Tennessee Bills

This bill creates a new law enforcement investigatory privilege in Tennessee that protects information gathered during open criminal investigations and prosecutions from being subpoenaed in civil or criminal cases. The privilege applies to information covered under Rule 16 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure and remains in effect until an investigation is closed by the district attorney general, a defendant is acquitted, or a conviction becomes final. Law enforcement officials can still issue subpoenas for their own investigative purposes, but the district attorney general may file motions to stop or change subpoenas that seek protected information. The legislation clarifies that this privilege does not override a criminal defendant's constitutional rights or change existing procedures for law enforcement subpoenas.

HB 1296 adjusts retirement benefits for Tennessee pension recipients by linking increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) when state tax revenue exceeds budgeted amounts. If CPI rises by at least 0.5% in a fiscal year, beneficiaries receive a cost-of-living adjustment equal to that percentage (rounded up to 1% if between 0.5% and 1%), replacing the current 3% cap. The bill requires the state commissioner to verify tax revenue overcollections by November 1 each year and report to the pension board, which then implements the increase starting July 1. It does not apply to certain public employers unless they formally adopt the cost, and retroactive payments are prohibited.

HB 365 prohibits Tennessee municipalities (or their agencies) from changing tax obligations, fees, or costs for real property owners whose land lies outside city limits without prior approval from the county legislative body where the property is located. It also requires joint economic development boards to proportionally represent the population of all jurisdictions they serve by July 1, 2029, with specific transition rules to achieve this. The bill amends Tennessee law to ensure county oversight of municipal actions affecting out-of-boundary property owners and mandates equitable board membership based on population. Key mechanisms include requiring county approval for tax-related municipal actions and establishing a phased approach for board representation adjustments. This directly affects rural property owners, municipalities, and county governments in Tennessee.

HB 1011 requires online payment systems (like Venmo or PayPal, but excluding banks and credit unions) to provide users with written notice before freezing their funds. It mandates that notice be given to both the sender and recipient of a transaction, with exceptions for suspected financial exploitation or fraud. Violating this rule would be treated as an unfair or deceptive practice under Tennessee's Consumer Protection Act. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to new or renewed agreements after that date.

SB 803 would expand the Tennessee Promise scholarship program to include students attending career schools in Tennessee accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS), but only if they cannot enroll in a Tennessee college of applied technology (TCAT) in their county for their desired program. The bill requires the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) to verify no available TCAT enrollment spots before the scholarship can be applied to such career schools. This change would apply to scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year and beyond, amending Tennessee Code to reflect the new eligibility criteria. The policy directly affects students seeking tuition assistance at NACCAS-accredited career schools who lack TCAT options in their local area.

SB 1044, a proposed Tennessee bill, would require parents or guardians enrolling students in public schools or charter schools to submit one of four specific documents (like a U.S. birth certificate, voter ID, passport, or military ID) unless they pay an amount equal to the per-pupil state and local funding for the school district. The bill directly affects families enrolling children in Tennessee public schools, particularly those of non-Tennessee residents or foreign nationals, as it aims to ensure they cover the full cost of education. Key provisions include listing acceptable documents, allowing payment as an alternative, and requiring schools to track document submissions without retaining copies. The bill failed in committee in March 2025 and did not become law.

HB 1290, known as the "Hollyssee Act," directs Tennessee's Department of Economic and Community Development to establish a world-class megasite for arts, entertainment, and media. The bill requires the department to identify a location, develop a master plan with community input, build facilities like film soundstages and performance venues, and create workforce training programs in partnership with schools. It also mandates offering tax incentives to businesses, providing grants for projects, and creating a governing authority (the Tennessee Arts, Entertainment, and Media Megasite Authority) to oversee the site. The legislation requests $250 million in state funding for initial development, primarily affecting the state agency, local communities, and the arts/entertainment industry.

This bill would require Tennessee public water systems to test fluoride levels monthly if they exceed 0.4 milligrams per liter (down from 1.5 mg/L), instead of quarterly. It mandates that all systems stop adding fluoride to drinking water by May 1, 2025, and provide customers with 30 days' written notice before discontinuing fluoridation. Systems must resume quarterly testing once three consecutive monthly results fall below 0.4 mg/L. The bill exempts naturally occurring fluoride that doesn't exceed federal limits.

HB 217 designates an international airport operated by a designated metropolitan airport authority (in a county with over 500,000 residents) as "Trump International Airport." The bill requires the authority to update all trademarks, contracts, bylaws, and official documents to reflect this name, including amending USPTO registrations or filing new applications. This procedural bill directly affects the airport authority and its operations, with no substantive policy changes beyond the name designation. The bill failed in committee on March 18, 2025.

HB 10, the "Tennessee Illegal Immigration Act," requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies to either detain undocumented immigrants for the maximum period specified in a federal immigration detainer request or transport them to a sanctuary city of their choice within 700 miles if no detainer is received. Agencies must report detention and transportation costs monthly to the state revenue department, which will then seek federal reimbursement. If federal reimbursement isn’t received within 30 days, the state may withhold a portion of federal motor fuel taxes collected in Tennessee to cover these costs. The bill directly affects local law enforcement agencies and undocumented immigrants in custody, with key provisions focused on detainer procedures, transportation requirements, and tax-based reimbursement mechanisms.

HB 14 clarifies that Tennessee's definition of "abortion" does not include contraceptive use (such as birth control devices, medications, or procedures intended to prevent pregnancy) or the disposal of unimplanted embryos from fertility treatments (including related healthcare services and medications). The bill directly affects healthcare providers, patients, and fertility clinics by explicitly excluding these common medical practices from criminal abortion statutes. It amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-15-213 and related provisions to define these exclusions. The bill failed in the Health Committee's Population Health Subcommittee on March 18, 2025, and did not advance to the full legislature.

HB 556 would require all written driver license examinations in Tennessee to be administered in English only, prohibiting applicants from using translation dictionaries, electronic devices, or interpreters during the test. This directly affects non-English speaking applicants seeking driver licenses. The bill, which failed committee review in March 2025, would have taken effect July 1, 2025, if enacted. It amends Tennessee law to mandate English-only testing for all applicants.