Tennessee Bills

HB 1531, if passed, would require Tennessee's governor to declare a statewide day of mourning and order the state flag flown at half-staff over the capitol whenever a current or former state legislator dies. This applies to all members of the Tennessee General Assembly, with one exception: the governor would not need to act if the deceased member had been convicted of a felony. The bill amends Tennessee law to establish this protocol for legislative members' deaths, replacing the existing flag display rules. It directly affects the governor’s ceremonial duties and the state capitol’s flag display during mourning periods.

HB 1777 requires Tennessee's comptroller of the treasury to compile and report de-identified data about real estate investment trusts (REITs) that purchased 10+ single-family homes in the state during 2025. The report, due by December 31, 2026, must include the number of homes bought (with appraised values), homes acquired via foreclosure, homes sold that year, and homes used as rentals. This data will be submitted to the governor, legislative leaders, and committee chairs overseeing housing. The bill directly affects REITs meeting the 2025 purchase threshold, focusing on transparency around their single-family home market activity.

HJR 729 proposes a constitutional amendment to change Tennessee's election dates for most county-level judicial and civil officials. It would move these elections from the first Thursday in August to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, starting in 2034 for most offices (excluding property assessors). Property assessors would continue to be elected in August, beginning in 2032. The amendment aims to align local election dates with federal and state general election schedules.

SB 1932 requires Tennessee state and local elected officials' personally identifying information (like home addresses and phone numbers) to be kept confidential by government entities, with limited exceptions. It mandates redaction of this information wherever possible but does not restrict access to other public records or close existing personnel files. The bill explicitly allows law enforcement, courts, and other government agencies to access this information for official duties, and officials can choose to authorize public disclosure of their details. This law affects all elected state and local officials and takes effect on July 1, 2026.

HB 985 modifies Tennessee's firearm laws by removing the criminal offense for possessing a weapon in a properly posted building or property, and eliminating automatic permit suspensions for this violation. It requires property owners who restrict firearms to post clear signage, install metal detectors at all public entrances, and have trained security officers inspect all visitors and bags. This primarily affects businesses, venues, and property managers seeking to prohibit firearms, while exempting libraries, law enforcement buildings, Head Start facilities, and certain licensed properties. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and shifts enforcement focus to physical security measures rather than criminal penalties for non-compliance.

SB 368 removes a market value cap that previously limited property tax relief for disabled veterans in Tennessee. It requires the state to fully reimburse eligible disabled veterans for all local property taxes paid each year on their primary residence, instead of capping relief at a specific property value. This directly affects disabled veterans who own and live in their primary residence and qualify for property tax relief under Tennessee law. The change takes effect for tax years beginning July 1, 2025.

SB 477 expands Tennessee's compensation program to cover individuals wrongfully imprisoned whose charges were dismissed after sentences were vacated under specific statutes (such as §40-30-102 or §40-26-105), not just those exonerated through traditional means. It allows these individuals to file claims with the Board of Claims within one year of dismissal, including those affected before the law's enactment. Surviving spouses and children can now file claims on behalf of deceased wrongfully imprisoned people, with payments distributed equally among surviving family members according to specified rules. The bill amends Tennessee Code §9-8-108 to implement these changes.

This bill amends Tennessee's charitable gaming laws to create a special five-day application window for nonprofit organizations planning annual gaming events during the 2026-2027 period. The change allows these organizations to submit their applications to the secretary of state within five days after the bill becomes law, rather than following the standard submission deadline. Additionally, the bill requires the secretary of state to transfer an updated list of approved organizations to the legislature within ten days of the bill's effective date. This adjustment applies specifically to events scheduled between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027, and affects only nonprofit groups operating charitable gaming events in Tennessee.

HB 2406 would amend Tennessee's property tax law to set a 400-acre maximum limit for tax exemptions on land owned by certain nonprofit entities operating qualifying tourist resorts. Specifically, it targets nonprofits that run "premier type tourist resorts" as defined in state law. The bill changes the existing exemption rule to ensure these organizations cannot claim tax breaks for more than 400 acres of property. This policy change directly affects nonprofit operators of large-scale tourist resorts seeking property tax exemptions under current law. The bill is still in committee review and has not become law.

HB 2113 designates cast iron cookware as Tennessee's official frontier cookware under state law. This symbolic bill (amending TCA Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3) has no practical effect on policy, regulations, or funding - it only adds a ceremonial designation to state statutes. It directly affects no individuals, businesses, or government programs, as it solely recognizes a cultural tradition. The bill's language emphasizes cast iron cookware's historical role and modern attributes like being chemical-free and recyclable. As a procedural measure, it does not create new obligations or alter existing laws.

HB 2378 designates October 11 of each year as "General Pulaski Memorial Day" in Tennessee to honor Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, a Polish-born Revolutionary War hero who died on that date in 1779. The bill adds this observance to Tennessee law (TCA Title 15, Chapter 2) but specifies it is not a legal holiday. It aims to commemorate Pulaski's military service, his role as "Father of the American Cavalry," and recognize Polish-American contributions to Tennessee, aligning with the federal observance of the same day. The bill does not create new policies or affect specific groups beyond establishing a state-level day of remembrance.

HB 2573 requires child care programs in Tennessee to employ staff aged 18 or older as teachers or assistant teachers for children four years old or younger. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 49-1-1103(a) and related provisions to establish this age requirement, directly affecting early childhood educators in licensed child care settings. It takes effect on July 1, 2026, and does not apply to staff working with older children. The policy change aims to set a minimum age standard for early education roles, with no additional provisions or exemptions described in the bill text.