Tennessee Bills

SB 1480 requires the Tennessee state to cover the costs of autopsies ordered by a district attorney general, shifting this financial responsibility from counties to the state. This directly affects county medical examiners, prosecutors, and the state budget, as counties previously bore these expenses. The bill amends Tennessee Code § 38-7-109(b) to explicitly state that autopsy costs must be paid by the state, similar to other state-chargeable expenses. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, ensuring consistent state funding for these forensic examinations.

SB 637 (TISA) modifies Tennessee's education funding formula to add a 3% weighted allocation for students attending school districts with 1,001 to 1,250 students. This change directly affects small school districts in that specific size range by increasing state funding per student. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, by creating a new funding tier for these districts. The policy takes effect July 1, 2025.

SB 1247 changes the deadline for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to submit an annual report on Reelfoot Lake natural area administration, shifting it from January 8 to January 31 each year. This bill directly affects the agency's executive director, who must now submit the report by the new date. The change is procedural, updating a specific reporting timeline without altering the lake's management policies. It amends multiple sections of Tennessee Code related to public recreation areas. The bill is currently in committee after passing initial Senate votes.

SJR 27 authorizes the Tennessee Housing Development Agency to allocate $10 million annually in tax credits for low-income housing projects, applicable against premium tax, retaliatory tax, franchise tax, and excise tax liabilities. These credits are specifically for projects meeting criteria under the Tennessee Rural and Workforce Housing Act, with at least 50% of funds required to support housing in eligible rural areas. The resolution directs the agency to use these credits for the 2026-2028 calendar years, building on existing state law (Public Chapter 971 of 2024). It directly affects housing developers and property owners who qualify for these credits, providing a financial incentive to build or rehabilitate affordable housing. The bill does not create new taxes but modifies how existing tax credits can be applied.

SB 184 increases the required annual payment for instructional supplies from $200 to $500 per teacher in Tennessee's public K-12 schools and public charter schools. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-3-359(a) to mandate this higher funding level for local education agencies (LEAs). The bill explicitly states it does not create new spending, requiring future legislative appropriations to fund the increase. The change would take effect July 1, 2025, if enacted. This directly affects school districts and charter schools responsible for distributing these supplies to teachers.

SB 397 repeals a $400 annual privilege tax for licensed professionals in Tennessee, effective for tax years beginning June 1, 2026, and later. It directly affects individuals licensed in professions subject to this tax, such as lawyers, accountants, and engineers. The bill replaces the current $400 tax rate with a $0 rate for tax years ending after May 31, 2026, while ensuring no tax is due for the 2026-2027 tax period. It does not affect taxes owed for years ending before June 1, 2026.

SB 1091 amends Tennessee tax law to require the Commissioner of Revenue to include the Office of Legislative Budget Analysis as a recipient of the annual report on franchise and excise tax credits. This report, currently sent to finance committees and the Senate, will now also be distributed to this nonpartisan legislative agency. The bill does not change tax rates, credits, or filing requirements - it only updates the distribution list for an existing report. The Office of Legislative Budget Analysis, which provides fiscal analysis to lawmakers, will now receive this data to inform budget decisions.

SB 261 requires Tennessee's Department of Correction, in collaboration with the Inmate Disciplinary Oversight Board, to create an annual report tracking the number of inmates who earned sentence reduction credits under state law. The report must detail these credits and be submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee and the relevant House committee. This bill directly affects the Department of Correction and the oversight board by mandating transparency about how sentence credits are applied to inmates. It does not change sentencing laws but adds a reporting requirement to improve legislative oversight of correctional practices. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 41-21-236 and related titles to implement this reporting obligation.

SJR 160 is a non-binding resolution encouraging Tennessee teachers to use the names "Gulf of America" and "Mount McKinley" in geography lessons. It references a 2025 federal executive order by President Trump that renamed the Gulf of Alaska to "Gulf of America" and restored "Mount McKinley" (previously Denali). The resolution specifically urges geography teachers in Tennessee schools to adopt these names during instruction. It does not change any official place names or require curriculum changes, but formally supports the federal renaming effort in classroom settings. The resolution passed the Tennessee Senate in February 2025 and was referred to a committee for further review.

Tennessee's SB 422 shortens the review cycle for medical device regulations from every three years to every two years. The bill requires an advisory committee (including medical device industry representatives and a state economic development official) to reassess pharmacy oversight rules for facilities manufacturing, warehousing, and distributing medical devices more frequently. This change directly affects medical device facilities operating under Tennessee's pharmacy board regulations. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (TCA Title 63, Section 63-10-314) to implement this timeline adjustment.

SB 1409 expands eligibility for Tennessee's dual enrollment grant program to include high school sophomores, who were previously excluded. Currently, the grant is limited to juniors and seniors, but this bill amends the law to add sophomores as eligible students admitted to a postsecondary institution for dual enrollment. The change would allow sophomores taking college courses while in high school to access this financial aid, taking effect July 1, 2025. This directly affects high school students in their sophomore year seeking dual enrollment opportunities.

SB 1077 requires all public Tennessee universities to offer a mandatory 3-semester-hour course in American government or history before students earn a bachelor's degree. The course, developed by the University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Institute of American Civics, must cover specific foundational documents including the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers, Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail," plus one additional document from the African-American freedom struggle. Students must complete this course by 2025-2026, with exemptions for those who took equivalent advanced placement, IB, or dual-credit courses meeting the same content requirements. The bill mandates final exams testing knowledge of these required documents and prohibits adding credit hours or conflicting with accreditation standards.