Tennessee Bills

SB 2072 requires Tennessee school districts and public charter schools to submit annual spending reports by August 1 each year to the state education office and the comptroller's office. These reports must detail spending in seven key areas, including teacher salaries, student support services (like counseling), facility costs, and administrative expenses. The state will then post all submitted reports publicly on the official school report card website, including total state funding amounts for each school. This makes detailed school spending data accessible to parents and the public without changing how funds are allocated.

HB 1891 allows Tennessee drivers who pay the fine for a speeding ticket without appearing in court to enroll in an approved online driver education course. If they complete the course within 90 days of their conviction, up to five points will be removed from their driving record. Court clerks must provide online registration for these courses through their websites. This change applies specifically to speeding convictions and takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1886 requires Tennessee public schools and charter schools to adopt internet acceptable use policies that include specific safety protocols, parental communication guidelines, and restrictions on student access to harmful content like pornography, violence, or self-harm material. The bill specifically prohibits schools from allowing students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade to use school-created email addresses for sending or receiving messages, though schools may create email addresses solely for identifying students in security or grading systems. It mandates annual audits to ensure compliance with these policies and requires third-party digital resource providers to filter prohibited content and verify safety protections. These changes directly affect all Tennessee public schools, charter schools, and digital resource vendors serving pre-K-12 students.

HB 2018 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies to accept and honor federal immigration detainers by maintaining custody of individuals for 48 hours beyond their scheduled release date (excluding weekends and holidays) to allow federal authorities to take custody. It also mandates that agencies notify federal immigration officials as soon as possible before releasing someone subject to a detainer. This applies to all Tennessee law enforcement agencies and takes effect July 1, 2026. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections related to law enforcement procedures to implement these requirements.

SB 2025 creates a pilot program for criminal magistrates in Tennessee's 10 counties with the highest criminal court caseloads, as determined by the state comptroller's annual study. Participating counties must first pass a local ordinance to authorize the position, after which judges (excluding general sessions judges) appoint the magistrate to handle specific duties like initial court appearances, setting bail, accepting guilty pleas for misdemeanors and certain felonies, and issuing warrants. The magistrate serves a four-year term and can be removed by the judges, with compensation set by the judges and approved by the county legislature. This program begins January 1, 2027, and is limited to counties that choose to participate.

SB 1939 amends Tennessee law to allow the TennCare division to submit its annual coverage assessment report to the Senate and House finance and health committees more often than quarterly. The bill directly affects the TennCare division (which manages Tennessee's Medicaid program) and the legislative committees overseeing health and budget matters. Its key provision inserts language permitting the division to submit the report on a more frequent basis, rather than requiring the current quarterly schedule. This change streamlines reporting without altering the content or purpose of the assessment.

SB 2114 allows drivers who pay the fine for a speeding ticket (instead of appearing in court) to register for an approved online driver education course. Successful completion of the course within 90 days of conviction removes up to five points from the driver's record for the speeding offense. Court clerks must make this registration available online via their websites. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.

HB 1956 expands protections for cancer patients by removing restrictions on when health insurance plans must cover approved cancer treatments without requiring "step therapy." The bill changes Tennessee law to prohibit health benefit plans from forcing patients to try less expensive treatments first for *any* cancer diagnosis (previously limited to stage 4 advanced metastatic or blood cancers). This directly affects all health insurance plans covering cancer treatment and enrollees diagnosed with cancer, ensuring coverage for approved drugs without prior step therapy requirements. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, for new or renewed policies.

SB 2081 expands a Tennessee law that prohibits health insurance plans from requiring step therapy (trying less expensive treatments first) before covering approved cancer drugs. It removes the current restriction that only applied to "stage 4 advanced metastatic cancer or metastatic blood cancer," instead applying the prohibition to **all cancer diagnoses**. This means cancer patients in Tennessee with insurance plans covering cancer treatment cannot be forced through step therapy protocols before accessing approved drugs. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, for new or renewed insurance policies.

SB 1486 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies to accept and honor federal immigration detainers by holding individuals for 48 hours beyond their scheduled release time (excluding weekends and holidays) to allow federal authorities to take custody. Agencies must also notify federal immigration officials as soon as possible before releasing someone subject to a detainer. This law applies to all Tennessee law enforcement agencies and directly affects individuals detained under federal immigration requests. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and amends Tennessee statutes related to law enforcement and immigration cooperation.

HB 2268 amends Tennessee law to allow state employee child care programs to operate in office buildings leased by the state, not just those owned by the state. This change directly affects state employees who rely on on-site or nearby child care options while working at state agencies. The key provision modifies Section 8-50-1301(b) of Tennessee Code by replacing "state-owned office buildings" with "state-owned or leased office buildings," expanding where such programs can be located. The bill does not alter funding or eligibility but simplifies access to child care facilities within state workplaces.

SB 1612 amends Tennessee law to allow state agencies to operate child care programs for state employees in leased office buildings, not just state-owned ones. This change directly affects state agencies that lease office space and their employees who rely on workplace child care. The bill updates existing code (Title 8) by replacing "state-owned office buildings" with "state-owned or leased office buildings" to expand where such programs can be located. It does not create new funding or services but adjusts eligibility for existing child care program locations. The amendment takes effect upon becoming law.