Tennessee Bills

HB 3, introduced in Tennessee's 2025 legislative session, requires the state Supreme Court budget to include annual funding for a security detail to accompany the Chief Justice during all official state business. This bill directly affects the Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court by mandating security coverage for their official duties. The key provision amends Tennessee Code Sections 16-3-103 (relating to court expenses) to explicitly include this security detail funding, effective July 1, 2025. The bill was withdrawn on January 16, 2025, and did not become law.

HB 137 gives home buyers or borrowers in Tennessee the exclusive right to select the company that handles the closing of a real estate transaction (called a settlement agent). It also allows sellers to hire their own attorney to represent them during closing, and prohibits the settlement agent from charging the seller certain fees without the attorney’s written consent. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025, and applies to all real property transactions in the state. This change ensures buyers control the closing process while giving sellers access to independent legal representation.

HB 82 updates Tennessee's ethics rules by clarifying that indirect gifts to candidates or officials - including those from entities tied to a lobbyist's employer - are prohibited. It also requires the governor and cabinet officers to publicly disclose travel expenses paid by entities with interests in state policy, excluding government-funded travel. The bill directly affects lobbyists, candidates, and state officials by tightening gift restrictions and expanding travel reporting. Currently pending committee review (withdrawn January 15, 2025), it would take effect July 1, 2025, if enacted.

HB 74 would have imposed mandatory penalties for selling hemp-derived cannabinoid products (like CBD) to anyone under 21. Specifically, it would require a minimum 48-hour jail sentence and a $500 fine for sellers convicted of this offense. The bill aimed to amend Tennessee law to cover these sales under existing criminal statutes. However, the bill was introduced on January 14, 2025, but withdrawn the next day and not advanced further. It is no longer active legislation.

HJR 6 is a symbolic joint resolution honoring Ralph Schulz upon his retirement after 18 years as CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. It recognizes his service since 2006, his community board involvement (including Nashville Health Care Council and Tennessee Business Roundtable), and his professional reputation. The resolution expresses the General Assembly's "heartfelt wishes" for his retirement and future success but contains no policy changes or legal requirements. As a ceremonial resolution, it directly affects only Ralph Schulz, with no financial, regulatory, or operational impact on constituents or state programs.

SB 23 would have extended Davidson County's temporary $0.50 hotel occupancy tax (used for tourism promotion) and the oversight committee's term by six years, moving the expiration from 2020 to 2026. The bill directly affected Davidson County (which includes Nashville) by allowing continued use of hotel tax revenue for tourism marketing. It amended Tennessee Code Section 7-4-202 to adjust the tax expiration date and committee terms. The bill was filed on January 2, 2025, but withdrawn just five days later on January 7, 2025, and is no longer active.

This bill establishes the East Bank Development Authority as a new agency within the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. The Authority is designed to manage and promote economic growth in a specific area bounded by the Cumberland River and major interstate highways. It grants the new body broad powers to acquire land, develop projects, lease properties, issue bonds for funding, and provide financial incentives to attract businesses. Ultimately, the legislation creates a dedicated organization to oversee infrastructure and development efforts in the designated East Bank region.

This bill modifies the deadline for health care facilities in Tennessee to submit required reports, changing the date from March 1 to January 15. The change directly affects hospitals and other health care organizations regulated under multiple state codes. By moving the deadline earlier, the legislation ensures that these facilities provide updated information to regulators by mid-January instead of the end of winter. The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

This bill authorizes the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages on specific types of commercial passenger buses in Tennessee. To qualify, a bus must be at least forty-five feet long, have a separate galley area, and transport an attendant who holds a valid server permit. The law prohibits sales while the bus is stopped in areas that have not approved such sales or when traveling on routes shorter than one hundred miles. Additionally, the bill updates related state codes to include these buses in regulations governing alcohol licenses and fees.

This bill prohibits the sale of refrigerated or cold beer at retail by any person or entity holding a beer permit in Tennessee. The law applies to all existing and future beer permit holders and takes effect immediately upon becoming law. By restricting cold beer sales, the legislation aims to regulate how alcohol is sold at retail locations.

This bill updates the rules for how Tennessee's public colleges and universities select their accreditation agencies. It requires the state commission and university boards to choose accreditors recognized by the federal government by the end of 2024 and ensures schools can pick from any federal-approved option. The law also protects institutions from being forced to break state laws by an accreditor, allowing them to sue for damages if they face retaliation for complying with state regulations.

This bill amends Tennessee state codes to allow the Department of Correction to submit certain reports electronically. It directly affects the administrative procedures of the state correctional system by adding a specific provision to the relevant statutes. The change removes a requirement for physical submission of reports, streamlining how the department handles official documentation. This legislative update simplifies internal reporting processes without altering the core operations of inmate care or facility management.