Tennessee Bills

SB 2004 changes Tennessee's emergency response law to allow government agencies that provide emergency aid to other agencies to request additional time for submitting a detailed invoice of costs. Currently, agencies must send the invoice within 60 days after emergency assistance ends, but this bill permits them to ask for more time due to unusual circumstances. It directly affects counties, cities, and state agencies that respond to emergency requests from other governmental entities. The amendment applies to relevant sections of Tennessee law governing emergency aid and reimbursement procedures.

SB 2141 modifies Tennessee's higher education financial aid system. It removes specific report deadlines for educational entities, updates eligibility criteria for the Tennessee Student Assistance Award (including defining "financial need" based on FAFSA data), and requires the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to review transfer pathways annually. The bill changes how aid is distributed - requiring payments directly to colleges first, with remaining funds going to students - and clarifies TSAC's authority to set rules. These changes affect Tennessee students applying for state aid, eligible colleges, and the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation.

HB 1899 changes Tennessee's rules for classifying homes providing care for elderly residents. It increases the maximum number of nonrelated people allowed in a "tier 1" home for the aged from three to five, and raises the minimum number required for a "tier 2" home from four to six. This means homes with four or five nonrelated residents will now be classified as tier 1 (instead of tier 2 under current rules). The bill directly affects all residential care facilities for the elderly in Tennessee that operate under these size-based classification rules.

SB 1823 shortens payment timelines for state contracts in Tennessee, requiring state departments and agencies to pay businesses within 30 days of receiving an invoice (down from 45 days). It also mandates annual reports by January 10 each year, starting in 2027, detailing the number and total amount of late payments made in the prior year, along with unpaid interest. This applies directly to all state entities contracting for property or services, including departments like transportation and education. The bill aims to improve cash flow for businesses by reducing payment delays and increasing transparency through mandatory reporting to legislative committees.

HB 1709 requires applicants for most licensed professions in Tennessee to be either a U.S. citizen or a "qualified alien" (as defined in existing law) to obtain a license, certificate, or permit. It directly affects professionals in fields covered by the amended code sections, including court reporters, lawyers, aeronautics instructors, and healthcare providers. The bill adds this citizenship or immigration status requirement to eligibility criteria across multiple licensing statutes, replacing prior language without specifying alternative qualifications. This change applies to all new applications and renewals under the affected professions, though it does not alter existing license holders' status. The bill is currently in committee review as of January 2026.

SB 1613 amends Tennessee law to allow state veterans' homes to provide services beyond skilled nursing care to honorably discharged veterans, directly affecting veterans seeking non-nursing support. The key provision (added to § 58-7-101(e)) explicitly permits homes to offer "other services for the support and care" of veterans, as authorized by existing state or federal law. This expands the range of care options available at veterans' homes without creating new services, only enabling previously authorized ones. The bill also makes minor technical updates to sections about home locations, contracts, and the purpose of veterans' homes.

HB 1922 requires sexual offenders and violent sexual offenders in Tennessee to notify a campground owner or operator in advance if they plan to stay overnight at that campground. This applies specifically to individuals required to register under state law who intend to use campground facilities. Failing to provide this notice before staying overnight would be a Class E felony offense. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 40, Chapter 39, Part 2, to establish this requirement and penalty.

SB 1983 amends Tennessee law (TCA Section 67-5-2701) to change the redemption period for properties sold due to unpaid property taxes. It sets a one-year redemption period for properties with three years or less of tax delinquency, and a 90-day period for properties with more than three years of delinquency. This directly affects property owners who miss tax payments and face tax sales, giving them different timeframes to reclaim their property after a sale. The change takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to tax sale confirmations on or after that date.

HB 1729 updates Tennessee's homeschooling testing requirements by allowing the Classic Learning Test (CLT) to be used alongside the ACT and SAT for academic assessments. It requires homeschool parents to administer either a nationally normed test (like the CLT) or public school-approved tests in grades 5, 7, and 9, with results shared with schools and the state board. The bill also establishes remediation steps if students don't meet proficiency, including consulting licensed teachers, and permits homeschoolers to take public school advanced courses or preparatory exams (like the CLT) if space is available. This directly affects Tennessee homeschooling families by expanding testing options and academic support pathways.

SB 1952 requires Tennessee local governments (such as cities or counties) to comply with court orders regarding "unlawful sanctuary policies" within 120 days of the court's ruling. It amends Tennessee Code § 7-68-104(d) by removing a reference to a 90-day compliance period, establishing the new 120-day deadline. The bill does not create new immigration policies but mandates local governments to follow court decisions on existing sanctuary-related issues. This is pending legislation and has not yet become law.

HB 1968 amends Tennessee law to add Alvogen, Inc., Apotex Corp., and Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc. to the list of companies that may be released by the attorney general from pending or future opioid-related claims. The bill updates two sections of Tennessee Code (Title 20 and Title 33) by replacing "Purdue Pharma L.P." with the new list of companies. This change directly affects the attorney general's authority to release these specific pharmaceutical manufacturers from opioid litigation. The bill does not create new claims or funding but modifies the legal criteria for releasing certain entities from existing or future lawsuits.

HB 1892 allows housing authorities, industrial development corporations, and community redevelopment agencies in Tennessee to require property owners in designated redevelopment areas to make payments securing the agencies' bonds. These payments create a recorded lien on the property that takes priority over all existing and future mortgages or liens, treated like property taxes for enforcement. The agreement must include specific details like property description and owner names when filed with the county, and the lien remains with the land even if other debts are paid.