Tennessee Bills

SB 665 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to submit annual reports starting July 2025 on water quality permit applications and the compensatory mitigation methods used in those permits. The report must track the number of permit applications and detail how developers offset environmental impacts - such as through wetland restoration projects, in-lieu fee programs, or mitigation banking - including specific financial details like fees collected or credits sold. This affects the department (which must prepare the reports), permit applicants (whose mitigation methods are tracked), and state officials (who receive the reports). The bill aims to increase transparency around how environmental damage from development is compensated, without changing existing permit requirements.

SB 537 requires the Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission to create and issue specialized guide licenses for individuals working as guides at Reelfoot Lake in Lake and Obion Counties. It mandates that guides demonstrate specific knowledge of Reelfoot Lake’s unique hazards and environment through commission rules. The bill amends state law to define "guide" and establish this new licensing requirement, directly affecting commercial fishing and hunting guides operating on Reelfoot Lake. The commission must develop these rules following standard administrative procedures.

SB 578 designates December 14 of each year as "Hazel Moore Day" in Tennessee. The bill amends state code to require the governor to annually proclaim this day, commemorating Hazel Moore's contributions. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or affect specific groups or policies - only establishing a ceremonial observance. This is a symbolic, non-substantive measure with no regulatory or financial impact. The bill was reintroduced after being withdrawn but remains focused solely on naming a day of recognition.

SB 1251, introduced by Senator Bailey in 2025, would have required public schools in Tennessee to report student drug overdoses (in grades K-12) to school officials within seven business days of diagnosis or treatment. The bill aimed to amend multiple Tennessee Code sections (including education and health laws) to establish this reporting timeline. However, the bill was filed on February 6, 2025, and withdrawn the next day (February 7) without further action. It never became law and did not affect any current policies or individuals.

HB 41 would require Tennessee public school districts and charter schools to adopt policies mandating that students keep wireless communication devices (such as cell phones, tablets, and laptops) turned off and stored during class time. Exceptions include using devices for educational purposes with teacher permission, for health monitoring as prescribed by a healthcare provider, or if device use is part of a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan. The policy must also establish a process for schools to contact parents during emergencies. This bill would apply to the 2025-2026 school year and beyond if enacted.

HB 31 allows Tennessee county governments to post required public notices online on their official websites instead of publishing them in a newspaper of general circulation. This change applies to all notices mandated by law, such as meeting schedules or property sales notices, as long as the online posting meets all existing requirements (including timing and content). The bill directly affects county governments by giving them a new, cost-effective publishing option while ensuring public access remains consistent with current standards. It does not alter the content or timing requirements for notices, only the medium of publication. The bill was introduced in 2025 but withdrawn before committee action.

HB 289 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to submit a report by January 1, 2026, to health committees in both legislative chambers. The report must include specific data on anesthesiologists practicing in the state, residency program participants, and graduates from anesthesiology programs, plus recommendations to increase their numbers. This bill directly affects the Department of Health (which must produce the report) and informs decisions about the state's healthcare workforce. The bill was introduced in January 2025 but was withdrawn on February 6, 2025, and is no longer active.

HB 287 would have required Tennessee's Department of Correction to report deaths of people in custody to local state legislators within five business days (down from 10 days), instead of the current timeline. The report must include the facility name and be sent to the senator and representative for the district where the deceased person lived, based on their last known address in Tennessee. It would not apply to deaths of people whose last address was outside Tennessee. The bill was introduced in January 2025 but withdrawn on February 6, 2025, and never became law.

HB 367 (Consumer Protection) prohibits vehicle manufacturers and third parties from sharing, selling, or distributing a vehicle's driving data - including information from infotainment, telematics, or sensors - without the vehicle owner's explicit, written consent. It requires entities to disclose data collection practices to owners, obtain annual consent renewals, and provide an easily accessible way to revoke consent. The bill applies to all vehicle owners in Tennessee and exempts sharing with government agencies like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under federal law. The bill was introduced in January 2025 but was withdrawn on February 6, 2025, and never advanced further.

HB 467 would have allowed non-business entity litigation financiers (those not structured as corporations or partnerships) to withdraw their registration with Tennessee's Secretary of State by submitting a simple form and paying a $20 fee. This bill amended Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 47, Chapter 16, specifically changing the process for these entities to terminate their registration. The change would have simplified administrative procedures for a narrow category of litigation financiers, directly affecting only those registered under the current system who are not business entities. The bill was introduced on January 28, 2025, but was withdrawn on February 6, 2025, before committee action.

HB 451 would change Tennessee's expunction law by shortening the waiting period to clear certain criminal records. Currently, people convicted of misdemeanors or Class E felonies must wait 5 years after finishing their sentence before petitioning to expunge the record, and 10 years for Class C or D felonies. This bill would reduce that waiting period to just one year for all these offenses, making it easier for affected individuals to seek record clearance. The change applies to anyone seeking expunction under Tennessee Code §40-32-101.

HB 1055 would raise the maximum speed limit on Tennessee's interstate highways and four-lane controlled-access highways from 70 mph to 75 mph. It would also increase the minimum speed limit in the left lane of these highways from 55 mph to 60 mph, requiring drivers to maintain at least 60 mph in the left lane. Additionally, the bill adjusts the speed range for left-lane driving and revises the truck speed exception to allow trucks to exceed 70 mph (previously 65 mph) on these highways. The changes apply to drivers using designated highways in Tennessee and take effect July 1, 2025.