Tennessee Bills

HB 2620 requires Tennessee's comptroller of the treasury to publish copies of audits conducted on the Energy Efficient Schools Council on the comptroller's website. This bill directly affects the comptroller's office, which must now make these audit reports publicly accessible online. The key provision amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-17-105 to mandate this publication, replacing prior requirements to provide physical copies to council members and the comptroller. The change aims to increase transparency around how school energy efficiency funds are managed. It does not alter funding levels or create new programs.

HJR 870 is a commemorative resolution honoring Larry Bushart, a retired Henderson County police officer, for his defense of free speech. It recognizes his arrest and 37-day jail stay (due to a $2 million bond) after posting a pre-existing political meme on social media, which led to false charges of threatening school violence before all charges were dismissed. The resolution symbolically commends Bushart for upholding his First Amendment rights while acknowledging the personal impact of his wrongful arrest, including job loss and missed family events. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or policies.

HB 2430 requires Tennessee state correctional facilities to provide inmates preparing for release with a food assistance application form from the human services agency. The application must include an option for inmates to decline assistance, specify reasons for declining (with anonymous submission allowed), and be collected by correctional staff before release. The bill mandates annual reports to the legislature starting in 2027, tracking the number of completed applications, declines with reasons, and approval rates for food assistance. This policy change directly affects incarcerated individuals transitioning to community life and requires state agencies to implement standardized application and reporting procedures.

HB 2520 requires that when a county or city defaults on a state loan for its real property reappraisal program, the director of property assessments must notify the commissioner of finance and administration in writing. This amendment to Tennessee law (TCA Title 67, Chapter 5) specifically adds "in writing" to the existing requirement for such notifications. The bill directly affects local governments receiving state loans for property tax reappraisal and state agencies managing these loans. It creates a clear, documented process for reporting repayment defaults, replacing unspecified notification methods with a written standard.

HB 2591 legalizes "organic human reduction" (a process converting human remains to soil/compost) as a disposal method in Tennessee, requiring oversight by the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. It establishes new rules for facilities, including Department of Health permits, standardized leak-proof containers, and mandatory permanent identification tags on remains. The bill specifically excludes bodies donated for medical research and applies to funeral providers, families choosing this option, and facilities offering the service. Key provisions are codified in Title 62, Chapter 5, Part 9 of Tennessee law.

HB 2621 requires municipal electric utilities in Tennessee to make their current rate schedules, charges, and service rules available online for public access, replacing the previous requirement to keep these documents only at physical office locations. This change directly affects municipal electric utilities (like city-owned power systems) and benefits ratepayers by providing easier, digital access to pricing and service information. The bill amends Tennessee law to mandate that these documents be published on a public website, in addition to maintaining physical copies at offices. The policy change aims to improve transparency without altering utility rates or service obligations.

SB 1575 would allow Tennessee government agencies to publish public meeting notices on a secure website instead of in a newspaper. It requires agencies that provide electronic notices (like e-newsletters) to offer a way for people to sign up for email notices or request paper copies by mail. This bill directly affects local governments and citizens by changing how meeting notices are distributed. The key provision standardizes online notice as a valid method while ensuring accessibility for those who prefer physical copies.

SB 1574 would have required lobbyists and their employers to update registration with Tennessee's ethics commission within seven business days (Monday-Friday, excluding holidays) instead of seven calendar days. This change would have directly affected all registered lobbyists and the organizations employing them, adjusting deadlines to align with business days. The bill amended specific sections of Tennessee's lobbying laws (Sections 3-6-302(a) and 3-6-302(c)) to implement this time-frame shift. However, the bill was withdrawn on February 5, 2026, and did not become law.

HB 1749, which was introduced in 2026 but withdrawn on February 4, 2026, proposed two key changes to the Ocoee River recreation fund and management. It expanded the fund’s allowable uses to include tourism promotion (like hiring event coordinators and supporting nonprofit river events) and required board approval for certain infrastructure spending. The bill also replaced the park manager on the fund’s board with the state parks director and restricted commercial permits for river operations, capping them at 24 (then 12) after July 2026 with strict transfer rules for family or business sales. These changes would have directly affected commercial operators, state parks staff, and the Ocoee River management zone. The bill did not become law.

HB 1996 modifies Tennessee's cannabis possession laws by creating a medical exception and establishing tiered penalties for non-medical use. It permits possession only if cannabis was obtained directly from a licensed physician for a qualifying medical condition (as defined in TCA §68-7-101). For non-medical possession, it sets fines up to $100 for 1 ounce or less (with no jail time), and increases penalties for larger amounts or repeat offenses - up to $2,500 fines and 6 months in jail for third offenses of more than 1 ounce. The bill directly affects Tennessee residents who possess cannabis, distinguishing between medical use and non-compliant possession.

HJR 726 is a non-binding resolution by the Tennessee General Assembly expressing support for reconstructing the Columbia Dam on the Duck River. It states the project is critical to address water supply shortages for growing communities, support economic development, and maintain recreational use amid population increases in Middle Tennessee. The resolution cites historical context - including the dam's partial construction in the 1970s, its halt by a court ruling, and subsequent demolition in the late 1990s - that led to current water scarcity and flooding challenges. As a symbolic statement, it does not impose legal requirements but formally declares the state's position in favor of the project.

HJR 745 is a memorial resolution passed by the Tennessee General Assembly to honor Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, poet, and Minneapolis resident who was fatally shot by an ICE agent in 2025. The resolution extends condolences to her family and celebrates her life as a loving mother, artist, and community member, highlighting her achievements as a writer, Christian, and advocate for peace. It does not create new laws or affect policy - it is a symbolic gesture of remembrance.