Tennessee Bills

SB 2273 amends Tennessee law to require real estate buyers who assign their purchase contracts (wholesalers) to provide sellers with at least five business days' notice before an assignment becomes effective. This increases the minimum notice period from three to five business days, directly affecting real estate buyers engaged in wholesaling and the sellers they work with. The bill modifies Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 66, Section 66-4-403(a)(1)(B), to extend the notice requirement for assignments of a buyer's interest. The change provides sellers with additional time to review assignment details before the transaction finalizes.

SB 2286 requires Tennessee's Commissioner of Health to study how neighboring states grant practice independence to certified nurse midwives. The study will examine varying levels of practice authority in those states, and the commissioner must compile findings and recommendations into a report to be delivered to the legislature by December 31, 2026. This bill does not change current laws or midwife practice rules - it only mandates a research study. The study will inform future legislative decisions but does not directly affect midwives, patients, or healthcare providers. The bill is procedural and focuses solely on gathering comparative data.

SB 2463 amends Tennessee law to end a parent's legal obligation for child support when a child turns 19, unless the child has a disability or handicap. This change directly affects parents paying child support and children transitioning to adulthood, replacing previous rules that allowed support to continue until high school graduation. The bill specifically updates Tennessee Code sections 34-1-102 (child support duration), 36-5-101 (support enforcement), and 37-1 (related provisions) to set 19 as the new cutoff age. It does not extend support beyond 19 for non-disabled children, though parents may still be required to pay if a child is disabled under existing law.

SB 2324 requires parents in certain juvenile custody or visitation cases - specifically those involving unmarried parents whose parentage is established or modified - to attend a mandatory 4-hour parent education seminar. The seminar covers co-parenting skills, reducing conflict, child emotional well-being, and adverse childhood experiences, but excludes minors from attending. Courts may waive the requirement for safety concerns (like domestic violence), indigent parents, or impractical circumstances. Failure to comply without a waiver may be considered in custody decisions but does not prevent court rulings.

SB 2459 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services to share its annual report on "zero to three courts" (programs for infants and toddlers in the justice system) and "safe baby courts" with the Commission on Children and Youth. The bill amends Tennessee law to add the Commission as a mandatory recipient of this report, alongside existing recipients like court directors and committee chairs. This change ensures the Commission receives regular updates on these specialized court programs, enabling better oversight and coordination. The bill does not alter program operations but mandates a specific reporting pathway. (3 sentences)

SB 2652 requires new applicants for a livestock market license in Tennessee to provide their email address on the application form, in addition to their name, address, and phone number. This change applies specifically to individuals or businesses seeking a new license to operate a livestock market, as outlined in amendments to Tennessee Code Sections 43-11-102(a)(1), 44-11-102(a)(1), and 53-11-102(a)(1). The bill does not alter existing operational rules for licensed markets but updates the required information for new license applications. It takes effect upon becoming law.

SB 2253 establishes a specific process for handling traffic violations committed by autonomous vehicles (self-driving cars) in Tennessee. It requires police to mail violation notices or citations directly to the vehicle's registered owner within 20 business days, rather than issuing them to the vehicle itself. The notice must include the fine amount, allow 30 days for payment (with a possible 30-day extension if a second notice is sent), and specify separate fees for late payment or court costs. This bill directly affects owners of autonomous vehicles and law enforcement officers who must follow this mailing procedure for traffic citations.

SB 2334 allows Tennessee local governments with at least $20 million in annual revenue to choose any construction project delivery method (like design-build, design-bid-build, or construction manager at-risk) for projects costing over $5 million. It requires these governments to select contractors through a competitive process and confirms existing local rules authorize such selections. The bill directly affects counties, cities, utility districts, and other local entities meeting the revenue threshold. It does not change existing requirements for smaller projects or governments below the revenue limit. The law would take effect upon enactment.

SB 2371 amends Tennessee law to clarify that tenure rules and dismissal processes for school staff do not apply to individuals holding temporary academic or clinical permits. The bill updates two specific sections of state code (TCA 49-5-501 and 49-2-301) to explicitly exclude these temporary permit holders from definitions of "teacher" and related personnel procedures. This change directly affects educators working under temporary permits, ensuring they are not subject to standard tenure or dismissal protocols. The legislation focuses solely on defining eligibility for existing personnel rules, without creating new policies or funding mechanisms.

SB 2597 allows Tennessee's wildlife agency to partner with local police to enforce wildlife laws, requiring written agreements that specify which rules officers can enforce (like bear feeding prohibitions) and mandating regular reports on enforcement actions. It creates a Class B misdemeanor for knowingly feeding black bears in areas where such feeding is prohibited, punishable by a $250+ fine, while unintentional feeding due to unsecured food leads to a written warning for first offenses and fines for repeat violations. The law directly affects residents in designated bear areas and local law enforcement agencies participating in the enforcement partnerships. It takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to violations occurring after that date.

SB 2279 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to publish all inspection criteria used for pain management clinics on its website, making compliance standards transparent for clinics. It mandates that the department publicly share the criteria for identifying "high-risk" prescribers (based on patient overdose rates) and remove such designations after prescribers complete required training. The bill also exempts pain management specialists from the high-risk prescriber list and allows them to temporarily cover for medical directors without counting toward the four-clinic limit for medical directors. These changes directly affect pain management clinics, prescribers, and pain management specialists by clarifying regulatory expectations and providing pathways to address high-risk designations.

This bill officially recognizes the annual winner of the Old Time Bluegrass and Fiddlers' Jamboree in Holladay as Tennessee's state champion fiddler. It amends state code to formally designate this title for the competition winner, which has been held since 1957 and celebrates traditional fiddle music. The bill does not create new programs or funding - it simply establishes a ceremonial recognition for the event's top fiddler. This designation directly affects the winner of the West Tennessee Fiddlers' Championship held each April in Holladay.