Tennessee Bills

SB 1208 would require Tennessee's Commissioner of Health to submit an annual report (instead of every other year) by November 1 to the governor, legislative leaders, and health committees. The report must detail the impact of current opioid treatment restrictions on patient care, based on input from healthcare licensing boards. This change amends multiple health-related sections of Tennessee law (Titles 8, 33, 53, 56, 63, 68, and 71). The bill failed in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee in March 2025.

SB 1228 would require Tennessee county election commissions to publish early voting office hours 30 days before an election, instead of the current 25 days. This change directly affects local election offices by extending the notice period for voters. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 2, Section 2-6-103(c), to update this deadline. The bill failed in the Senate State and Local Government Committee on March 25, 2025, and did not advance further.

HB 337 requires county and city attorneys to advise elected officials, their deputies, and employees on applying relevant federal and state laws to their official duties. This new requirement applies to all county and city attorneys across Tennessee. The bill amends Tennessee Code (Titles 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, and 13) to add this specific advisory duty to attorneys' responsibilities. It directly affects local government attorneys and the officials they serve by expanding their role in ensuring legal compliance for daily operations.

HB 9 revises Tennessee's K-12 school funding formula (TISA) to adjust weighted student allocations based on school district size and add a direct infrastructure grant. It changes funding percentages for districts of different sizes (e.g., districts with 1,000-1,999 students now receive 4% instead of previous rates) and establishes a $50 direct allocation per student for school maintenance and infrastructure. This affects all Tennessee public school districts (LEAs) and their students, applying to the 2025-2026 school year and beyond. The bill does not change overall funding levels but redistributes existing resources based on district size and adds the per-student infrastructure grant.

HB 84 lowers the minimum age requirement for obtaining an initial school bus driver endorsement in Tennessee from 25 to 21 years old. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated sections 55-50-302(d) and 55-50-302 to change the age requirement and removes an existing subsection. This directly affects individuals seeking to become school bus drivers who are currently 21-24 years old. The policy change takes effect on July 1, 2025. The bill does not alter other licensing requirements or safety standards for school bus drivers.

HB 170 removes outdated language from Tennessee's tax code regarding a one-time sales tax holiday that occurred in August 2020. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 67-6-393 by deleting obsolete subsection (f), which referenced this expired event. This is a procedural update to clean up the legal text and eliminate unnecessary references to a past policy. The change directly affects the state's sales tax code but does not alter current tax rates, exemptions, or policies. The bill has no impact on taxpayers or current tax obligations.

SB 492 requires Tennessee safety inspectors to issue out-of-service orders for commercial drivers who cannot read or speak English sufficiently to understand traffic signs, communicate with officials, or complete required reports, as mandated by federal rules. Employers face a $500 fine per violation (classified as a Class C misdemeanor) and may also incur civil penalties under federal regulations. Drivers must pass a state-developed English proficiency test to reinstate their license, with exemptions for those holding a hearing exemption but capable of reading and writing English. This bill directly affects commercial drivers and their employers in Tennessee, aligning state enforcement with federal language standards for commercial driver licenses.

SB 1042 lowers the minimum age requirement for obtaining an initial school bus driver endorsement in Tennessee from 25 to 21 years old. This change directly affects individuals aged 21 to 24 who wish to drive school buses, making it possible for them to qualify without waiting until age 25. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 5-8-102 to replace the age requirement and removes an existing subsection (55-50-302(e)) related to the endorsement process. The law would take effect on July 1, 2025, if passed.

HB 588 creates a new Class E felony for altering, covering, defacing, destroying, or removing a firearm's permanent serial number or other distinguishing mark, or for selling, buying, or possessing such a modified firearm. It directly affects individuals who tamper with firearm identification or handle altered guns. The bill imposes a mandatory 180-day prison sentence for violations, with no eligibility for early release. If passed, the law would take effect on July 1, 2025, and amend Tennessee’s criminal code sections related to firearms and offenses.

HB 840 would increase the monthly home office allowance for Tennessee General Assembly members from $1,250 to $2,250. The bill amends Tennessee Code to adjust this allowance amount, effective November 3, 2026. This change directly affects current and future state legislators who receive this allowance as part of their compensation. The bill does not alter other benefits or create new legislative requirements.

HB 925 would allow Tennessee General Assembly members to receive travel expense and mileage reimbursement for arriving on Saturdays or Sundays during legislative sessions to attend or prepare for session meetings. It amends state code to explicitly permit these reimbursements for weekend travel directly related to session business. The bill failed in committee on March 19, 2025, and was not enacted. This procedural change affects only state legislators' travel reimbursement during sessions.

HB 926 requires Tennessee's Senate and House speakers to set equal numbers of approved legislative conferences or conference days for state senators and representatives to receive expense and mileage allowances. It directly affects all members of the Tennessee General Assembly who attend meetings related to state business, such as symposiums or workshops. The bill defines "conference" broadly to include any official meeting concerning state duties and mandates that both chambers must have identical approval counts for these events. The law would take effect on November 3, 2026, standardizing how travel costs are covered for legislative meetings.