HB 670 would reduce the buffer zone for development near Class II and Class III scenic rivers in Tennessee from 450 feet to 400 feet from the river banks. This change would directly affect property owners and developers in these areas by narrowing the area where construction or other development is restricted. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 11, Section 11-13-108(a)(2), to update the distance limit for scenic river protections. The bill was introduced on February 3, 2025, but was withdrawn the following day.
HB 301 would allow Tennessee local governments (counties, cities, and towns) to regulate sober living homes - residences for adults recovering from substance abuse without formal treatment services. The bill requires these homes to be located at least 1,000 feet from schools, preschools, or daycares and mandates that prospective residents receive a clinical referral from a licensed healthcare provider confirming their need for such housing. Local governments must ensure all regulations comply with federal fair housing and disability laws. This bill would directly affect how sober living homes operate, where they can be located, and who can reside there.
HB 616 would restore voting rights in Tennessee for people convicted of "infamous crimes" once their sentence (including incarceration, probation, or parole) ends. It removes the current requirements that individuals must pay all restitution, court costs, or be current on child support obligations before regaining voting rights. The bill clarifies that voting rights restoration does not automatically restore all citizenship rights (like jury service or holding office). This directly affects Tennesseans with past convictions for crimes classified as "infamous" under state law, allowing them to vote after serving their sentence without financial or child support hurdles.
SB 123 requires Tennessee voters to declare a statewide political party or recognized minor party affiliation before voting in primary elections. Unaffiliated voters who do not declare by August 2026 will be designated as "independent" and lose eligibility to vote in primaries. The bill adds a registration field for party affiliation, mandates declarations at a voter's first primary after the law's effective date, and restricts affiliation changes to more than 30 days before an election. It amends election code sections to enforce these requirements and update voting eligibility rules.
SB 131 modifies Tennessee's tax code to expand a privilege tax exemption for subsidiaries of agricultural cooperatives. It ensures these subsidiaries qualify for the exemption regardless of their legal structure (e.g., corporation, LLC, or partnership), as long as they are controlled by a Tennessee agricultural cooperative and any profits benefit the cooperative. This directly affects agricultural cooperative subsidiaries operating in Tennessee, removing a potential tax burden tied to their organizational form. The bill clarifies that such subsidiaries are not subject to business privilege taxes when their profits support the cooperative's agricultural activities. The change aims to simplify tax treatment for these entities while maintaining the legislative intent to support Tennessee's agricultural sector.
SB 607 would have deleted the offense of "unlawful carrying of a firearm with intent to go armed" and lowered the minimum age for obtaining a concealed handgun carry permit from 21 to 18 years. It would have added new rules for juveniles (under 18), making it a Class A misdemeanor to carry a firearm with intent to go armed - except during activities like hunting, safety courses, or supervised practice. The bill would have directly affected juveniles and applicants seeking concealed carry permits by changing eligibility rules and creating specific exceptions for lawful firearm activities. These changes were part of amendments to Tennessee's firearms statutes (Title 39, Chapter 17), but the bill was withdrawn before enactment.
SB 635 removes specific legal provisions from Tennessee's criminal code. It deletes the rule that killing during certain crimes (like robbery) automatically qualifies as first-degree murder, and eliminates sections defining criminal responsibility for another person's actions or "facilitation" of felonies. These changes affect how murder charges are classified and defended in court, specifically removing three existing legal elements from the law. The bill does not create new policies but deletes existing provisions in Tennessee Code sections related to murder and criminal responsibility.
SB 613, a proposed Tennessee bill, would have allowed individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) to have their criminal records expunged after 20 years from completing their sentence, provided they had no other criminal convictions. It required petitioners to pay a $50 fee, with the funds directed to county alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment programs. The bill amended Tennessee expungement law (TCA Title 40, Chapter 32) to extend the waiting period for DUI convictions from 10 to 20 years and added the fee requirement. The bill was introduced on January 31, 2025, but was withdrawn on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.
SB 414 (withdrawn on February 4, 2025) proposed a rule requiring Tennessee public schools and charter schools to prohibit student use of personal electronic devices (like phones or tablets) during the school day, except for specific exceptions. These exceptions include devices provided by the school, authorized use under school policy, or devices used for assistive technology under a student’s IEP or 504 plan. The bill would have required school boards to create and submit written policies by July 31, 2025, including emergency notification procedures for parents. As it was withdrawn, this bill never became law.
HB 146 requires Tennessee's Department of Education to establish a process for local school districts (LEAs) to submit real-time enrollment data, enabling continuous adjustment of education funding throughout the school year. It revises infrastructure stipend criteria to base payments on a 2% annual student enrollment growth threshold and classroom space needs, and mandates that state funding for charter school students must be distributed no later than the date LEAs pay charter schools. The bill directly affects school districts, charter schools, and state education funding mechanisms by changing how allocations are calculated and delivered. These changes apply to the 2025-2026 school year and beyond, as outlined in amended sections of Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49.
HB 188 requires physicians and surgeons attending pregnant patients in Tennessee to conduct specific blood tests during pregnancy. It mandates syphilis testing at the first visit, between 28-32 weeks gestation, and at delivery, while clarifying that hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) testing is part of standard prenatal care. All results must be reported to local health departments for communicable disease tracking. This directly affects all healthcare providers delivering prenatal care in the state and ensures consistent testing for two preventable infections during each pregnancy.
HB 290 converts Tennessee's temporary school safety alert grant pilot program into a permanent statewide program for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. It removes the previous limit on the number of grants awarded each year and sets a $8,000 annual cap per school for purchasing approved panic alert systems. The bill directs the state education department to award grants to public, charter, private, and church-related schools across Tennessee's three grand divisions, prioritizing first-come, first-served applications while ensuring geographic distribution. Funds from the pilot program are transferred to a new dedicated grant fund effective July 1, 2025, with annual reports required for the legislature.
