Tennessee Bills

This bill restricts Tennessee's animal health commissioner from mandating tests or vaccinations for general animal health protection. Instead, the commissioner may only require such measures to detect or treat USDA-listed "notifiable" (emergency/emerging/regulatory) or "monitored" (endemic) diseases. The commissioner retains the ability to recommend tests or vaccinations for general animal health protection. The law directly affects animal owners, importers, and the commissioner by narrowing when mandatory health actions can be ordered under state law.

SB 2365, the "Parental Rights Protection Act," requires courts to hold an expedited hearing within 15 days if a bond condition restricts a defendant's parental contact, custody, or visitation with a minor child (excluding cases where the child is a victim). The government must prove, with clear evidence, that a present threat of harm exists, less restrictive alternatives won't prevent harm, and the restriction serves the child's best interests. The bill presumes parental contact is in the child's best interest, shifting the burden to the government to justify restrictions. This directly affects defendants in criminal cases, courts issuing bond conditions, and children whose custody or visitation rights are restricted.

SB 2601 increases the retained risk limit for county mutual insurance companies in Tennessee from $100,000 to $250,000 per single risk covered by an insurance policy. This change directly affects county mutual insurance companies operating under Tennessee law, allowing them to cover larger individual risks without seeking additional reinsurance. The bill amends two specific sections of Tennessee Code Annotated (Title 56, Chapter 22, Sections 56-22-106(c)(1)(B) and (c)(2)) to update the dollar amount. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026.

SB 2466 clarifies that stealing merchandise from a cargo container with the intent to avoid paying the full price constitutes theft under Tennessee law. It directly affects individuals who enter cargo containers to remove goods without authorization. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee's criminal code to specifically include "entering a cargo container and removing merchandise" as a defined theft offense. This change makes it explicitly illegal to steal from containers with the intent to deprive merchants of the merchandise's full value. The law focuses on preventing cargo theft by clearly defining the act as a criminal offense.

SB 1720 makes two specific changes to Tennessee's public records law. It requires that addresses on nominating petitions for judicial and prosecutorial roles (like judge, district attorney, or public defender) be kept confidential, preventing public access to these addresses. It also requires that job application materials submitted by individuals seeking government employment be kept confidential. These changes amend Tennessee Code Sections 2-5-102 and 10-7-504 to establish these confidentiality protections.

SB 1712 would authorize Tennessee county mayors to lower flags on county property to half-staff to honor the death of a prominent citizen within their county, and similarly authorize municipal chief executives to do the same on municipal property. The bill amends Tennessee Code to provide this specific authority for county and municipal officials, replacing any need for ad-hoc resolutions for such tributes. This change directly affects county and municipal governments by establishing a clear statutory process for honoring notable community members who have passed away.

SB 1740 changes penalties for individuals under 21 who illegally purchase or possess tobacco, vaping, or nicotine products. For a first violation, courts may now require community service (up to 50 hours), completion of a court program about product dangers, or a 90-day informal adjustment. For second or subsequent violations, courts must add up to six months of probation (along with community service and the program). Parents or guardians of minors may face a $10-$50 civil penalty, and the law takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 1593 extends the deadline for Tennessee counties to report mineral severance tax revenue usage from 30 to 90 days after their fiscal year ends. It requires counties receiving these funds to submit annual reports detailing how much revenue was deposited into their road funds, how much was spent, and specifically how it was used for road construction, maintenance, and repairs. The bill removes the comptroller of the treasury as a report recipient but mandates that these reports undergo audit by the comptroller. This change applies to counties managing mineral severance tax revenue allocated to their road funds, as amended in Tennessee Code Annotated Section 67-7-207.

SB 1684 expands Tennessee's definition of a "disabled driver" to include people in their second or third trimester of pregnancy or those with a pregnancy certified as high-risk by a physician. This change directly affects pregnant individuals seeking eligibility for disabled driver placards, which provide parking privileges. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 21, by adding a new definition under Section 55-21-102(3) to include these pregnancy-related conditions. The policy change allows qualifying pregnant people to obtain disabled placards under the same criteria currently used for other medical disabilities.

SB 1488 requires any flag flown over Tennessee's state capitol building to be displayed at half-staff from sunrise to sunset every December 7, in observance of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. This bill directly affects the state capitol's flag display protocol, amending Tennessee Code Annotated Section 4-1-406 to add this annual requirement. The key provision mandates the half-staff observance specifically for the capitol building, not all public buildings or flags statewide. The law would take effect upon becoming law, with no additional funding or enforcement mechanisms specified.

SB 1473 would allow municipal courts to require cities to fix property maintenance violations when owners fail to correct them within 30 days. It mandates that cities perform the repairs and then place a lien on the property to recover the costs from the owner. This bill directly affects property owners who ignore local maintenance rules. If enacted, it would change enforcement by shifting repair costs to owners through a property lien instead of relying solely on fines.

SB 1478 would require Tennessee's transportation commissioner to notify state representatives and senators from the affected county whenever they enter a contract to fix a transportation emergency, such as a bridge failure. This bill directly affects local state lawmakers in counties experiencing transportation system failures. The key change adds these elected officials to the existing list of recipients for written notices about emergency repairs, expanding current notification requirements under Tennessee law. The bill is procedural and does not change funding or repair standards. It remains pending as of its introduction date.