Tennessee Bills

HB 2157 changes the timeframe for notifying retired law enforcement officers about denied firearm permit applications. Specifically, it extends the notice period from 10 calendar days to 10 business days, requiring the state POST commission to provide this notification within the new window. The bill directly affects retired officers who apply for firearm carry permits and are denied. This is a procedural adjustment to the existing notification process, with no new requirements or substantive policy changes. (Bill text: Amends TCA §38-8-123(d)(2) to replace "ten (10) days" with "ten (10) business days.")

SB 2191 allows Tennessee counties, cities, or metropolitan governments (political subdivisions) to require developers to pay for offsite public infrastructure improvements - such as roads, utilities, stormwater systems, or sidewalks - needed to support future development beyond the developer's property boundary. The bill mandates that cost-sharing agreements must be based on the development's proportional impact on infrastructure, with local governments having 60 days to approve or deny requests. If disagreements arise, developers can seek resolution through the Tennessee Board of Utility Regulation. This directly affects developers seeking approval for new projects and local governments managing infrastructure funding.

HB 2386 allows Tennessee counties, municipalities, or metropolitan governments to require developers to pay for necessary offsite public infrastructure (such as roads, utilities, or stormwater systems) that serve future development beyond the project site. The bill establishes that costs must be based on the development’s proportional impact on infrastructure, with local governments having 60 days to approve agreements. If disagreements arise, the Tennessee Board of Utility Regulation can determine the cost-sharing amount. This directly affects developers planning new construction projects and local governments managing infrastructure planning.

SB 2405 changes Tennessee's law to extend the time the POST Commission must notify retired law enforcement officers of a denied firearm permit application, from 10 calendar days to 10 business days. This directly affects retired officers whose permit applications are denied by the POST Commission. The key provision adjusts the timeline for official notification, replacing calendar days with business days to account for weekends and holidays. This change provides retired officers with a more practical timeframe to address denial decisions.

SB 2669 increases the personal and professional leave accumulation rate for Tennessee teachers, principals, and school personnel from one day per half-year to two days per half-year. It directly affects all public school staff covered under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49, Section 49-5-711(a). The bill amends the leave calculation method in state law, requiring local school boards to allow two days of leave for each half-year of employment (previously one day). The change will take effect July 1, 2026, and also updates Section 49-5-205(a) to align with the new four-day annual leave standard.

HB 2369 increases the monthly supervision fee for defendants under court supervision from $10 to $15. It also requires municipalities to pay autopsy costs requested by local law enforcement, unless the state covers them. Additionally, the bill reclassifies illegal possession of communication devices in prisons as a Class E felony (previously a fine-only offense). These changes directly affect defendants paying fees, municipalities managing autopsy costs, and inmates facing new felony charges for prison device violations. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 2388 changes three key aspects of Tennessee's criminal justice system. It raises the monthly fee defendants must pay toward supervision costs from $10 to $15 (affecting individuals under community supervision). It also changes penalties for illegally possessing a telecommunication device in prison, making it a full Class E felony (not limited to fines). Finally, it requires municipalities to cover autopsy costs requested by local law enforcement, unless the state pays instead (directly affecting local government budgets). These changes take effect July 1, 2026.

SB 2442 extends the deadline for Tennessee municipalities to hold public hearings on petitions for central business improvement districts, changing the timeframe from 45 to 60 days. This affects local governments that receive valid petitions to establish these districts, which fund area-specific services like cleaning or marketing. The bill amends Tennessee Code Section 7-84-513 to implement this change, with no other policy provisions.

HB 2366 prevents Tennessee local governments (cities, towns, or counties) from blocking access to designated tourism development zones, except during emergencies or for large events with approved contracts. The bill ensures businesses within these zones can receive deliveries and visitors can freely enter and exit. It specifically prohibits local authorities from disrupting traffic flow, blocking streets, or restricting taxis/public transit access within these zones. The law applies to all tourism zones created through local ordinances.

HB 2246 regulates stem cell therapies in Tennessee by requiring physicians performing such treatments (for orthopedics, wound care, or pain management) to source stem cells only from facilities registered with the FDA and accredited by specific organizations like the National Marrow Donor Program. The bill mandates that facilities provide detailed accreditation documentation to physicians and include a post-thaw viability report for each cell batch. Physicians must also disclose in all advertisements that the therapy is not FDA-approved and encourage patients to consult their primary care provider. The law explicitly excludes stem cell therapies derived from fetal or embryonic sources.

SB 2157 prohibits local governments in Tennessee from blocking access to or within designated tourism development zones, except during emergencies for first responder access or for contracted large events. It directly affects cities, counties, and tourism zones by requiring unimpeded vehicle and pedestrian access, preventing disruptions to business deliveries (including food and goods), and allowing ride-sharing services to operate normally. The law amends Tennessee statutes to ensure tourism businesses can function without local government interference, with exceptions only for verified emergencies or events under formal agreements. This bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

HB 2251 creates a pilot program for criminal magistrates in Tennessee's 10 counties with the highest criminal court caseloads, as identified by the comptroller's annual study. Counties must pass an ordinance to establish the position, after which local judges appoint magistrates to handle specific duties like arraignments, initial hearings, bond setting, plea acceptances for minor offenses, and warrant issuance. Magistrates serve four-year terms at the judges' pleasure and are compensated from county funds, with removal possible by majority vote of the judges. This bill directly affects criminal court operations in those 10 counties by adding a new role to manage caseloads, without altering the structure of county courts.