Tennessee Bills

SB 1467, the "Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Act," requires Tennessee district attorneys general to submit a 24-hour report to state and federal officials whenever they make specific decisions about felony cases tied to two federal law enforcement operations: the Memphis Safe Task Force or Operation Viper. The report must be filed if the district attorney enters a plea agreement, reduces charges, dismisses a case, or declines to prosecute. This applies only to cases originating from these operations, which are defined as federal efforts focused on combating violent crime in Memphis through aggressive policing and prosecution. The bill aims to increase transparency around prosecutorial decisions in these specific cases without altering the legal standards for handling them.

HB 1450 restricts who can post bail for defendants in Tennessee. It prohibits most organizations (not including the defendant, their family, legal guardian, employer, or licensed bail bondsmen) from posting bail security for more than three defendants in a single year or for the same defendant more than once per year. Entities seeking to post bail must first obtain approval under new requirements. The bill amends Tennessee law to clarify definitions (like "family" including third-degree relatives and household members) and limits non-licensed entities from operating bail services. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 354 requires Tennessee's Department of Human Services to prominently display a toll-free phone number on its website homepage. This number connects citizens to a service for reporting abuse, neglect, or exploitation of elderly or vulnerable adults. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (Titles 8, 38, 39, 45, 68, and 71) to mandate this website change. It directly affects the state agency by requiring a specific online presence for public reporting access, without altering the underlying reporting process.

HB 483 would extend the deadline for Tennessee district attorneys general to submit annual funding reports from 90 to 120 days after each fiscal year ends. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Section 8-7-103(5), to change this reporting requirement. This procedural adjustment directly affects district attorneys general and the office of the executive director for the district attorneys general conference, which receives these reports. The change provides additional time for preparation but does not alter the content or purpose of the reports.

SB 354 allows certain state officials - including department heads, the state treasurer, secretary of state, and adjutant general - to file their annual reports electronically with the governor. The bill amends Tennessee Code to add electronic submission as an option for reports covering agency functions, management, and finances. This change modernizes the filing process without altering report content, requirements, or agency obligations. It is a procedural update affecting how state agencies submit mandatory annual reports.

SB 443 (Tennessee) extends the deadline for district attorneys general to submit annual funding reports from 90 to 120 days after each fiscal year. This change directly affects Tennessee district attorneys who must report funding to the Office of Executive Director for the District Attorneys General Conference. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Section 8-7-103(5), by updating the submission timeframe. It is a procedural adjustment with no new policy requirements or financial impacts.

SB 687 requires Tennessee's education commissioner to annually publish on the state education website the number of waivers granted to school districts that allowed them to exceed average class size requirements for funding "grow your own" teacher training programs. The commissioner must post this data by June 1 each year, starting in 2025, reflecting waivers from the previous school year. This bill directly affects school districts receiving these waivers and makes their usage transparent to the public. It does not change the waiver process but mandates annual publication of the waiver count.

HB 656 requires Tennessee's education commissioner to annually publish on the state education department's website the number of waivers granted to school districts (local education agencies) that allow them to exceed average class size limits for funding "grow your own" teacher recruitment programs. The commissioner must post this data by June 1 each year, starting in 2025, to provide transparency about waiver usage. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Titles 4 and 49, to establish this reporting requirement. The policy change directly affects school districts receiving such waivers and aims to clarify how these waivers support teacher training initiatives.

SB 326 requires Tennessee's Department of Human Services to prominently display the toll-free phone number for reporting abuse, neglect, or exploitation of elderly or vulnerable adults on the homepage of its official website. This change ensures citizens can easily find the reporting number without navigating through multiple website pages. The bill amends several sections of Tennessee law (Titles 8, 38, 39, 45, 68, and 71) to mandate this website update. The policy directly affects the department's website management and improves public access to critical reporting resources.

HB 338 allows state agency heads (including the treasurer, secretary of state, and adjutant general) to submit their annual financial and operational reports electronically to the governor instead of through paper. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to add this electronic filing option for required annual reports. It directly affects state departments and agencies that currently submit these reports annually. This is a procedural change to update reporting methods, with no new requirements or policy impacts.

SB 225 requires Tennessee health insurers to reimburse chiropractic physicians at the same rate as medical doctors for identical services, amending Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 56 and 63. It prohibits insurers from using separate payment codes or methodologies for chiropractic services compared to physician services, ensuring equal reimbursement based on nationally recognized coding systems like the CPT book. This applies to private health insurance plans but excludes TennCare, CoverKids, and government-provided insurance. The bill aims to eliminate reimbursement disparities for chiropractors offering equivalent services to medical doctors. It was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2025, but failed in committee on March 25, 2025.

SB 435 requires Tennessee health insurers and TennCare to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, or monitoring of diseases starting January 1, 2026. Biomarker testing - medical tests analyzing genes, proteins, or other biological markers - must be covered when supported by FDA approvals, clinical guidelines, or evidence-based standards. Insurers must process prior authorization requests within 24 hours for urgent cases and 72 hours for non-urgent ones, while ensuring coverage avoids repeated biopsies. This affects all private health benefit plans and TennCare enrollees by mandating coverage for specific, evidence-based diagnostic and treatment tests.