and compiled into an annual public report starting in 2025. The bill does not restrict access to gender transition care but adds transparency and service parity requirements.

HB 1205 prohibits Tennessee physicians and podiatrists from prescribing, dispensing, or treating themselves or their immediate family (defined as spouse, parent, child, or sibling) except in emergencies or when no other doctor is available within 30 miles of their practice. The bill specifically bans prescribing controlled substances (scheduled drugs) to family members under any circumstances. It requires doctors to maintain records of any exceptions and applies to all licensed medical practitioners in Tennessee. This law directly affects doctors' ability to provide care to their own households, aiming to prevent conflicts of interest in medical treatment.

HB 1271 is a policy declaration bill that would state Tennessee's position that "there are only two sexes, a biological male and a biological female," as part of state law. It amends multiple Tennessee Code sections (Titles 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8) to include this statement as official state policy. The bill does not create new regulations or directly affect specific individuals or groups; it only establishes this policy position in existing legal codes. The measure is currently pending in the Judiciary Committee for further review. This is a procedural declaration, not a law altering rights or services.

HB 920 amends Tennessee law to extend the deadline for counties to submit annual reports on judicial commissioners in criminal courts. Specifically, it changes the required submission date from April 1 to April 15 each year. This procedural change directly affects all Tennessee county legislative bodies that must prepare and submit these reports to criminal court judges and relevant legislative committees. The bill makes no substantive policy changes, only adjusting the reporting timeline.

HB 1447 proposes creating the Tennessee Retirement Savings Plan Act, establishing a state-run retirement savings program for Tennessee residents employed within the state. The bill creates a 7-member Tennessee Retirement Savings Board - including the state treasurer, employer and employee representatives, a retired public member, and nonvoting legislative advisors - to develop and manage the plan. Key provisions require the board to design a defined contribution retirement plan, set investment rules, collect administrative fees, and provide outreach to residents. The bill is currently pending introduction (filed October 6, 2025) and has not yet been enacted.

HB 1450 restricts who can post bail for defendants in Tennessee. It prohibits most organizations (not including the defendant, their family, legal guardian, employer, or licensed bail bondsmen) from posting bail security for more than three defendants in a single year or for the same defendant more than once per year. Entities seeking to post bail must first obtain approval under new requirements. The bill amends Tennessee law to clarify definitions (like "family" including third-degree relatives and household members) and limits non-licensed entities from operating bail services. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 354 requires Tennessee's Department of Human Services to prominently display a toll-free phone number on its website homepage. This number connects citizens to a service for reporting abuse, neglect, or exploitation of elderly or vulnerable adults. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (Titles 8, 38, 39, 45, 68, and 71) to mandate this website change. It directly affects the state agency by requiring a specific online presence for public reporting access, without altering the underlying reporting process.

HB 483 would extend the deadline for Tennessee district attorneys general to submit annual funding reports from 90 to 120 days after each fiscal year ends. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Section 8-7-103(5), to change this reporting requirement. This procedural adjustment directly affects district attorneys general and the office of the executive director for the district attorneys general conference, which receives these reports. The change provides additional time for preparation but does not alter the content or purpose of the reports.

HB 656 requires Tennessee's education commissioner to annually publish on the state education department's website the number of waivers granted to school districts (local education agencies) that allow them to exceed average class size limits for funding "grow your own" teacher recruitment programs. The commissioner must post this data by June 1 each year, starting in 2025, to provide transparency about waiver usage. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Titles 4 and 49, to establish this reporting requirement. The policy change directly affects school districts receiving such waivers and aims to clarify how these waivers support teacher training initiatives.

HB 338 allows state agency heads (including the treasurer, secretary of state, and adjutant general) to submit their annual financial and operational reports electronically to the governor instead of through paper. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to add this electronic filing option for required annual reports. It directly affects state departments and agencies that currently submit these reports annually. This is a procedural change to update reporting methods, with no new requirements or policy impacts.

HB 484 requires health insurers and TennCare to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, or monitoring of diseases starting January 1, 2026. It applies to all health benefit plans (including private insurance) and TennCare plans, mandating coverage when tests are supported by FDA approvals, clinical guidelines, or evidence-based standards. The bill specifies that insurers must approve or deny prior authorization requests within 24-72 hours and provide clear appeal processes for patients. This policy directly affects patients needing biomarker tests (e.g., for cancer treatment) and insurers managing coverage for these tests.