Tennessee Bills

SB 2197 allows courts to expunge certain violent offenses from a person's record after they've received a pardon, directly affecting individuals who have been pardoned for specific crimes. The bill amends Tennessee law to remove the previous requirement that expungement petitions be limited to "nonviolent" offenses, instead requiring courts to specifically consider whether the offense sought for expungement was violent (such as murder, aggravated kidnapping, or sexual offenses involving minors). Courts must weigh the best interests of justice and public safety, including factors presented by both the petitioner and the district attorney general, when deciding such petitions. This creates a rebuttable presumption in favor of expungement for non-violent offenses while adding a specific review step for violent offenses.

SB 2238, known as the "Hunting for Heroes Act," creates a free Tennessee National Guard sportsman license for eligible members. This license allows Tennessee National Guard members in good standing to hunt and fish without cost, providing the same benefits as a standard resident sportsman license. To qualify, applicants must provide a valid U.S. military ID and Tennessee National Guard membership verification from the adjutant general. The state will cover all license costs using general funds, not wildlife resources money, and the law takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 2212 extends the deadline for estates of emergency responders killed in the line of duty to file claims and appeals. It changes the filing window from three years to the later of the death date or the date a court or official designates the death as duty-related, and extends appeal deadlines from 90 days to one year. The bill specifically adds formal appeal processes for estates of firefighters, volunteer rescue squad workers, and emergency medical technicians through designated commissions. These changes apply to Tennessee Code Annotated sections covering firefighter, law enforcement, and emergency medical services compensation. The bill takes effect retroactively to March 1, 2020.

SB 2165 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services to provide foster parents with a copy of any petition to end parental rights for a child they've cared for continuously for nine or more months. The department must deliver this copy within seven days of the petition being filed or served on them. This applies to foster parents who have served as the child's physical placement for the required period and aligns with existing requirements for sharing child-related information. The bill amends Tennessee law (Sections 36-1-113 and 37-2-415) to ensure foster parents receive timely notice of legal actions affecting their foster child.

SB 2205 requires Tennessee's Department of Transportation to include five specific details in its annual report to state legislators about transportation projects funded by the transportation modernization fund. These details are the project cost estimate, current development phase, how the project will be built, expected completion date, and a map showing the project's location. The bill directly affects the Department of Transportation (which must provide this information) and state legislators (who receive the updated report). This is a procedural change to reporting requirements, not a new policy or funding measure.

This bill updates Tennessee law to replace the term "marital and family therapists" with "marriage and family therapists" across multiple code sections (including Titles 4, 8, 33, 36, 52, 56, 63, and 68). It primarily corrects terminology in licensing, practice, and regulatory provisions affecting therapists and the Board of Examiners. Key additions include Section 16, which establishes reciprocal licensing agreements with other states and defines endorsement requirements, and Section 20, which clarifies exemptions for interns and certain professionals. The bill does not alter clinical practice standards but standardizes the profession’s official name in state law.

SB 2231 updates Tennessee's oil and gas drilling regulations by revising key definitions (replacing "crude petroleum" with "oil" and clarifying "well" to include production boreholes), reducing required buffer zones from streams from 0.5 miles to 0.25 miles, and mandating permits for surface disturbances and drilling operations. It requires operators to submit and comply with approved plans, with non-compliance risking suspension, permit revocation, or fines. These changes directly affect oil and gas operators, producers, and drilling companies conducting well operations across Tennessee. The bill modernizes procedural requirements while maintaining environmental and operational safeguards for drilling activities.

SB 2525 allows Tennessee high school students aged 15-19 to work in childcare centers outside school hours or through approved work-based learning programs, provided they've completed at least two courses in an education/training career cluster. The bill directly affects eligible students and childcare centers that can hire them under these conditions. It prohibits students from working in childcare centers located in a primary caregiver's home and requires the state department to create implementing rules. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 2239 requires Tennessee medical and osteopathic license holders to complete at least one hour of annual continuing education on nutrition topics. This applies specifically to the Board of Medical Examiners (under Title 63, Chapter 6) and the Board of Osteopathic Examination (under Title 63, Chapter 9). The bill amends existing law to mandate this nutrition education requirement as part of their standard continuing education hours. The policy change will affect all physicians and osteopathic physicians renewing their licenses in Tennessee, effective January 1, 2028.

SB 2535 requires Tennessee's Department of Education to work with the Department of Safety to create guidelines for public schools and charter schools offering driver education courses. These guidelines must include safety driving tips, use of the Department of Safety's driver license manual for instruction, and lessons on the dangers of driving under the influence and distracted driving. The bill directly affects all local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools providing driver education. It mandates these specific content requirements to standardize safety education, effective July 1, 2026. The bill does not provide funding or change existing course requirements but sets new instructional standards.

SB 2232 establishes clear rules for distributing funds from Tennessee's governor's response and recovery fund after disasters. It requires that the governor and local governments declare a state of emergency, federal aid must be unavailable or insufficient, and costs must exceed specific thresholds before funds can be provided. The bill specifies that funds can cover debris removal, emergency protective measures, and repairing infrastructure like roads, bridges, and public utilities - excluding damage already covered by insurance - but cannot be used for public property damage. Eligible local governments (counties, cities, etc.) and individuals must prove residency, need, and meet cost criteria, with local cost-sharing required for grants based on a county's economic status.

SB 2225 modifies Tennessee's child abuse investigation process. It requires child protective teams handling human trafficking cases to include a representative from a non-governmental agency specializing in combating commercial sexual exploitation of minors (previously permitted but not required). The bill also extends the deadline for determining if reported abuse was indicated or unfounded from 60 days to 90 days for most cases, and to 180 days for child fatality cases (with possible 180-day extensions for good cause). These changes directly affect child protective teams, state departments handling abuse reports, and children involved in trafficking or severe abuse investigations.