Tennessee Bills

HB 2571 creates a two-year provisional license for internationally trained physicians in Tennessee who pass required exams and meet specific criteria, including holding an ECFMG certificate and completing postgraduate training. The license requires employment at approved facilities like federally qualified health centers or rural clinics with onsite supervising physicians. After two years of satisfactory practice at these approved sites, physicians may qualify for a full medical license upon demonstrating competency and passing USMLE steps. This bill directly affects foreign-trained doctors seeking to practice in Tennessee while establishing clear pathways for supervised training and licensure.

HB 2532 increases the maximum number of education freedom scholarships available to eligible Tennessee students from 25,000 to 40,000 for the 2026-2027 school year. It directs the governor to elect Tennessee’s participation in a federal education tax credit program by December 2026 and comply with all future requirements to maintain that participation. The bill amends Tennessee Code to clarify scholarship eligibility for K-12 students and establishes the 40,000 cap as the new maximum limit. These changes directly affect students qualifying for the education freedom scholarship program and the state’s administrative processes for the program.

SB 2533, known as "The Isbill Act," requires Tennessee law enforcement officers and correctional personnel to undergo annual training on criteria for involuntary mental health admissions. It mandates the POST commission and Tennessee corrections institute to develop guidelines and training materials covering both emergency and nonemergency involuntary admissions to inpatient treatment. The bill directly affects all law enforcement officers and correctional staff in Tennessee, requiring them to complete this training annually. The law takes effect July 1, 2027, and amends Tennessee Code Sections 38-8-101, 41-7-101, and 33-6-401.

SB 2361 changes Tennessee's requirement for the Department of Education's Office of Early Learning to report on pre-kindergarten programs from annually to once every three years. The bill modifies reporting requirements in state code to mandate a triennial report covering the number, location, and types of pre-K providers, along with the number of at-risk children served. This directly affects the Office of Early Learning, reducing its reporting burden from yearly to every three years. The report must still be published online and sent to the governor and legislature, but the frequency of submission is the key change.

SB 2247 increases the maximum number of education freedom scholarships available to eligible K-12 students in Tennessee from 25,000 to 40,000 for the 2026-2027 school year. It also requires the governor to elect Tennessee's participation in the federal education tax credit program established by "The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act" by December 31, 2026, and to comply with all future requirements to maintain that participation. The bill directly affects students qualifying for these state-funded scholarships, which cover education expenses at participating schools. Key provisions include raising the scholarship cap and mandating state-level compliance with the federal tax credit program. These changes aim to expand access to education choice while aligning with federal program requirements.

HB 2567 changes the deadline for court clerks to forward certified copies of domestic violence conviction records to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) from seven calendar days to seven business days. This procedural adjustment affects court clerks, who must now account for weekends and holidays when meeting the deadline, and the TBI, which uses these records for its databases. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (Title 18, Section 38-6-103; Title 39; and Title 40) to implement this timeline change. The policy update streamlines administrative processing without altering the substance of domestic violence reporting requirements.

SB 2178 increases penalties for buying sex (patronizing prostitution) in specific situations. It upgrades the offense to a Class B felony if the person bought sex from a law enforcement officer posing as a minor or someone with an intellectual disability, and to a Class A felony if the person was a minor under 18. The bill also adds a minimum 7-day jail term and $1,000 fine for buying sex within 1.5 miles of a school. These changes directly affect individuals who engage in buying sex from vulnerable groups or near schools, raising penalties from misdemeanor to felony levels.

SB 2471 changes the required notice period for property owners to sell livestock (referred to as "stock" in legal terms) that trespassed on their land. The bill updates Tennessee law to require 10 business days' notice instead of 10 calendar days before a property owner may sell the trespassing livestock to recover damages from a court judgment. This affects property owners and courts handling trespass cases involving livestock, specifically amending multiple sections of Tennessee Code related to real property (Titles 11, 29, 39, 40, 44, 45, 46, 59, 66, 68, and 70). The change simplifies the timeline for property owners to address trespassing livestock while ensuring notice periods align with standard business operations.

SB 2454 amends Tennessee law to allow airport authorities (under Title 42, Chapters 3 or 4) to receive direct, permanent state appropriations for paying bond interest and principal on debt they issue. This means airport authorities can get ongoing state funds to cover their own bond payments without those debts counting as state liabilities. The bill specifically adds airport authorities to the list of entities eligible for such appropriations, alongside existing entities like housing agencies. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and clarifies that these appropriations are for debt service obligations indefinitely.

SB 2366 creates a two-year provisional license for internationally trained physicians in Tennessee who pass U.S. medical licensing exams and meet specific criteria, including proof of medical education, postgraduate training, legal presence in the U.S., and good moral character. To qualify, applicants must secure employment at approved facilities like federally qualified health centers, rural clinics, or accredited training programs, and pay a $300 fee. During the provisional period, physicians can only work at these designated employers under supervision, and after two years of satisfactory practice, they may earn full licensure by passing all U.S. medical exams. The bill requires the medical board to track data on this pathway to assess its effectiveness.

SB 2414 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to submit an annual report by February 1 to specific legislative committees. The report must detail federal public health benefits and grants received by Tennessee, particularly those related to maternal and infant health programs. This bill amends several state code sections to establish this reporting requirement. It does not change funding or program eligibility but mandates transparency about federal support for maternal and infant health initiatives. The bill is procedural and focuses solely on reporting, not policy changes.

SB 2375 requires Tennessee's Department of Education to submit an annual report to the Senate and House education committees about implementing the state's academic acceleration policy, rather than providing reports only when requested. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49 to establish this regular reporting requirement. It directly affects the Department of Education (which must prepare the report) and the education committees (which will receive it annually). This change streamlines oversight of academic acceleration programs by making reporting mandatory and predictable.