Tennessee Bills

SB 401 ensures minors enrolled in Tennessee's TennCare Medicaid or CoverKids program remain eligible until age 18, starting July 1, 2026, without requiring rechecks of their eligibility. The bill prohibits the TennCare division from removing minors from coverage except in specific cases like parental request, death, moving out of state, income exceeding limits, or enrollment fraud. The TennCare director must submit a federal waiver request by December 31, 2025, to implement this change. This directly affects minors under 18 currently covered by these programs, guaranteeing continuous healthcare access through age 18.

HB 1072 prohibits Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation from classifying prior converted cropland as wetlands if federal law already exempts that land from wetland classification. This directly affects agricultural landowners who have converted wetlands to cropland, preventing potential state regulatory burdens on land already federally exempt. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 11, Chapter 14, Part 4 and Title 69 to require state agencies to follow federal exemptions. The key provision ensures state wetland rules align with federal policy for these properties.

HB 744 prohibits organizations or entities receiving Tennessee state financial assistance for programs or activities from denying benefits, excluding participants, or discriminating against eligible individuals based on race, color, religion, or national origin. This applies directly to state-funded programs, such as those providing services or support through state grants. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, to establish this non-discrimination requirement as a condition for receiving state funds. It creates a clear policy change requiring state-funded programs to operate without bias against protected characteristics.

SB 2340 would amend Tennessee law to extend the time employers have to respond to workplace safety citations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Specifically, it increases the deadline for filing objections to a citation from 20 to 25 days after receipt, and extends the period before a citation becomes a final order from 20 to 25 days. These changes would directly affect businesses receiving safety violation notices from the state's occupational safety agency. The bill aims to provide more time for employers to address safety concerns before penalties become final.

SB 2127 would have created a new Class E felony offense for intentionally threatening a public official or their immediate family member (including spouses, parents, siblings, or children) due to the official’s role. The bill required that the threat be perceived as harmful by a reasonable person and made because of the official’s position. It defined "immediate family" broadly to include stepparents, stepchildren, and adoptive relationships. The bill was introduced in the Tennessee Senate in early 2026 but was withdrawn before passing.

SB 1609 requires Tennessee's Department of Agriculture to submit an annual report by December 31 each year detailing its enforcement of youth access restrictions for tobacco, smoking hemp, and vapor products. The report must cover specific enforcement efforts under the Prevention of Youth Access Act and be shared with the state legislature and the public. This amendment to Tennessee Code (Sections 39-17-1509, 47-25, and 57-7) establishes a fixed deadline for these reports. The bill was introduced in 2026 but withdrawn before passage.

SB 1892 changes Tennessee's subdivision approval process by requiring local planning commissions (or authorized agencies) to approve subdivision plans *before* the state Department of Environment and Conservation can review them. This directly affects developers, local governments, and the state department by shifting the initial approval step to local entities. Key provisions include mandating local approval before state submission and requiring the department to update its website for uploading local approval documentation. The bill applies to all subdivision permits approved by local commissions after July 1, 2026, and amends several state code sections related to permits.

SB 1894 would have required Tennessee public schools and charter schools to install continuous video monitoring in special education classrooms during instruction, but only with written parental consent for each student. The bill mandated that footage could only be viewed by parents or under privacy laws like FERPA, and schools would need to create policies for retaining recordings. It specifically applied to classrooms where special education services are provided to a majority of students for at least 50% of the instructional day. However, this bill was withdrawn from consideration in February 2026 and never became law.

HB 1393 requires Tennessee's governor to apply for a federal waiver within 180 days of the bill's effective date to expand TennCare coverage to low-income residents earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level. This would directly affect Tennesseans currently ineligible for Medicaid under existing income limits, potentially providing medical assistance to thousands. The bill amends state law to mandate this waiver application process, with coverage taking effect immediately upon federal approval. The legislation focuses on procedural changes to access federal Medicaid funding, not on altering current eligibility rules.

SB 43 allows Tennessee counties to ban handgun carry without permits within their borders by passing a resolution. If a county adopts such a resolution, it must post clear notices in public areas to inform residents and visitors. The bill directly affects county governments (which can choose to implement the ban) and people within those counties (who would then need a permit to carry handguns). It modifies existing law to remove the exception for permitless carry in counties that pass such resolutions, while requiring notice posting as a key mechanism. The policy change would give counties local control over handgun carry rules within their boundaries.

HB 2293 requires Shelby County (population over 900,000 per 2020 census) to establish a county ethics commission by January 1, 2027. The commission would consist of six members: two appointed by the county mayor and four by the county legislative body, with equal party representation. It would handle public complaints about county officials' conduct, investigate ethical violations, provide guidance, and issue advisory opinions. The bill was withdrawn on February 2, 2026, and is not currently active law.

HB 2042 would authorize Tennessee public school districts and charter schools to create programs that reward individuals for reporting illegal guns on school property. The bill permits these programs to be funded using private donations rather than public funds and requires them to be designed to fit each school's specific community needs. It does not mandate that schools adopt such programs but provides a legal framework for those that choose to implement them, ensuring compliance with existing state law. The bill was introduced in 2026 but later withdrawn.