Tennessee Bills

HB 350 would amend Tennessee law to require the commissioner of correction to send the annual report on state correctional facility transactions to the legislative librarian, in addition to the general assembly. This procedural change updates the report distribution list without altering the report's content or the oversight process for correctional facilities. The bill specifically targets multiple Tennessee Code sections to formalize this new recipient. As introduced, it did not propose substantive policy changes to correctional operations.

HB 394, introduced in Tennessee (but later withdrawn on February 3, 2025), required the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to post annual progress reports submitted by municipal solid waste regions on its website in a publicly accessible format. The bill specifically amended Tennessee Code Section 68-211-814 to mandate this online availability of the reports. This change directly affected local waste management regions that submit these reports and aimed to increase public access to waste management data. The bill did not alter waste management practices or funding but focused solely on transparency through public reporting. As it was withdrawn, the requirement was never enacted into law.

HB 446, introduced in Tennessee but withdrawn on February 3, 2025, aimed to prohibit state and local governments from enforcing or collaborating with mandates from the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations (UN), or World Economic Forum (WEF). The bill would have blocked Tennessee entities (including counties, schools, and health agencies) from complying with global health initiatives like the International Health Regulations (IHR), vaccine mandates, or data collection efforts promoted by these organizations. It also banned accepting funding tied to such organizations and imposed civil penalties of up to $20,000 for violations. The bill did not ban the organizations themselves but sought to prevent their mandates from affecting state or local actions. As withdrawn, it never became law.

HJR 76 is a resolution expressing the Tennessee General Assembly's support for faith-based recovery programs addressing addiction and homelessness. It commends these programs for providing spiritual and community-based assistance through private donations and volunteer efforts, without relying on government funding. The resolution encourages continued private support and awareness-raising about their work but does not create new laws or require government action. As a symbolic gesture, it has no binding legal effect.

HB 376 prohibits state regulatory and health-related boards from excluding individuals or operating based on race, color, ethnicity, or national origin. It bans race-based policies (including affirmative action or quotas) for board composition and prohibits using racial data to determine membership. The bill creates a private legal right to sue boards and their staff for violations, with minimum $4,000 statutory damages plus potential compensatory or punitive damages. The bill was introduced in Tennessee on January 27, 2025, but was withdrawn on February 3, 2025, and did not become law.

HB 423 would have exempted subsidiaries of Tennessee agricultural cooperatives from business privilege taxes, regardless of their legal structure (e.g., corporation, LLC, or partnership). It applied to any subsidiary controlled by an agricultural cooperative where profits benefit the parent cooperative, ensuring these entities aren’t taxed as profit-making businesses. The bill aimed to simplify tax treatment for agricultural cooperatives by removing the requirement that subsidiaries must be incorporated as corporations to qualify for the exemption. However, the bill was withdrawn on February 3, 2025, and did not become law.

HB 13, introduced in Tennessee for the 2025 legislative session, requires all public school districts and charter schools to create and publish policies banning student use of wireless devices (like phones, tablets, or laptops) during instructional time. Exceptions include teacher-approved educational use, emergencies, health management, or if a student’s special education plan (IEP) or 504 plan permits it. Schools must also allow teachers to temporarily confiscate devices for policy violations. The bill was withdrawn before passing and never took effect.

HB 429 makes it illegal to impersonate a ride-hailing driver (like Uber or Lyft) or falsely claim to be responding to a passenger request. If committed during another felony (e.g., robbery), it becomes a Class E felony; otherwise, it’s a Class C misdemeanor. The bill targets individuals pretending to be part of transportation network companies, aiming to protect passengers and companies from fraud. The bill was introduced in 2025 but withdrawn before becoming law.

HB 63 creates Tennessee's HOPE pilot program to support homeless families and those at risk of homelessness. It requires the Tennessee Housing Development Agency to establish county-level facilities with health clinics, classrooms, and child-safe spaces, offering four staged support levels - from basic needs like ID assistance and emergency shelter to permanent housing with job training and educational support. The program partners with local nonprofits, streamlines ID documentation using facility addresses, and expires in 2030. It applies only to counties with 100,000-101,000 residents per the 2020 census.

SB 137, a proposed Tennessee bill, would allow local governments (like county councils or city commissions) to approve new development projects without holding public comment sessions. It applies when the project meets most zoning requirements that were already reviewed by the public. The bill would override existing rules requiring public input (Section 8-44-112) for projects deemed substantially compliant with previously published zoning maps or regulations. The bill was introduced in January 2025 but withdrawn on February 3, 2025, and never became law.

HB 294 would allow state entities to install surveillance cameras on federal interstate highways for security purposes (like preventing terrorism or serious crimes, not traffic enforcement) and permit local law enforcement to install cameras on non-interstate public roads for the same security goals. The bill prohibits using these cameras to issue traffic citations or monitor routine violations, requiring local governments to get state approval before installing cameras on state roads. It also mandates that camera operations must not interfere with traffic safety and must be operated exclusively by law enforcement for security investigations.

SB 35 prohibits third-party ticket resellers from selling or offering to sell "speculative tickets" - defined as tickets not physically in the reseller's possession, owned by them, or under contract to be transferred at the time of sale. It directly affects ticket resellers operating online or through other platforms, requiring them to ensure all sold tickets meet the possession/ownership criteria. The law authorizes Tennessee's Consumer Affairs division to enforce the ban, impose $5,000 penalties per violation, and allows affected consumers to sue resellers for actual damages and legal fees. This bill aims to prevent fraudulent ticket sales where resellers sell tickets they cannot deliver.