Tennessee Bills

HB 519 extends the reporting deadline for nonprofits partnering with Tennessee's Governor's Books from Birth Fund. It changes the requirement from a 90-day to a 180-day period after the fiscal year ends for these nonprofits to submit reports on their operations and accomplishments to the governor and legislative leaders. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 4, specifically Section 4-52-109, to implement this change in reporting timelines. The adjustment directly affects nonprofit public benefit corporations working with the Books from Birth Fund program.

SB 1468 designates the Tennessee Army National Guard armory in McNairy County as the "Brigadier General Donald F. Hawkins Army National Guard Armory" to honor his 36-year military service, including his retirement as commander of the 30th Separate Armored Brigade. The bill amends Tennessee Code to rename the facility and requires the National Guard to install appropriate signage. It directly affects the physical designation of the armory building in McNairy County. As a commemorative resolution, it has no policy or funding changes beyond the naming.

SB 2586 establishes new regulations for stem cell therapies in Tennessee, directly affecting physicians and facilities providing these treatments. It requires stem cells used in therapy to be retrieved, manufactured, and stored only in facilities registered with the FDA and accredited by specific organizations like the American Association of Tissue Banks. The bill mandates that physicians disclose in advertisements that the therapy is not FDA-approved and must use products meeting federal manufacturing standards. It explicitly excludes therapies using cells derived from fetuses or embryos after abortion. The law aims to ensure safety through facility accreditation, viability testing, and clear patient disclosures.

SB 2151 requires Tennessee's Department of Revenue to study whether excise tax credits should be made transferable to any person or entity (beyond the original recipient). The study must assess potential economic impacts, and the department must report findings to legislative tax committees by December 15, 2026. This bill does not change tax law - it only mandates a study. It directly affects the Department of Revenue (tasked with conducting the study) and future lawmakers who may use the report to inform potential policy changes. The bill is currently in committee review and has not yet become law.

SB 2481 changes the timeframe for county boards to notify applicants about licenses for adult-oriented establishments. It replaces "ten (10) days" with "ten (10) business days" in Tennessee Code Annotated § 7-51-1107(b), requiring boards to issue decisions within 10 business days after receiving investigation results. This directly affects applicants seeking licenses for adult-oriented businesses and county boards responsible for processing these applications. The bill makes a procedural adjustment to clarify that the deadline excludes weekends and holidays.

SB 2566, the "Tennessee Anti-Grooming Act," criminalizes an adult’s behavior intended to build trust or control with a minor (under 18) or a mentally compromised individual (e.g., someone with autism, Down syndrome, or severe anxiety) for sexual purposes. It defines "grooming" as online or in-person communication meant to lure, prepare, or facilitate sexual contact or exploitation. Penalties range from a Class E felony (standard) to a Class A felony if the victim is under 13, with harsher penalties for prior sex offenses or positions of trust. The law supplements existing child protection statutes but does not replace them, taking effect July 1, 2026.

HB 2259 (Tennessee) protects healthcare providers and organizations when discussing adverse patient incidents with patients or families. It states that good-faith communications about quality improvement committee (QIC) activities - such as explaining what happened after a medical error - are not considered waivers of legal confidentiality protections. These discussions, including offers of resolution, remain privileged, cannot be used in court, and do not imply liability. The bill directly affects healthcare providers, patients, and families in Tennessee by creating a safe space for open communication after adverse incidents without legal risk.

SB 2161 changes Tennessee's bail procedures for defendants who miss court appearances. It removes the requirement for courts to enter bench warrants into state/federal databases for misdemeanor failures involving violence or sex, or for non-violent/non-sexual felonies. The bill extends the deadline for entering felony failure-to-appear warrants from 3 to 10 business days and allows courts to optionally relieve bail bond sureties of liability if the defendant isn't listed in databases within that timeframe. These changes directly affect courts (in their database entry duties), defendants (in fugitive status), and bail bond sureties (in liability relief options).

SB 2413 protects patient privacy by clarifying that healthcare providers or organizations can share information about quality improvement committee (QIC) activities with patients or their families without losing legal confidentiality protections. It allows voluntary, open discussions after adverse healthcare incidents (like patient injuries or deaths) to focus on solutions and settlements, without admitting liability. These communications remain confidential, cannot be used in court, and must include warnings about legal rights. The bill ensures such disclosures are separate from QIC proceedings and shields providers from liability when discussions occur in good faith.

HB 2374 changes Tennessee court procedures for handling bench warrants when defendants fail to appear. It removes the requirement for courts to enter certain misdemeanor (violent/sexual) or non-violent felony bench warrants into state/federal databases, extends the time for entering felony warrants from 3 to 10 business days, and makes it optional for courts to relieve bail bond sureties of liability if warrants aren't entered within that timeframe. The bill directly affects courts, bail bond companies, and defendants who skip court appearances. These changes modify administrative processes but do not alter criminal definitions or penalties.

SB 2223 requires Tennessee local governments (such as counties or cities) to comply with court orders declaring a sanctuary policy unlawful within 120 days of the order. It amends multiple sections of Tennessee law, including deleting a reference to a 90-day compliance period in Title 7. The bill directly affects jurisdictions with sanctuary policies challenged in court, setting a clear 120-day deadline for adjustments. This provision focuses on ensuring local governments adhere to judicial rulings on immigration-related policies without altering the policy's substance.

SB 2160 allows counties with metropolitan government (like large cities) to choose whether to lower the sales tax on grocery items or exempt them entirely from local sales tax. Counties must pass a resolution and submit it to the state Department of Revenue; the reduced rate or exemption takes effect on October 1, 2026, and applies only to tax periods starting after that date. The bill also removes outdated rules about reducing metropolitan council sizes. This directly affects grocery shoppers and retailers in participating counties by potentially lowering their sales tax burden.