Tennessee Bills

This bill is a joint resolution that formally honors J.P. Payne, the boys' basketball coach at Knoxville Central High School, for being named District 3, Class 4A Coach of the Year. The resolution recognizes his leadership in guiding the team to a historic 28 wins and a district championship during the 2025-2026 season. It serves as an official commendation from the Tennessee General Assembly rather than a law that changes policy or affects public funding. The document will be presented to Coach Payne as a gesture of appreciation for his coaching achievements.

HJR 1529 is a joint resolution that formally honors Allysa Nixon, a student from Gordonsville High School, for being named a Top Ten Senior in the 2026 graduating class. The bill recognizes her academic achievements, including an exemplary grade point average and participation in extracurricular activities, and commends her performance to the Tennessee General Assembly. Upon passage, the resolution will be presented to Allysa Nixon as an official acknowledgment of her success and will include a copy without the legislative signatures for her personal use.

This bill is a joint resolution that formally honors former U.S. Congressman Robert Nelson Clement for his distinguished service to Tennessee. It recognizes his career achievements, including his time in the Tennessee Public Service Commission, the U.S. House of Representatives, and his leadership roles at Cumberland University and the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum. The resolution does not create new laws or change policies; instead, it serves as an official commendation to acknowledge Clement's contributions to public service and historic preservation.

This joint resolution honors Laurel McCuiston, the 2026 valedictorian of Sale Creek High School, for her academic excellence. The bill formally commends her outstanding grade point average and encourages her future success. It authorizes the General Assembly to present a copy of the resolution to her as a gesture of recognition.

HB 2221 increases the required notice period for crime victims registered in Tennessee's criminal proceedings notification system from 24 to 36 hours before any hearing related to their case. This change directly affects victims who have opted into the state's notification system to receive updates about criminal cases involving them. The bill amends Tennessee Code Section 40-38-507(b)(1) to implement this longer notice period, affecting how the system communicates with registered victims. The policy change focuses solely on extending the notice window for victims' awareness, with no other provisions or impacts described in the bill text.

SB 2206, the "Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Act," enables Tennessee to participate in a federal tax credit program that allows individuals to claim tax credits for contributions to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). The bill requires the Tennessee Department of Education to certify and publish a list of qualified SGOs meeting federal criteria, ensuring these organizations can provide scholarships for elementary and secondary education expenses - including home schooling - under federal law. This directly affects Tennessee students attending private or home schools by expanding access to scholarship funding through tax-credit donations, while SGOs gain eligibility to receive these contributions. The law aligns Tennessee with federal regulations to maintain state eligibility for the tax credit starting in 2027.

HB 2130 creates a new pathway for graduates of ABET-accredited engineering technology programs to become registered engineers in Tennessee. To qualify, applicants must have at least eight years of supervised engineering experience, provide references from three licensed Tennessee engineers, and pass two national exams (fundamentals and principles/practice). The bill directly affects engineering technology graduates seeking licensure, expanding eligibility beyond traditional engineering degree holders. It modifies Tennessee's licensing rules to include this category of applicants, effective July 1, 2026.

SB 2226 amends Tennessee law to extend the required notice period for land use violations under the Megasite Authority of West Tennessee from 10 to 14 days before assessing civil penalties. It directly affects individuals or entities who violate the Authority's land use regulations. The key provision changes Section 64-9-109(f)(1) to mandate written notice of at least 14 days prior to penalty assessment. This is a procedural adjustment to penalty procedures, not a substantive policy change. The bill requires the Authority to provide longer notice before imposing fines for land use violations.

SB 2201 allows juvenile courts in Tennessee to suspend a student’s driving privileges or prevent them from obtaining a driver’s license for up to one year if the student is adjudicated "unruly" for unlawful school absences. This applies specifically to students referred to juvenile court for truancy and found unruly under Tennessee law. The bill amends existing statutes (TCA Title 37, 49, and 55) to add driving suspension as a permitted court disposition. It directly affects students facing juvenile court for truancy-related offenses, with the policy change taking effect July 1, 2026. The measure does not alter truancy reporting requirements but expands potential consequences for adjudicated cases.

HB 2101 increases the annual purchase limit for over-the-counter ephedrine and pseudoephedrine products from 43.2 grams to 61.2 grams per person. It updates tracking system references from "NPLEx" to "electronic sales tracking system" and requires manufacturers of these products sold in Tennessee to pay monthly fees to the system administrator starting January 1, 2027. Pharmacies must use the electronic system to record sales, generate stop-sale alerts for individuals on the methamphetamine registry, and prevent prohibited sales, with the system designed to be free for pharmacies and law enforcement.

SB 2194 requires public benefit hospitals in Tennessee to provide written notice to the Attorney General and the State Reporter at least 30 days before selling or transferring hospital assets (a "public benefit hospital conveyance transaction"). This notice requirement applies directly to public benefit hospital entities operating under Tennessee law. The bill amends existing statutes (Tennessee Code §§ 48-68-203(a) and related sections) to establish this advance notification process, enhancing transparency for public oversight of such transactions. The law takes effect upon enactment, with no changes to the underlying transaction rules themselves.

SB 2184 modifies Tennessee estate laws to clarify that the Uniform Partition Heirs Property Act does not apply when selling land to pay estate debts. It changes how courts calculate a surviving spouse’s right to claim a portion of the estate (elective share) by aligning with federal estate tax rules and excluding certain assets. The bill also updates conservatorship petition requirements to specify what must be included in the filing. These changes directly affect estate administrators, creditors, and surviving spouses handling estate settlements in Tennessee. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.