Tennessee Bills

HB 945 requires Tennessee's health commissioner to submit a report to specific legislative committees by July 1, 2025, detailing current standards and policies for assisted reproductive technology (ART) in the state. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections (Titles 4, 29, 36, 63, and 68) to establish this reporting requirement. It does not change existing ART regulations but mandates a formal update to lawmakers on current practices. This procedural bill directly affects the health commissioner's duties and provides legislative committees with information about ART policies.

HB 1217 would repeal Tennessee's criminal abortion laws and establish a fundamental right to abortion before fetal viability (when a fetus can survive outside the womb) or when necessary to protect the pregnant person's life or health. The bill directly affects pregnant individuals in Tennessee by removing criminal penalties for abortions meeting these criteria and defining "reproductive health care" to include abortion services. Key provisions include banning state interference with these rights, defining "viability" based on a physician's medical judgment, and clarifying that a fetus has no legal rights under Tennessee law. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 39, 63, and 68 to implement these changes.

HB 1220, the "Tennessee Contraceptive Freedom Act," establishes a fundamental right for all individuals to make decisions about their reproductive health, including access to contraceptives and related information. It requires healthcare providers to either provide contraceptive services or refer patients to someone who can, and prohibits restrictions that single out contraceptive care or impede access. The bill defines "contraception" broadly (including emergency contraception and sterilization) and clarifies it is distinct from abortion. It applies directly to patients, healthcare providers, health insurance carriers, and public health agencies across Tennessee. The bill is currently pending, having failed in the Health Committee's Population Health Subcommittee on March 18, 2025.

SB 592 amends Tennessee law to simplify landlord registration for properties with five or more dwelling units. It allows landlords to submit one registration form for the entire property instead of separate forms for each unit, provided all required information is identical across units. Local governments may require residential landlords to register with specified fees (capped at existing limits), but are not required to adopt such rules by June 2025. The bill directly affects multi-unit landlords and local governments deciding on registration policies. It takes effect July 1, 2025, if passed.

HB 416 (Tennessee) would require all school board members in local education agencies to be elected at the same election starting in 2028, replacing the current system of staggered elections. This change would apply to every public school district in Tennessee, directly affecting school board members and voters in those districts. The bill also specifies that members elected in the first election occurring on or after January 1, 2026, would serve two-year terms to align their terms with the new schedule. The proposal aims to standardize election timing across all school boards, though it failed in committee in March 2025.

SB 403 requires Tennessee healthcare facilities receiving public funds (like Medicaid reimbursements) to cover uncompensated care costs to cancel debt equal to that funding for eligible patients. Facilities must notify patients whose debt is canceled and cannot pursue legal action for the canceled amount. The bill also mandates annual reports from the Department of Health and TennCare on uncompensated care payments to the legislature. It directly affects hospitals receiving public funds for charity care and patients with outstanding medical debt.

SB 787 requires a final inspection by Tennessee's chief elevator inspector before any private residence elevator (installed in a home) can be used. Homeowners must then register the elevator with the department using a provided form. The bill also mandates that the chief inspector create and maintain a database tracking all registered private residence elevators. This applies specifically to elevators in private homes, not commercial buildings, and takes effect July 1, 2025.

HB 1212 establishes a temporary program to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder services for Tennessee youth under 18. The program creates a web-based portal for age-appropriate mental health screenings, connects youth with providers for in-person or telehealth sessions, and reimburses providers for up to three initial sessions per youth using existing K-12 mental health funds. Providers must offer at least three sessions per youth to qualify for reimbursement, and the Department of Mental Health must run a public awareness campaign involving schools and community groups. The program expires on July 1, 2026, requiring a final report to health committees on service usage and outcomes.

SB 219 would require Tennessee juvenile courts to order parents, legal custodians, or guardians to pay restitution for law enforcement costs when a child is found delinquent for a third or subsequent offense. The restitution would be $250 for misdemeanor-level acts (or $500 for felony-level acts), capped at $1,000, unless the parent is indigent and waives payment in favor of community service. This bill directly affects families with children repeatedly involved in juvenile justice proceedings. The proposal was introduced in January 2025 but failed in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 17, 2025, and did not become law.

SB 17 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies to share an individual’s immigration status with federal officials only when that person has been arrested for a criminal offense. It exempts school resource officers regarding students and people not arrested (such as victims or witnesses). The bill imposes a $1,000 civil penalty for noncompliance, enforceable by the attorney general. This bill failed in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 17, 2025, and has not advanced further.

HB 741 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies that use body cameras to create written policies governing their use. The bill mandates that officers activate cameras during calls for service and encounters with the public (except during immediate threats), notify subjects they are being recorded, and keep cameras on until the encounter ends. Exceptions include turning cameras off when a private resident requests it, when interacting with domestic abuse or rape victims, or with anonymous crime tipsters. The policy must also prohibit using body cameras to record First Amendment activities unrelated to police responses. This directly affects all Tennessee law enforcement agencies and officers using body-worn cameras.

HB 552, the "Family Right to Educational Emancipation (FREE) Act," creates a new category of home schooling in Tennessee where parents can educate children (ages 6-17) without complying with standard home school requirements. It exempts these students and parents from compulsory attendance laws, state assessments, reporting attendance or educational details, and local school district oversight. The bill also prohibits state agencies from requiring school records for driver's license applications. This new category is distinct from existing home schools and private/public options, directly affecting parents choosing this educational path.