Tennessee Bills

SB 1010, the "Tennessee Contraceptive Freedom Act," establishes a fundamental right for all Tennesseans to access contraception without discrimination. It requires healthcare providers to either provide contraceptive services or refer patients to providers who do, while prohibiting restrictions that single out contraceptive care or impede access. The bill explicitly defines contraception as distinct from abortion and emphasizes equal access regardless of race, gender, income, or other factors, particularly protecting historically marginalized groups. It applies to all healthcare providers, health insurance carriers, and public health agencies across Tennessee.

HJR 309 is a symbolic resolution designating March 2025 as "Sudden Unexplained Death in Children Awareness Month" in Tennessee. It honors Asher James Lee of Nashville and recognizes the SUDC Foundation's work supporting families affected by sudden unexplained death in children. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise public awareness about SUDC, which is the fifth leading cause of death for children aged one to four. It directly affects no individuals or entities through policy changes, serving only as a formal acknowledgment.

HB 129 prevents Tennessee National Guard members from being deployed to federal active combat duty without specific congressional authorization. It requires Congress to either declare war or take action under the Constitution's Article I, Section 8, Clause 15 (for executing laws, repelling invasion, or suppressing insurrection) before the state can release guardsmen for combat. The bill does not affect domestic missions under Title 32 of federal law, which allows deployments for civil support within the U.S. The governor must ensure compliance with this requirement, directly impacting Tennessee Guard members and state military operations.

HB 564 clarifies ethics rules for Tennessee officials by expanding what counts as an impermissible gift and adding travel expense disclosure requirements. It directly affects candidates for office, certain public officials, their family members, and the governor/cabinet officers. The bill specifies that gifts from entities tied to a lobbyist’s employer (through business or political links) are prohibited, and requires governors/cabinet members to disclose travel expenses paid by entities with interests in state policy. These changes aim to increase transparency around potential conflicts of interest in lobbying and official travel.

HB 597 requires lobbyists in Tennessee to disclose in their registration statements with the Ethics Commission which specific bills or legislative measures they are paid to support or oppose. This change amends Tennessee law to mandate that lobbyists include this bill-specific information when filing their registration. The bill directly affects professional lobbyists who represent clients on legislative matters, adding transparency about their paid advocacy. It does not change voting rules or policy outcomes but adds a disclosure requirement for lobbying activities. The bill was introduced in 2025 but failed in committee.

HB 443 amends Tennessee's Uniform Commercial Code to change the governing law for certain financial transactions from the law of the securities intermediary's location to Tennessee law. This affects securities intermediaries (like banks and brokers) handling investment security and commodity transactions within the state, as well as the investors and creditors involved. Key provisions remove references to the intermediary's local jurisdiction, clarify that Tennessee law determines priority when an intermediary cannot cover all claims, and update related sections. The bill also deletes outdated subsections and adjusts provisions for commodity accounts. These changes will take effect on July 1, 2025.

HB 18 proposes a temporary health coverage program for Tennesseans who don't qualify for existing TennCare or CoverKids. It would provide up to 60 months of medical assistance (resetting at age 21) to individuals under 21 with income ≤138% of the federal poverty level, or adults ≥21 with similar income, subject to strict 12-month/24-month usage limits. The program requires a federal waiver by December 2025, uses 90% federal/10% state funding, and explicitly states it does not replace eligibility for regular programs (benefits pause if enrollment becomes possible). The bill failed in the Insurance Committee on March 5, 2025, and remains inactive.

SB 372 is a procedural bill that requests the Tennessee Human Rights Commission to study whether healthcare providers face discrimination for refusing certain services (like abortion or contraception) based on religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. It does not change existing laws but directs the Commission to include findings from this study in its annual report. The bill directly affects healthcare providers who decline specific services for personal beliefs, though it does not impose new requirements on them. The bill was introduced in 2025 but later withdrawn and recalled from committee.

HB 89 amends Tennessee law to require peace officers providing security outside their primary jurisdiction to follow uniform notification and uniform requirements statewide, rather than only in certain counties. This change directly affects peace officers working in temporary security roles across Tennessee, ensuring consistent standards regardless of location. The bill removes the existing county-specific limitation in the law (by deleting subsection (c) of TCA § 62-35-141), extending the requirement to all counties. The bill failed in committee on March 5, 2025, and did not advance further.

This bill would exempt child care agencies licensed by the Tennessee Department of Human Services from registering as charitable organizations when soliciting donations. Specifically, it adds these agencies - defined under Tennessee law (TCA § 71-3-501) - to the list of entities already excluded from registration requirements. This change would remove a bureaucratic step for licensed child care agencies seeking public donations. The exemption would take effect on July 1, 2025, if enacted.

SB 1432 proposed creating a fourth division for Montgomery County's General Sessions and Juvenile Courts in Tennessee, amending existing court structure. The bill would establish a new judge position for this division (initially appointed until 2026, then elected every eight years), expand the court clerk's duties to cover the new division, and adjust the presiding judge rotation to include all four divisions. It required approval by Montgomery County’s legislative body (which was not obtained, as the bill was withdrawn on March 4, 2025). This was a procedural change affecting Montgomery County's local court operations, not a policy impacting residents directly.

HB 598 would establish a legal process for capable adults in Tennessee with a terminal illness to request medication to end their life under strict conditions. To qualify, an adult must be a resident of Tennessee, diagnosed with an incurable disease expected to cause death within six months, and confirmed capable by both an attending physician and a consulting physician. The process requires a written request witnessed by two non-relatives (not beneficiaries or healthcare staff), counseling to ensure the decision is voluntary and informed, and full disclosure of the patient's diagnosis, prognosis, risks, and alternatives like hospice care. The bill amends Tennessee laws across multiple titles to create these requirements and procedures for end-of-life medication requests.