Tennessee Bills

SB 1760 allows housing authorities, industrial development corporations, and community redevelopment agencies to require property owners in designated redevelopment areas to make payments securing the agencies' bonds. These agreements must be recorded as a lien on the property, which takes priority over all existing and future mortgages or liens. The lien is treated like a property tax lien and runs with the land, meaning it stays attached to the property even if ownership changes. Property owners in redevelopment zones would be directly affected by these payment obligations and the lien's priority status.

SB 2088 requires law enforcement officers with probable cause to believe someone committed a mass shooting (defined as injuring four or more people or attempting to kill four or more people) to arrange for a blood or urine test at a hospital. The test checks for psychotropic drugs, including therapeutic levels, and must be administered by a qualified healthcare provider. Hospitals must send test results and samples to the health science center, which will study drug interactions and report findings quarterly to lawmakers. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to mass shootings occurring on or after that date. It directly affects officers, hospitals, and the health science center, with no liability for practitioners acting in good faith.

HB 1787 (Criminal Offenses) increases penalties for patronizing prostitution when the victim is in specific vulnerable categories. It raises the offense to a Class B felony if the victim is a law enforcement officer posing as a minor or a person with an intellectual disability, and to a Class A felony if the victim is under 18. The bill also mandates at least 7 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for patronizing prostitution within 1.5 miles of a school. These changes apply to cases currently treated as trafficking for commercial sex acts under Tennessee law. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1980 amends Tennessee's bail law to allow courts to temporarily revoke a defendant's bond and hold them without bail for up to 10 days if they violate release conditions, commit a new crime while out, or obstruct court proceedings. This temporary hold requires a written court order and a hearing within the 10-day period. If violations are confirmed at the hearing, the court may permanently revoke bail, requiring the defendant to remain in custody until trial. The bill directly affects defendants released on bail who breach their conditions, changing existing procedures for managing such cases.

SB 1944 allows Tennessee local governments (like city councils or county commissions) to hold community meetings with some participants joining virtually via video or audio. It requires these meetings to provide real-time public access to view/listen, publish clear notice about virtual participation, post recordings online within four business days, and maintain recordings for three years. The bill specifically prohibits voting during meetings where members participate electronically, ensuring in-person voting remains the standard for decisions. This directly affects how local bodies conduct public meetings, balancing virtual access with transparency requirements.

HB 1634 allows Tennessee's commissioner of general services to appoint directors and staff at law enforcement training academies as law enforcement officers (subject to standard requirements). It also permits the Department of General Services to operate sales facilities at these academies, selling educational supplies, equipment, and promotional items to fund academy operations. All fees collected must go directly into a special fund for the academy's administration, maintenance, and improvements. This bill affects academy staff who may gain officer status and the academies themselves, which gain a new revenue source for their funding needs.

HB 1816, "The Isbill Act," requires Tennessee law enforcement officers and correctional staff to undergo annual training on the criteria for involuntary hospitalization for mental health treatment. Specifically, it mandates the POST Commission and Tennessee Corrections Institute to create and adopt guidelines explaining when emergency and non-emergency involuntary admissions to inpatient care are appropriate. These guidelines will directly affect all law enforcement officers and correctional personnel in the state. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 33, 38, and 41 to implement these training requirements, effective July 1, 2027.

SB 1960 requires Tennessee public schools and charter schools to designate one instructional day each school year for K-12 students to learn about the U.S. founding. It mandates age-appropriate lessons on the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, American independence, and core freedoms, with specific grade-level objectives (e.g., identifying symbols for K-5, analyzing founding documents for grades 9-12). Schools must ensure the instruction is nonpartisan, aligned with state academic standards, and focused solely on historical facts and civic principles. The law applies starting the 2026-2027 school year and affects all local education agencies and public charter schools in Tennessee.

SB 2030 requires sexual offenders and violent sexual offenders to notify campground owners or operators in advance if they plan to stay overnight at a campground. This applies directly to individuals subject to Tennessee's sex offender registration requirements. The bill makes it a Class E felony to stay overnight without providing this notice, punishable under existing legal penalties. The law amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 40, Chapter 39, Part 2, and takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 1804 requires Tennessee's Department of Correction to notify the police chief of an inmate's city of residence (if the city has a police chief) and the county's chief law enforcement officer whenever an inmate is granted a furlough. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40 and Title 41, to add this notification requirement without changing furlough eligibility or conditions. The law directly affects the Department of Correction (which must send notifications) and local law enforcement agencies (which receive them). The change applies to all furloughs and aims to improve communication between state corrections and local police.

SB 2106 expands protections for students by adding "former students" to the definition of individuals with whom educators cannot engage in sexually related behavior, covering those who graduated or withdrew from school within the past year. It requires educators to report violations to the state board of education, which could lead to license discipline. The bill also removes the option to discipline educators for breaking employment contracts without a valid reason. These changes directly affect teachers, principals, and school staff in Tennessee whose conduct could violate these provisions. The bill is pending legislative approval and would take effect July 1, 2026.

SB 1822 requires Tennessee Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to permit high school students enrolled in private schools with fewer than 200 students - located within the LEA’s boundaries - to participate in interscholastic athletics at their zoned public high school. This applies only if the student resides within the LEA, meets the athletic organization’s eligibility rules, and the public school is part of a governing athletic association. The bill does not guarantee team selection or override existing eligibility rules set by athletic associations. It takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year, directly affecting small private school students in Tennessee LEAs.