Tennessee Bills

SB 2469 authorizes sitting or retired chancery, circuit, appellate, or governor-appointed judges to carry firearms in any location where law enforcement officers are permitted to carry weapons, provided the judge already qualifies for an enhanced handgun permit under existing law. The bill amends Tennessee law to explicitly extend this carrying right to qualifying judges, matching the access granted to police officers. It does not create new permit requirements but applies to judges who meet current enhanced permit criteria. The legislation affects only specific judicial officers who satisfy the existing handgun permit standards.

SB 2213 requires public utilities to submit written requests to the Tennessee Public Utility Commission when seeking cost recovery for innovative natural gas infrastructure projects. This amendment directly affects utilities that build or upgrade natural gas systems, changing the process from oral requests to formal written submissions. The bill modifies specific sections of Tennessee law (TCA Title 65, Section 65-5-114(c)) to mandate this written requirement. It is a procedural change focused on administrative clarity, not a substantive policy shift for consumers or infrastructure development.

HB 2533 terminates Tennessee's dyslexia advisory council and directs the existing advisory council for students with disabilities to handle dyslexia-related matters. It dissolves the energy efficient schools council and creates a new Office of Energy Efficient Schools within the state education department. The bill expands eligibility for individualized education accounts, allowing more students to access these funding options. These changes are part of broader revisions to Tennessee's education laws across multiple statutes.

HB 2320 requires convention center authorities in Tennessee to submit an annual audit of their finances to the municipality that authorized their creation, by January 1 each year. This bill directly affects convention center authorities and the local municipalities that granted them permission to operate. The key provision amends Tennessee law to mandate this annual audit submission to the municipality's governing body, replacing previous requirements with a specific deadline. The bill focuses on increasing financial transparency for these authorities without changing their operational structure or funding.

HB 2476 requires local government retirement programs (including Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System and non-TCRS plans) to invest assets solely for financial reasons, excluding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. It mandates that fiduciaries managing these funds conduct an economic analysis to demonstrate votes on shareholder proposals are financially motivated, and prohibits subordinating financial interests to ESG considerations. The bill affects all local retirement programs administering benefits for public employees, requiring them to prioritize financial returns for beneficiaries. Key provisions include annual disclosure of voting records and strict adherence to financial criteria in investment decisions, as defined in amended Tennessee Code § 9-4-1405.

HB 2270 directs Tennessee's Department of Finance and Administration to study and report on state funding sources derived from lawsuits or investigations that support children's online mental health and safety. Specifically, it requires a report by January 15, 2027, detailing how funds - such as civil penalties from cases under the Protecting Children from Social Media Act - are used to protect children online. The bill does not create new laws or change funding allocations but mandates this review to inform future decisions. It is a procedural measure focused solely on gathering information, not implementing policy changes.

SB 2473 changes Tennessee law to extend the deadline for metropolitan airport authorities to submit their annual operating budgets. Specifically, it increases the required submission window from 60 days to 75 days before the fiscal year begins. This affects the president of each metropolitan airport authority, who must now submit the budget to the board for approval 75 days prior to the fiscal year start date. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.

SB 2509, the "Tennessee Child Care Red Tape Reduction Act," requires local governments to expedite child care agency permit applications (processing complete applications within 90 days) and gives the state fire marshal exclusive authority to conduct fire safety inspections for licensing, replacing duplicate local inspections. It establishes statewide uniform fire safety standards, prohibits local governments from imposing additional fire safety requirements beyond these standards, and allows child care agencies to operate as "use by right" in most commercial and residential zones without special permits. The bill directly affects child care providers (who face fewer delays and standardized inspections), local governments (which must adjust permitting processes), and the state fire marshal (which gains oversight responsibility). Key changes include mandatory 5-day initial review timelines for permits, a 30-day deadline for fire inspections, and banning local inspections that duplicate state requirements.

HB 2491 eliminates fraud and economic crimes fees in Tennessee counties that have implemented a $12.50 court cost. It requires district attorneys to return existing funds collected under those fees to the original county government once the new $12.50 court cost fund balances equal the old fraud fund. The bill directly affects counties using the $12.50 fee and district attorney offices holding these funds. It changes how criminal prosecution funding is allocated by redirecting resources back to local governments when the new system meets the old fund's balance.

HB 2277 requires all Tennessee public schools to annually report every local assessment they administer - including its purpose, subject, grade level, and schedule - to the state education department. This bill eliminates schools' ability to use non-state universal screeners (like reading assessments) and mandates they use only the state-provided Tennessee universal reading screener for K-3 students. The department must create an online database showing all local assessments by school, grade, and subject, making the data publicly accessible before each school year. It also establishes an assessment review board of nine classroom teachers to evaluate the state’s TCAP tests. The bill directly affects every public school and charter school in Tennessee.

SB 2228 modifies Tennessee's education laws by ending the Dyslexia Advisory Council and directing the existing Advisory Council for Students with Disabilities to handle dyslexia-related matters. It also terminates the Energy Efficient Schools Council and creates a new Office of Energy Efficient Schools within the Department of Education. The bill expands eligibility for individualized education accounts, which allow families to use public funds for approved educational services. These changes affect students with dyslexia or disabilities, families using education accounts, and the Department of Education's administrative structure, while amending multiple education-related statutes.

HB 2485 updates Tennessee's definition of "economically disadvantaged" students to include those directly certified for free school meals (without household applications) and students from households receiving SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, or Medicaid benefits. This change affects school districts (LEAs) receiving state education funding under the TISA formula, as it alters how student need is measured for allocation purposes. The bill requires the state to provide additional funds to any district whose TISA allocation decreases due to fewer identified disadvantaged students under the new definition, ensuring funding levels match prior years for the 2027-2028 school year through 2029-2030. It also mandates the state seek federal approval to update its ESSA plan to align with this revised definition.