Tennessee Bills

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.

HB 2380 requires Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts to study whether current limits on compensation for pain, suffering, and severe injuries (like medical malpractice cases) should be increased. The office must submit a report with recommendations to the chairs of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House committee overseeing civil matters by January 1, 2027. This bill does not change existing law but directs a formal review of the current damage caps. It affects the courts' process for evaluating compensation rules but does not directly impact residents or businesses until a potential policy change occurs. The bill is currently pending review by the Health Committee's Population Health Subcommittee.

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.

HB 2278 requires the Tennessee Department of Health to submit an annual report by February 1 to the chairs of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and the relevant House committee. The report must detail federal benefits and grants received under a specific congressional act focused on maternal and infant health protection and public health program cooperation. This bill amends Tennessee Code sections related to public health (Titles 9, 49, 53, 55, and 68) to establish this reporting requirement, effective July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects the Department of Health (as the reporting entity) and legislative committees (as recipients of the information), with no substantive policy changes to public health programs.

SB 2412 (Tennessee) requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to study whether the current cap on compensation for noneconomic damages (like pain and suffering) in civil injury cases should be raised. The office must submit a report with recommendations to Senate and House judiciary committee chairs by January 1, 2027. This bill does not change existing law but directs a formal review of the damage limit. It affects civil litigation involving personal injury claims where current caps apply, but the bill itself only mandates research - not policy change.

HB 2129 modifies Tennessee's reporting requirements for pre-kindergarten programs by changing the frequency from annual to triennial (every three years). The bill directs the Department of Education's Office of Early Learning to submit a detailed report to the governor and legislature every three years, including data on provider locations, program types, and the number of at-risk children served. The report must also be published on the department's website. This change directly affects the Department of Education's Office of Early Learning, altering its administrative reporting obligations.

HB 2276 requires Tennessee's Department of Education to submit an annual report on academic acceleration policy implementation directly to the Senate Education Committee and the relevant House committee, replacing the previous system where reports were sent only upon request. The bill specifically amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49, Section 49-6-1012(g), to establish this fixed annual reporting requirement. This change directly affects the Department of Education, which must now proactively provide these reports each year. The policy shift simplifies the reporting process by eliminating the need for committees to request reports individually. The bill does not alter academic acceleration policies themselves, only the timing and method of reporting on their implementation.