Tennessee Bills

SB 2226 amends Tennessee law to extend the required notice period for land use violations under the Megasite Authority of West Tennessee from 10 to 14 days before assessing civil penalties. It directly affects individuals or entities who violate the Authority's land use regulations. The key provision changes Section 64-9-109(f)(1) to mandate written notice of at least 14 days prior to penalty assessment. This is a procedural adjustment to penalty procedures, not a substantive policy change. The bill requires the Authority to provide longer notice before imposing fines for land use violations.

SB 2201 allows juvenile courts in Tennessee to suspend a student’s driving privileges or prevent them from obtaining a driver’s license for up to one year if the student is adjudicated "unruly" for unlawful school absences. This applies specifically to students referred to juvenile court for truancy and found unruly under Tennessee law. The bill amends existing statutes (TCA Title 37, 49, and 55) to add driving suspension as a permitted court disposition. It directly affects students facing juvenile court for truancy-related offenses, with the policy change taking effect July 1, 2026. The measure does not alter truancy reporting requirements but expands potential consequences for adjudicated cases.

HB 2528 amends Tennessee's security guard licensing laws to add "stalking" to the list of crimes requiring applicants to complete all sentence or probation terms and wait at least five years before applying for a security guard registration. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of stalking who seek security guard positions, preventing them from applying until five years after their sentence or probation ends. Key provisions include requiring security guards to report arrests or convictions for listed offenses (like stalking) within 10 days to both the state commissioner and their employer, and adding new disqualifiers for individuals on abuse registries or prohibited from owning firearms. These changes strengthen background checks and reporting requirements for security personnel without altering existing rules for other offenses.

SB 2323 increases the annual purchase limit for over-the-counter products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine from 43.2 grams to 61.2 grams in Tennessee. It requires pharmacies to use an electronic sales tracking system (replacing the former "NPLEx" system) to log purchases of these products starting January 1, 2012, and mandates that manufacturers of such products pay monthly fees to the system administrator beginning January 1, 2027. The bill also updates rules for pharmacy counseling, data correction procedures, and law enforcement access to the tracking system data. This directly affects consumers buying these medications, pharmacies selling them, and manufacturers producing them.

SB 2194 requires public benefit hospitals in Tennessee to provide written notice to the Attorney General and the State Reporter at least 30 days before selling or transferring hospital assets (a "public benefit hospital conveyance transaction"). This notice requirement applies directly to public benefit hospital entities operating under Tennessee law. The bill amends existing statutes (Tennessee Code §§ 48-68-203(a) and related sections) to establish this advance notification process, enhancing transparency for public oversight of such transactions. The law takes effect upon enactment, with no changes to the underlying transaction rules themselves.

HB 2562 requires medical and osteopathic license holders in Tennessee to complete at least one hour of annual continuing education on nutrition topics. This applies to all physicians licensed under the Board of Medical Examiners (Title 63, Chapter 6) and osteopathic physicians licensed under the Board of Osteopathic Examination (Title 63, Chapter 9). The bill amends existing education requirements to mandate this specific nutrition focus, replacing previous general education rules. The change would take effect on January 1, 2028, pending legislative approval.

HB 2543 amends Tennessee law to govern the use of the governor's response and recovery fund after emergencies or disasters. It specifies that funds can be provided to eligible local governments (counties, cities, school districts) and individuals in counties that declared a state of emergency, subject to strict conditions like federal aid being unavailable and costs exceeding state thresholds. The bill details eligible uses, including debris removal, infrastructure repairs, and emergency protective measures, with projects needing completion within 18 months. It also requires local cost-sharing based on county economic status and prohibits funding for costs covered by insurance or other sources. This bill directly affects local governments and residents in qualifying disaster areas seeking state financial assistance.

SB 2184 modifies Tennessee estate laws to clarify that the Uniform Partition Heirs Property Act does not apply when selling land to pay estate debts. It changes how courts calculate a surviving spouse’s right to claim a portion of the estate (elective share) by aligning with federal estate tax rules and excluding certain assets. The bill also updates conservatorship petition requirements to specify what must be included in the filing. These changes directly affect estate administrators, creditors, and surviving spouses handling estate settlements in Tennessee. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 2197 allows courts to expunge certain violent offenses from a person's record after they've received a pardon, directly affecting individuals who have been pardoned for specific crimes. The bill amends Tennessee law to remove the previous requirement that expungement petitions be limited to "nonviolent" offenses, instead requiring courts to specifically consider whether the offense sought for expungement was violent (such as murder, aggravated kidnapping, or sexual offenses involving minors). Courts must weigh the best interests of justice and public safety, including factors presented by both the petitioner and the district attorney general, when deciding such petitions. This creates a rebuttable presumption in favor of expungement for non-violent offenses while adding a specific review step for violent offenses.

SB 2447 would allow graduates of ABET ETAC-accredited four-year engineering technology programs to become licensed engineers in Tennessee, provided they meet specific requirements. To qualify, applicants must have at least eight years of progressive engineering experience under a licensed engineer, submit three professional references from licensed engineers in the state, and pass two exams administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (FE and PE). The bill amends Tennessee’s engineering registration laws (TCA Title 4 and Title 62, Chapter 2, Part 4) to create this pathway, directly affecting engineering technology graduates seeking licensure. It does not change existing requirements for traditional engineering degree holders.

SB 2238, known as the "Hunting for Heroes Act," creates a free Tennessee National Guard sportsman license for eligible members. This license allows Tennessee National Guard members in good standing to hunt and fish without cost, providing the same benefits as a standard resident sportsman license. To qualify, applicants must provide a valid U.S. military ID and Tennessee National Guard membership verification from the adjutant general. The state will cover all license costs using general funds, not wildlife resources money, and the law takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 2212 extends the deadline for estates of emergency responders killed in the line of duty to file claims and appeals. It changes the filing window from three years to the later of the death date or the date a court or official designates the death as duty-related, and extends appeal deadlines from 90 days to one year. The bill specifically adds formal appeal processes for estates of firefighters, volunteer rescue squad workers, and emergency medical technicians through designated commissions. These changes apply to Tennessee Code Annotated sections covering firefighter, law enforcement, and emergency medical services compensation. The bill takes effect retroactively to March 1, 2020.