Tennessee Bills

HB 1345 shortens the notice period landlords must give tenants before terminating a rental agreement for specific violations. It reduces the required notice from 14 days to 7 days for nonpayment of rent, costs for repairs or damages, or acts of violence posing a real danger to safety. Tenants facing these issues would have less time to resolve the problem before potential eviction. The bill applies to residential rental agreements entered into, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2025.

HB 180 expands the eligibility for property owners to petition a Tennessee municipality to remove land from city boundaries (deannexation). It directly affects owners of agricultural land annexed without a referendum or owner request, as well as owners who are direct descendants (children, grandchildren, or siblings) of the original owner or businesses majority-owned by qualifying descendants. The bill adds these new categories to the existing criteria, while requiring that deannexation not create isolated unincorporated areas (except for land under conservation easements). The law would allow these property owners to formally request deannexation through municipal processes.

HB 606 amends Tennessee law to require the Alcoholic Beverage Commission to submit its biennial report on underage drinking, drunk driving, and harmful alcohol use to both the governor and the members of the general assembly. This bill directly affects the Alcoholic Beverage Commission, changing its reporting requirements under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 57. The key provision modifies the current process by adding the governor as a required recipient of the report, ensuring broader executive branch oversight. The bill does not alter alcohol regulations but updates administrative reporting procedures. (Bill text: HB 606, Amends TCA Title 57, Section 57-1-206(a)).

HB 1170 amends Tennessee law to clarify that "neglect" does not include permitting a child (whose basic needs are met and who is mature enough to avoid harm) to engage in specific independent activities. It explicitly exempts walking or biking to school, playing outdoors, visiting nearby facilities, and brief unattended home time from being considered neglect under Tennessee Code Sections 37-1-102 and 39-15-401. The bill directly affects parents, caregivers, and child welfare agencies by defining clear boundaries for what constitutes neglect. This change aims to prevent unnecessary investigations or interventions for common, age-appropriate child activities.

SB 190 requires employers to continue providing health insurance coverage under an employer-sponsored plan to employees terminated while pregnant, until the pregnancy ends. It directly affects pregnant employees covered by such plans who lose their jobs and employers offering those plans. Key provisions mandate employers to keep paying their share of premiums and prevent insurers from dropping coverage without written proof the pregnancy ended, while requiring employees to notify employers in writing within 30 days after pregnancy concludes. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

SB 490 would have allowed individuals convicted of a Class E felony for "official misconduct" to have their court records erased from public access. This bill directly affected people with such convictions who met specific eligibility criteria. The key provision would have amended Tennessee law to create a new expunction pathway for this specific offense, enabling the destruction of related court records. However, the bill failed in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 11, 2025, and did not become law.

SB 1013 prevents homeowners' associations (HOAs) in Tennessee from blocking licensed family child care operations on residential properties. It directly affects family child care providers who hold a Department of Human Services license and required local permits, and HOAs that previously enforced restrictive covenants. The bill makes any HOA rule prohibiting such homes unenforceable if the operator has the necessary licenses and permits. This policy change ensures licensed child care providers can operate in residential areas without HOA interference, amending Tennessee Code Sections 66-27-901 and 66-27-902.

HB 12 requires every Tennessee public school district to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students enrolled in their schools. The state would reimburse districts for the cost of these meals after they apply all available federal funds from programs like the National School Lunch Program. This bill, which amends Tennessee law, would take effect for the 2025-2026 school year and apply to all subsequent school years.

HB 943 requires that a candidate's name on a nominating petition must exactly match the name listed on their voter registration record, prohibiting nicknames, abbreviations, or spelling variations. This law directly affects candidates running for office and election coordinators who manage ballot listings. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 2-5-102 to mandate this name standardization and directs election coordinators to provide compliance guidelines. It aims to ensure ballot names consistently reflect official voter records, reducing potential confusion during elections. (Note: The bill failed in committee on March 11, 2025, but this summary describes its proposed provisions.)

HB 1107 requires Tennessee public schools (including public charter schools) serving grades 4-12 to provide free feminine hygiene products in all women’s and girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms. The bill also mandates state reimbursement for schools purchasing these products and directs the Department of Health to launch a public campaign encouraging donations from individuals and nonprofits. It applies to the 2025-2026 school year and beyond, with an effective date of July 1, 2025. The bill failed in the Education Administration Subcommittee on March 11, 2025, and did not advance further.

SB 959 allows individuals serving 8+ years in prison for crimes committed before January 1, 2026, to request a new sentencing hearing if they were victims of domestic abuse (physical, sexual, or psychological) inflicted by a family or household member at the time of the offense. To apply, they must submit court records, police reports, or other verified evidence proving their abuse history and current sentence eligibility. Courts will review prison program participation (like domestic violence counseling) and abuse history but cannot reconsider the original conviction. If approved, the court may reduce the sentence while crediting time already served.

HB 1238 creates a new Division of Early Child Care and Education within Tennessee's Department of Education by December 31, 2026. The division will directly manage state and federal early childhood programs - including voluntary pre-K, Head Start, the Child Care Development Block Grant, and programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - and oversee a unified system for child care licensing and quality standards. Key provisions include standardizing licensing rules to reduce regulatory burdens while maintaining safety, implementing a quality rating system for programs, and establishing community input mechanisms like local planning grants. The bill also requires a transition plan with an advisory council to develop this system, with final implementation due by 2026.