Tennessee Bills

SB 1645 creates the "Tennessee Agricultural Innovation and Education Initiative" under the state Department of Agriculture. It requires the department to partner with private nonprofits to develop digital tools, workforce training, and marketing programs connecting Tennessee farmers, students, rural communities, and consumers. Key provisions include prioritizing benefits for state farmers and small businesses, expanding access to agricultural education and e-commerce marketplaces, and mandating annual evaluations measuring farmer participation, economic impact, and taxpayer return. The initiative focuses on modernizing agriculture through technology, workforce development, and statewide collaboration without restricting competition for state contracts.

HB 1504 establishes a "capitol hill protection zone" around Tennessee's state capitol grounds and 10 surrounding government buildings, including the legislative offices and Supreme Court building. It requires the Commissioner of Safety to ensure these areas are adequately staffed with law enforcement officers who have concurrent authority with local police to arrest, carry firearms, and investigate crimes. Officers assigned must be POST-certified, complete additional training on protest laws and crowd management, and protect state officials, employees, and the public. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

SB 1708 restricts third-party bail posting in Tennessee by prohibiting entities (other than defendants, family members, legal guardians, employers, or licensed bondsmen) from securing a defendant's release more than three times per year or for the same defendant more than once annually. The bill requires such entities to obtain prior approval for each bond they seek to post and defines "family" broadly to include third-degree relatives or household members. It directly affects community groups, nonprofits, or businesses that previously posted bail for others, limiting their ability to do so frequently. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-11-715 and 40-11-123.

HB 1668 creates a new criminal offense in Tennessee for knowingly traveling with intent to steal cash from businesses or financial institutions while following another person's path without deviating and carrying two or more "criminal instruments" (tools designed for theft, like lockpicks). It directly affects individuals who plan cash thefts by mirroring others' routes while possessing multiple theft tools. Violations start as a Class A misdemeanor, but escalate to a Class D felony if the person also violates other theft laws (Chapter 13, Part 10) or a Class B felony if they violate firearm laws (Chapter 13, Part 4). The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1550 expands Tennessee school policies to allow public and nonpublic schools to administer any prescribed form of epinephrine (not limited to auto-injectors) for students experiencing life-threatening allergic reactions. The bill requires schools to maintain epinephrine in at least two secure locations and permits school nurses or trained staff to use school-stored epinephrine when a student lacks personal medication or a prescription on file. It clarifies that physicians and school staff administering epinephrine under this policy are not liable for harm unless there was intentional disregard for safety. The law amends Tennessee Code Sections 49-50-1602(f) and 68-140-501(1) to remove the restriction to "epinephrine auto-injectors" and replace it with "epinephrine." This directly affects schools, students with allergies, and school medical personnel.

SB 1611 would allow a joint board formed by two municipalities and two counties (via an interlocal agreement) to operate an airport with the same legal authority as a regional airport authority under Tennessee law. The bill grants such boards all powers, rights, and duties of a regional airport authority, recognizing them as public entities that can file a charter with the state to formalize their corporate status. It specifies that governance details (like member terms and board composition) must be set in the interlocal agreement, not in state code. This change directly affects local governments forming such airport partnerships, streamlining their operational authority without requiring new state legislation.

SB 1595 amends Tennessee utility laws to update the process for consolidating utility systems (such as water or electricity providers) and includes utility authorities in consolidation procedures. The bill requires utility systems seeking to merge to form a formal agreement, obtain a resolution from their governing bodies, and petition a county mayor for approval after a public hearing. County mayors must approve consolidation only if it enhances public convenience, is economically sound, and serves the public interest, with approval orders specifying the new utility’s name, boundaries, and asset handling. The bill also specifies that when consolidating two or more utility districts, the new utility’s board must consist of five commissioners.

SB 1737 creates a new criminal offense in Tennessee for knowingly traveling on the same path as another person (without substantial deviation) toward a business or financial institution, while carrying two or more "criminal instruments" with intent to steal cash. It directly affects individuals who attempt coordinated thefts by following others' routes while possessing tools like lockpicks or fake IDs designed for crime. The law classifies violations as a Class A misdemeanor, escalating to a Class D felony if the person commits additional crimes like burglary, or a Class B felony if they commit armed robbery. This bill defines "criminal instruments" as items not inherently illegal but used for offenses under specific Tennessee criminal codes.

HB 1673 amends Tennessee utility laws to streamline consolidation processes for water, electric, and other utility systems. It updates petition procedures for merging utility systems (including districts) and clarifies approval criteria for county mayors, requiring them to consider public convenience, economic feasibility, and public interest. The bill mandates consolidation agreements to detail asset distribution, service boundaries, and bond protections, while changing terminology to include "utility authorities" alongside municipalities. These changes directly affect utility governing bodies, local governments, and service areas involved in utility mergers.

SB 1656, known as "Matthew Davenport's Law," prohibits the possession, manufacture, delivery, or sale of Kratom (defined broadly to include derivatives and synthetic versions), with penalties ranging from a Class A misdemeanor for simple possession to a Class B felony for selling to minors. It requires toxicology testing for Kratom in cases of suspected drug overdose deaths (via medical examiners) and in specific medical scenarios like neonatal abstinence syndrome (via treating physicians). The law also mandates adding Kratom to the state's official drug definition for workplace testing. It takes effect on July 1, 2026.

HB 1691 clarifies that joint boards formed by two municipalities and two counties under an interlocal agreement for operating an airport gain all powers, duties, and privileges of a regional airport authority under Tennessee law. This directly affects those specific joint boards, recognizing them as public entities with expanded authority to manage airports. The bill amends state code to vest these boards with the full legal standing of a regional airport authority, including the ability to file a charter with the secretary of state as a nonprofit corporation. It requires governance details (like member terms and composition) to be defined solely in the original interlocal agreement, not in the amended statute.

SB 1633 requires Tennessee courts to impose consecutive sentences for defendants convicted of two or more offenses involving more than one minor victim, unless the court finds by a preponderance of evidence that consecutive sentences aren't warranted and wouldn't harm justice. This applies to all cases with multiple minor victims, regardless of whether the offenses occurred together. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, for offenses committed on or after that date. It directly affects defendants convicted of multiple crimes against minors and sentencing courts, changing how they handle sentencing for these cases. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 40, Section 40-35-115.