Tennessee Bills

SB 1726 amends Tennessee law to extend the deadline for court clerks to forward certified copies of domestic violence convictions to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) from seven calendar days to seven business days. This change, specified in Section 40-39-402(d)(2) of the Tennessee Code Annotated, excludes weekends and holidays from the timeline. It directly affects court clerks who process these documents and the TBI, which uses the information for tracking domestic violence cases. The amendment provides a more practical deadline for clerks while maintaining timely reporting requirements.

HB 1857 requires all Tennessee public schools and charter schools to designate one instructional day each school year for K-12 students to learn about the founding of the United States. The bill mandates age-appropriate lessons on the Fourth of July, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and American civic principles - such as basic freedoms for younger grades, historical context for middle school, and analysis of founding documents for high school. Schools must ensure this teaching is nonpartisan, aligned with state academic standards, and focuses solely on historical facts and civic principles. The requirement would begin for the 2026-2027 school year.

SB 2128 requires data center owners or operators to pay the full cost of all infrastructure (including roads, utility upgrades, and cooling systems) needed to support their facilities, such as new power lines or expanded water systems. It mandates that electric utilities ensure data centers cover the entire cost of infrastructure and electricity services, preventing rate increases for residential or other commercial customers due to data center demand. The bill allows utilities to create new billing categories for data centers if needed and establishes a complaint process for customers who believe utilities are violating these requirements. This policy directly affects data center developers, utilities, and non-data center customers by shifting infrastructure costs to the data center industry.

HB 1753 amends Tennessee law to allow governments providing emergency aid to request extra time to submit detailed cost invoices to the requesting government. Currently, responding agencies must submit itemized bills within 60 days after emergency assistance ends; this bill adds a provision for requesting additional time due to "extenuating circumstances." It directly affects local governments, counties, or agencies that assist other jurisdictions during emergencies like natural disasters. The change modifies Tennessee Code Annotated § 58-8-111(g) to clarify this extension process without altering emergency response procedures. This is a procedural adjustment focused on billing timelines, not policy substance.

HB 1914 amends Tennessee law to allow state veterans' homes to provide services beyond skilled nursing care to honorably discharged veterans, as permitted by state or federal law. This directly affects veterans who may need non-skilled care services, such as community support or transitional housing, at state facilities. The bill updates Section 58-7-101(e) to explicitly authorize these additional services while maintaining existing skilled nursing offerings. It also makes minor administrative updates to related sections regarding facility operations and contracts. The changes aim to expand care options for veterans without altering eligibility or funding mechanisms.

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 1707 requires local governments in Tennessee to comply with court orders declaring their sanctuary policies unlawful within 120 days. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee Code (Titles 4, 7, 8, 16, 17, and 38) to establish this 120-day deadline for adjusting policies. It directly affects cities and counties that have implemented sanctuary policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The key provision sets a clear, fixed timeline for local entities to align with court rulings on such policies.