Tennessee Bills

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.

SB 1866 requires Tennessee chancery courts to appoint the Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance as receiver or conservator for defendants found to have violated the Tennessee Securities Act of 1980, upon the Commissioner's request. This directly affects defendants in securities violation cases and streamlines oversight by the Commerce Department. The bill also updates related provisions, including clarifying statutes of limitations for securities claims and modifying procedures for expunging customer dispute records from industry databases. These changes aim to strengthen enforcement and administrative processes under the department's jurisdiction.

HB 1708 requires non-English speaking applicants for Tennessee driver licenses to receive a one-year restricted license (valid only for school, work, or medical appointments) and retake the written test in English to obtain a full license. It also mandates that vehicle owners provide proof of U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or temporary legal status when registering a vehicle. The bill directly affects non-English speaking residents applying for driver licenses and all vehicle owners registering vehicles in Tennessee. These provisions aim to ensure language proficiency for full driver privileges and verify legal status for vehicle registration.

HB 1522 exempts active-duty military service members stationed outside Tennessee (not at a shared military reservation) from paying the additional registration fee for all-electric vehicles when renewing their vehicle registration. To qualify, the service member must provide official stationing orders to the county clerk at the time of renewal and have the vehicle titled in their name (alone or with a spouse/relative). The bill amends Tennessee’s vehicle registration laws (TCA §55-4-116 and §55-6-107) to create this exemption, which takes effect July 1, 2026. It directly affects military personnel stationed out-of-state who own all-electric vehicles registered in Tennessee.

HB 1932 amends Tennessee law to change the redemption period for properties sold at tax sales based on how long taxes were delinquent. If property taxes were delinquent for three years or less, owners have one year to reclaim the property after the sale. If delinquency exceeded three years, the redemption window shortens to 90 days. This change directly affects homeowners who fall behind on property taxes and face tax sales, applying to sales confirmed on or after July 1, 2026.

SB 1777, the "Caring for Caregivers Act," creates a pilot program (2026-2029) providing financial grants to Tennessee family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's or related dementia. It directly affects caregivers who provide unpaid care to eligible family members needing assistance with at least two daily living activities (like bathing or dressing), live in private homes, and have household income below state median limits. The bill allows grants covering up to $6,000 annually for specific eligible expenses: home safety modifications, necessary medical equipment, or respite care, with priority to very low-income households. Grants continue if the care recipient temporarily stays in a hospital but plans to return home.

HB 1847 requires data center owners or operators (including for new construction, expansion, or upgrades) to pay the full cost of all infrastructure needed to support the data center, including utility infrastructure like power lines, substations, and cooling systems. This includes costs for utility infrastructure upgrades necessary to serve the data center without disrupting service to existing customers. The bill also mandates that electric utilities cannot pass these infrastructure costs to residential or other commercial customers through rate increases, ensuring existing customer rates remain unchanged due to data center operations. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to contracts entered into after that date.

SB 1757 amends Tennessee election law to require county election commissions to notify individuals who file petitions for recall, referendum, or initiative if their documentation contains errors or is incomplete. This directly affects petitioners seeking to trigger these election processes by providing them with specific feedback on missing or defective paperwork. The key provision adds a new requirement to state law (TCA Title 2) that commissions must proactively inform filers of defects, rather than simply rejecting incomplete submissions. The bill creates a clearer process for petitioners to correct issues before deadlines expire, without changing voting rules or outcomes.

HB 1632 amends Tennessee's Drycleaner's Environmental Response Act to clarify program definitions and expand cleanup coverage. It adds "soil gas vapor" (including sub-slab vapor and indoor air) to the types of contamination the drycleaner environmental response fund addresses, and updates definitions for "recently abandoned" facilities, "registered facilities," and "wholesale distribution." The bill also revises registration requirements, requiring drycleaning facilities and wholesale distributors to register annually to access the fund, with non-compliance risking removal. These changes primarily affect drycleaning businesses, wholesale solvent distributors, and the state environmental agency managing the fund.