Tennessee Bills

SB 2431 removes the requirement for a license from Tennessee's health facilities commission for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) services that are not used for diagnostic purposes. This change directly affects healthcare facilities offering these imaging services for non-diagnostic uses, such as research or patient comfort, rather than medical diagnosis. The bill amends Tennessee Code to exclude non-diagnostic MRI and PET from licensing requirements under health facility regulations. The exemption will take effect on July 1, 2026.

SB 2468 requires Tennessee courts to impose a mandatory fine equal to at least twice the cost of property damage or restoration when vandalism occurs at a house of worship (like a church, synagogue, or mosque). This applies specifically to sentencing for vandalism offenses committed at these locations, directly affecting both the convicted individual and the affected house of worship. The bill amends Tennessee criminal code to add this penalty as part of the sentence, overriding standard sentencing guidelines for such cases. It takes effect July 1, 2026, if passed.

SB 2469 authorizes sitting or retired chancery, circuit, appellate, or governor-appointed judges to carry firearms in any location where law enforcement officers are permitted to carry weapons, provided the judge already qualifies for an enhanced handgun permit under existing law. The bill amends Tennessee law to explicitly extend this carrying right to qualifying judges, matching the access granted to police officers. It does not create new permit requirements but applies to judges who meet current enhanced permit criteria. The legislation affects only specific judicial officers who satisfy the existing handgun permit standards.

SB 2213 requires public utilities to submit written requests to the Tennessee Public Utility Commission when seeking cost recovery for innovative natural gas infrastructure projects. This amendment directly affects utilities that build or upgrade natural gas systems, changing the process from oral requests to formal written submissions. The bill modifies specific sections of Tennessee law (TCA Title 65, Section 65-5-114(c)) to mandate this written requirement. It is a procedural change focused on administrative clarity, not a substantive policy shift for consumers or infrastructure development.

HB 2533 terminates Tennessee's dyslexia advisory council and directs the existing advisory council for students with disabilities to handle dyslexia-related matters. It dissolves the energy efficient schools council and creates a new Office of Energy Efficient Schools within the state education department. The bill expands eligibility for individualized education accounts, allowing more students to access these funding options. These changes are part of broader revisions to Tennessee's education laws across multiple statutes.

SB 2473 changes Tennessee law to extend the deadline for metropolitan airport authorities to submit their annual operating budgets. Specifically, it increases the required submission window from 60 days to 75 days before the fiscal year begins. This affects the president of each metropolitan airport authority, who must now submit the budget to the board for approval 75 days prior to the fiscal year start date. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.

SB 2509, the "Tennessee Child Care Red Tape Reduction Act," requires local governments to expedite child care agency permit applications (processing complete applications within 90 days) and gives the state fire marshal exclusive authority to conduct fire safety inspections for licensing, replacing duplicate local inspections. It establishes statewide uniform fire safety standards, prohibits local governments from imposing additional fire safety requirements beyond these standards, and allows child care agencies to operate as "use by right" in most commercial and residential zones without special permits. The bill directly affects child care providers (who face fewer delays and standardized inspections), local governments (which must adjust permitting processes), and the state fire marshal (which gains oversight responsibility). Key changes include mandatory 5-day initial review timelines for permits, a 30-day deadline for fire inspections, and banning local inspections that duplicate state requirements.

HB 2491 eliminates fraud and economic crimes fees in Tennessee counties that have implemented a $12.50 court cost. It requires district attorneys to return existing funds collected under those fees to the original county government once the new $12.50 court cost fund balances equal the old fraud fund. The bill directly affects counties using the $12.50 fee and district attorney offices holding these funds. It changes how criminal prosecution funding is allocated by redirecting resources back to local governments when the new system meets the old fund's balance.

HB 2485 updates Tennessee's definition of "economically disadvantaged" students to include those directly certified for free school meals (without household applications) and students from households receiving SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, or Medicaid benefits. This change affects school districts (LEAs) receiving state education funding under the TISA formula, as it alters how student need is measured for allocation purposes. The bill requires the state to provide additional funds to any district whose TISA allocation decreases due to fewer identified disadvantaged students under the new definition, ensuring funding levels match prior years for the 2027-2028 school year through 2029-2030. It also mandates the state seek federal approval to update its ESSA plan to align with this revised definition.

HB 2530 transfers oversight of land surveyors from the state board of examiners for land surveyors to the state board of examiners for architects and engineers. It removes the registration requirement for interior designers and eliminates a funding mechanism that previously allocated contractor licensing fees to the Go Build Tennessee Act. These changes affect land surveyors, interior designers, and contractor licensing programs by altering regulatory oversight and financial provisions. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections related to occupational licensing boards, streamlining oversight for certain professions.

SB 2173 requires the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's executive director to post a list of off-highway vehicle (OHV) areas on the Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission's website. The list must include each area's acreage and estimated trail length. This bill directly affects OHV users and the agency by making location and trail information publicly accessible online. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 70, Chapter 9, to standardize this disclosure without changing OHV usage rules. The bill is pending in the Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee.

SB 2403 requires Tennessee public schools to annually report all local assessments (including purpose, subject, grade level, and administration schedule) to the state Department of Education. This information must be published online for public access by July 2027, allowing parents and students to compare assessments across schools. The bill eliminates schools' ability to use non-state universal reading screeners for kindergarten through third grade, mandating instead the state-provided Tennessee universal reading screener. Additionally, it creates an Assessment Review Board of nine classroom teachers to evaluate the state's assessment program tests from the previous school year.