Tennessee Bills

SB 1492 requires Tennessee's Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) to study all state crime stoppers programs. The study must examine data collection, funding stability, community partnerships, and law enforcement collaboration across all programs. TACIR will then recommend improvements, including better statewide coordination, increased public engagement, stronger community-law enforcement trust, and consistent program standards. The bill does not change existing laws but mandates a report to legislative committees by 2026, aiming to enhance program effectiveness.

HB 398 extends the time that Tennessee licensing boards have to respond to the Department of Health from 30 to 45 days when the department requests information about actions taken against prescribers with unusual controlled substance prescribing patterns. This includes prescribers identified as statistical outliers, top prescribers, or high-risk prescribers of controlled substances. The bill directly affects how quickly the Department of Health can monitor prescriber behavior and the timeline for licensing boards to provide updates. The amendment applies to multiple sections of Tennessee law related to health and professional licensing.

SB 343 extends the deadline for Tennessee licensing boards to respond to health department inquiries about prescribers with concerning prescribing patterns. Specifically, it increases the response time from 30 to 45 days when the Department of Health asks about actions taken (or lack thereof) against prescribers identified as statistical outliers, top prescribers, or high-risk prescribers of controlled substances. This change directly affects licensing boards responsible for reviewing prescriber conduct under Tennessee health regulations. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law (Titles 4, 29, 33, 56, 63, 68, and 71) to implement this procedural adjustment.

HB 705 amends Tennessee's insurance law to change the annual disclosure deadline for insurers. It moves the submission date from June 1 to July 1 each year for insurers and insurance groups required to report to the commissioner of commerce and insurance under the Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Act. This bill directly affects insurance companies operating in Tennessee that must file these annual disclosures. The change is purely procedural, adjusting a specific deadline without altering the substance of the disclosure requirements.

HB 853 clarifies that parents, legal guardians, or legal custodians of unemancipated minors can access all health and medical records, including those related to treatments provided without parental consent. The bill also permits school employees to provide basic first aid (bandages, gauze, or ice packs) for minor injuries like cuts, scrapes, bumps, or bruises without requiring parental permission. This legislation amends Tennessee Code sections in Titles 33, 36, 37, 49, 63, and 68 to update language on medical record access and school health procedures. The changes directly affect minors, their caregivers, and school staff by standardizing medical information access and allowing immediate minor injury care in schools.

HB 475 would amend Tennessee's motor vehicle law to authorize the Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance to create rules for automobile clubs and associations. This change would give the commissioner the legal authority to establish specific regulations governing these organizations, such as membership standards or service requirements. The bill does not specify the rules but provides the framework for the commissioner to develop them. It directly affects automobile clubs and associations operating in Tennessee by enabling potential state-level regulation of their activities.

SB 865 changes the deadline for Tennessee insurance companies to submit annual corporate governance disclosures to the commissioner of commerce and insurance. Specifically, it extends the filing deadline from June 1 to July 1 each year. This bill directly affects insurers, agents, and brokers required to comply with the Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Act. The change modifies Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 56, Section 56-2-904(a), providing a one-month extension for compliance.

SB 1225 requires businesses selling smoking paraphernalia (like pipes or vapor products) to prominently display a sign showing the legal age for purchasing these items. This replaces an older warning sign requirement that was permitted before April 22, 1994, and aligns with the Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco, Smoking Hemp, and Vapor Products Act. The law applies to all retail locations distributing such products in Tennessee and takes effect on July 1, 2025. It directly affects businesses selling smoking-related items by mandating a specific, updated signage requirement.

HB 1354 requires businesses selling smoking paraphernalia (like pipes or vaporizers) to display a specific sign about the legal age for purchase, as mandated by the Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco, Smoking Hemp, and Vapor Products Act. This replaces a previous option allowing sellers to use an older tobacco warning sign that was required before April 22, 1994. The law applies to all retailers distributing such products in Tennessee and takes effect July 1, 2025. It directly affects vape shops, smoke shops, and similar businesses by standardizing signage requirements.

SB 502 expands the scope of practice for licensed athletic trainers in Tennessee. It changes the definition of "athletic injury" to include any condition limiting physical activity participation (not just injuries), allowing trainers to treat such conditions under physician supervision. The bill also explicitly clarifies that athletic trainers are healthcare providers and lists specific procedures they may perform, such as blood glucose monitoring, injections, and wound closure. This directly affects licensed athletic trainers by broadening their treatment authority while maintaining requirements for physician oversight and board certification.

HB 658 expands the scope of practice for athletic trainers in Tennessee by allowing them to treat conditions that limit or prevent participation in physical activities (not just injuries), directly affecting athletes and patients seeking preventive or rehabilitative care. The bill clarifies athletic trainers are healthcare providers and authorizes specific new procedures, including blood glucose monitoring, dry needling, and intravenous fluid administration. It amends licensing requirements to align with these expanded duties, requiring board certification and specific training for these new practices. The changes apply to all licensed athletic trainers practicing under physician supervision in the state.

SB 608 amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 55 to authorize the Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance to create rules governing automobile clubs and associations. This bill directly affects auto clubs operating in Tennessee by establishing a regulatory framework under the commissioner's authority. The key provision adds a new sentence to TCA § 55-18-104, granting the commissioner power to promulgate necessary rules to implement this chapter. The bill focuses solely on enabling rulemaking without specifying particular regulations.