Tennessee Bills

HB 2216 clarifies which state contracts require review by Tennessee's Fiscal Review Committee. It sets a $250,000 threshold for noncompetitive contracts (including extensions) needing review, while removing a requirement that committees include "impact to commerce" statements in fiscal notes. The bill also specifies exemptions, such as contracts for public research benefits or highway projects already reviewed by other agencies. This directly affects state agencies, contractors, and the Fiscal Review Committee by streamlining review processes and narrowing the scope of required reviews. The bill aims to simplify procurement oversight without altering the core review requirements for major contracts.

SB 1714, titled the "Protecting Religious Liberty and Expression in Public Schools Act," amends Tennessee law to restrict how public school employees and state officials may enforce the "separation of church and state" doctrine. The bill defines this doctrine to include specific Supreme Court rulings (like *Engel v. Vitale* and *Lemon v. Kurtzman*) and prohibits state employees from enforcing it except when required by a court judgment or a directly-on-point U.S. Supreme Court ruling. It directly affects teachers, administrators, and school officials in Tennessee public schools (K-12) by limiting their ability to restrict religious expression based on the listed court decisions. Violations allow affected individuals to sue for declaratory relief, injunctions, and damages, with the law creating legal remedies for those claiming religious liberty was unjustly restricted.

SB 1707 requires that deeds transferring real property in Tennessee be prepared only by licensed attorneys, title insurance agents, the property owner, or someone legally authorized to act for the owner. It mandates that these documents include a sworn declaration under penalty of perjury (if prepared by a professional) or a notarized affidavit stating the preparer's qualifications. The bill affects anyone transferring property, with exemptions for government entities and deeds prepared by banks/credit unions for their own property interests. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and requires county registers to reject non-compliant deeds.

HB 599 makes it a Class A misdemeanor to knowingly give, sell, lend, deliver, or transfer a firearm to someone prohibited from buying or possessing a firearm under state or federal law. This applies when the transferor knows or should reasonably know the recipient is prohibited, such as someone with a felony conviction or active restraining order. Violations carry penalties for the person transferring the firearm, not the recipient. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, for all firearm transfers after that date.

HB 436 modifies property tax relief for eligible disabled veterans in Tennessee. It changes how tax relief is calculated by requiring that the first $175,000 of a property's full market value (used as the veteran's primary residence) be multiplied by the jurisdiction's standard property tax rate - not an adjusted rate - when determining relief. This directly affects disabled veterans who own qualifying residential property, ensuring relief is based on the actual local tax rate applied to their home. The change applies to tax years beginning July 1, 2025, and simplifies the calculation method for local governments.

HB 2436 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies using body cameras to create written policies governing their use. These policies must cover when officers must activate cameras (e.g., during calls for service or public encounters), how to handle privacy-sensitive situations (like domestic violence victims or anonymous crime reports), and mandate officer training. The bill prohibits using cameras to record First Amendment activities or unrelated incidents, and requires officers to notify people being recorded when possible. It directly affects all Tennessee law enforcement agencies and officers who use body cameras.

HB 2589 changes the deadline for Tennessee's Department of Revenue to submit its annual report on sales taxes collected from electronic nicotine delivery devices. The bill moves the submission date from February 1 to February 15 each year, with the new deadline applying until 2030. This procedural update affects the Department of Revenue, requiring it to submit findings and recommendations to legislative leaders and committee chairs by the new date. The change does not alter tax rates or policies - only the reporting timeline.

HB 2427, the "Tennessee Transactional Gold and Silver Act," allows physical gold and silver to be used as legal tender for private transactions and, if accepted, for paying state and local taxes or fees. The bill creates a system where the state treasurer can authorize a secure bullion depository and an electronic payment platform to facilitate gold/silver transactions, while exempting these transactions from state and local taxes. It defines "transactional gold and silver" as physical bullion (like certified coins or bars) backed by stored metal, requiring mutual agreement between parties for use in payments. The law does not compel businesses or government to accept gold/silver, and it explicitly prohibits using the system for surveillance or social scoring.

HB 2469 requires Tennessee's Department of Veterans Services to create and submit a comprehensive report by January 1, 2027. The report must list all state and federal benefits available to veterans and their surviving spouses, including a brief description of each benefit. This report will be delivered to the speakers of the Tennessee Senate and House of Representatives. The bill does not change existing benefits but mandates this centralized information for legislative review.

HB 2117 increases the employer contribution rate for retirement benefits under Tennessee's hybrid retirement plan from 5% to 10% for current state legislators (members of the General Assembly) who have at least 10 years of creditable service as a legislator by July 1, 2026. This change applies only to legislators serving on or after November 3, 2026, and specifically targets those meeting the service requirement. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-36-916, to adjust the contribution rate for this group. It does not affect other state employees or legislators without the required service.

HB 2449 requires Tennessee public libraries (operated by counties, cities, or towns) to create a formal process allowing any legal resident of the library's county to request removal, relocation, or reclassification of library materials. The policy must include a written application form, require the library board to respond within 90 days, and specify four possible outcomes (keep item as-is, move/reclassify, remove item, or delay response). It limits requests to one item per form, sets a 30-month validity for decisions, and allows libraries to deny requests deemed disruptive. The bill applies to all physical and digital items (books, e-books, games, etc.) in library collections but excludes items borrowed through interlibrary loans.

HB 2397 requires Tennessee local governments (such as cities, counties, and agencies) to invite honorably discharged veterans to interview for public sector jobs or promotions when they apply. If a veteran meets the minimum job requirements and their skills are equal to another candidate, they must be given hiring preference. The bill also mandates that all public job applications include an option for applicants to declare veteran status. Additionally, it extends certain preferences to spouses of veterans with a 100% service-connected disability or those who died in military service, while requiring local entities to document reasons for not selecting a veteran.