Tennessee Bills

HB 1673 amends Tennessee utility laws to streamline consolidation processes for water, electric, and other utility systems. It updates petition procedures for merging utility systems (including districts) and clarifies approval criteria for county mayors, requiring them to consider public convenience, economic feasibility, and public interest. The bill mandates consolidation agreements to detail asset distribution, service boundaries, and bond protections, while changing terminology to include "utility authorities" alongside municipalities. These changes directly affect utility governing bodies, local governments, and service areas involved in utility mergers.

SB 1656, known as "Matthew Davenport's Law," prohibits the possession, manufacture, delivery, or sale of Kratom (defined broadly to include derivatives and synthetic versions), with penalties ranging from a Class A misdemeanor for simple possession to a Class B felony for selling to minors. It requires toxicology testing for Kratom in cases of suspected drug overdose deaths (via medical examiners) and in specific medical scenarios like neonatal abstinence syndrome (via treating physicians). The law also mandates adding Kratom to the state's official drug definition for workplace testing. It takes effect on July 1, 2026.

HB 1691 clarifies that joint boards formed by two municipalities and two counties under an interlocal agreement for operating an airport gain all powers, duties, and privileges of a regional airport authority under Tennessee law. This directly affects those specific joint boards, recognizing them as public entities with expanded authority to manage airports. The bill amends state code to vest these boards with the full legal standing of a regional airport authority, including the ability to file a charter with the secretary of state as a nonprofit corporation. It requires governance details (like member terms and composition) to be defined solely in the original interlocal agreement, not in the amended statute.

SB 1633 requires Tennessee courts to impose consecutive sentences for defendants convicted of two or more offenses involving more than one minor victim, unless the court finds by a preponderance of evidence that consecutive sentences aren't warranted and wouldn't harm justice. This applies to all cases with multiple minor victims, regardless of whether the offenses occurred together. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, for offenses committed on or after that date. It directly affects defendants convicted of multiple crimes against minors and sentencing courts, changing how they handle sentencing for these cases. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 40, Section 40-35-115.

HB 1553 removes the $200 filing fee required to terminate a corporation's existence with Tennessee's Secretary of State. It extends the deadline for individuals or businesses ending donation solicitation activities from 30 to 90 days to notify the Secretary of State. Additionally, it eliminates the requirement for charitable organizations with over $1 million in annual revenue to submit audited financial statements or IRS forms when ceasing solicitation. The bill affects corporations ending operations and large charitable organizations, taking effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1536 creates the "Tennessee Agricultural Innovation and Education Initiative" under the Department of Agriculture. It authorizes partnerships with private or academic groups to develop digital tools, educational programs, and workforce training focused on agricultural technology, market access, and entrepreneurship - specifically prioritizing small, minority, and beginning farmers. The initiative requires annual evaluations to track farmer participation, economic outcomes, and taxpayer return, with results publicly reported to lawmakers. Partners retain ownership of all creative content and digital platforms developed under the program.

HB 1464 would provide a $50,000 annual payment for five years to the estate of an electrical lineman who dies while working in the line of duty. The bill extends this benefit, currently available to emergency responders, to electrical linemen by amending Tennessee law to include them in the same eligibility category. It defines an "electrical lineman" as a worker who installs, maintains, or repairs electrical systems for a local government or its contractors. The bill is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.

This bill changes the deadline for county legislative bodies to submit written reports on judicial commissioners from April 1 to April 15. The report must include findings and an overall evaluation of how these commissioners are performing in criminal courts. This adjustment applies to counties in Tennessee that use judicial commissioners and affects the timing of their annual performance reviews. The change is administrative and does not alter the role or responsibilities of the commissioners themselves.

HB 1034 would make non-compete clauses unenforceable for Tennessee employees and contractors after their employment or contract ends. The bill removes an existing exception that previously allowed some restrictions to be enforced, effectively banning all post-termination professional restrictions in contracts. This change applies to contracts entered into or amended on or after July 1, 2025, affecting workers in professions covered by Tennessee’s labor laws. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee Code (Titles 50, 63, and 68) to eliminate references to the former exception.

HB 1263 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services to post all adoption-related forms on its website. This affects courts, social service agencies, and individuals navigating the adoption process by making these forms easily accessible online. The bill amends Tennessee law to mandate this change, ensuring forms previously available through other channels are centralized on the department's website for public access. It does not alter adoption eligibility or procedures, only the method of form distribution.

SB 995 prohibits most non-compete agreements that restrict employees or contractors from practicing their profession after employment ends or contracts conclude in Tennessee. It removes previous exceptions allowing such restrictions (by deleting references to Section 63-1-148) and makes these clauses void and unenforceable. The law applies to contracts entered into or amended on or after July 1, 2025, directly affecting workers transitioning between jobs and employers seeking to limit post-employment competition. This change aims to increase workforce mobility by eliminating common barriers to reemployment.

SB 1238 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services to post all adoption-related forms on its official website. This affects courts, adoption agencies, and individuals navigating the adoption process by making necessary paperwork easily accessible online. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections in Titles 36, 37, and 68 to mandate this website availability. It does not change adoption procedures or eligibility but streamlines access to required forms. The legislation is procedural, focusing solely on digital form distribution.