Tennessee Bills

HB 2110 removes the licensing requirement from Tennessee health facilities for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) machines when used **exclusively for non-diagnostic purposes** (such as research or wellness programs, not medical diagnosis). This change directly affects healthcare facilities operating these machines without diagnostic use, exempting them from oversight by the Health Facilities Commission. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 68-11-204(a) and related titles to explicitly exclude non-diagnostic MRI/PET from licensing rules. The policy takes effect July 1, 2026, streamlining regulations for non-diagnostic medical imaging services.

HB 2530 transfers oversight of land surveyors from the state board of examiners for land surveyors to the state board of examiners for architects and engineers. It removes the registration requirement for interior designers and eliminates a funding mechanism that previously allocated contractor licensing fees to the Go Build Tennessee Act. These changes affect land surveyors, interior designers, and contractor licensing programs by altering regulatory oversight and financial provisions. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections related to occupational licensing boards, streamlining oversight for certain professions.

HB 2402 requires Tennessee local government chief executives (like mayors or county commissioners) to order all flags at public buildings to fly at half-mast for at least one day whenever a first responder from their local emergency management agency dies in the line of duty. This bill amends Tennessee law to establish this mandatory flag protocol for such deaths, directly affecting all local governments with emergency management agencies. The key provision specifies that the half-mast display must occur for a minimum of one full day following the death of a qualifying first responder. The bill focuses solely on this ceremonial recognition, with no other policy changes or funding provisions.

HB 2507 changes the deadline for metropolitan airport authority presidents to submit their annual operating budget to the board for approval. Instead of submitting at least 60 days before the fiscal year begins, they must now submit it 75 days in advance. This amendment to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 42, affects airport authorities across the state by providing the governing board with additional time to review budgets before the fiscal year starts. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 2173 requires the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's executive director to post a list of off-highway vehicle (OHV) areas on the Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission's website. The list must include each area's acreage and estimated trail length. This bill directly affects OHV users and the agency by making location and trail information publicly accessible online. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 70, Chapter 9, to standardize this disclosure without changing OHV usage rules. The bill is pending in the Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee.

SB 2403 requires Tennessee public schools to annually report all local assessments (including purpose, subject, grade level, and administration schedule) to the state Department of Education. This information must be published online for public access by July 2027, allowing parents and students to compare assessments across schools. The bill eliminates schools' ability to use non-state universal reading screeners for kindergarten through third grade, mandating instead the state-provided Tennessee universal reading screener. Additionally, it creates an Assessment Review Board of nine classroom teachers to evaluate the state's assessment program tests from the previous school year.

HB 2196 authorizes Putnam County and its incorporated cities (with specific population ranges) to regulate sober living homes for substance abuse recovery, provided rules comply with the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act. The bill amends Tennessee law to define eligible local governments based on 2020 census population thresholds (county: 366,200-366,300; cities: 79,800-79,900). It directly affects sober living homes operating in Putnam County and its cities by establishing their regulatory framework. The key provision ensures local regulations cannot violate federal civil rights protections for residents seeking recovery housing.

This bill allows Tennessee counties operating under the 1957 County Purchasing Law to set their own pay for the director of accounts and budgets, overriding previous restrictions. It amends state code (TCA Title 5 and Title 8) to explicitly grant county legislative bodies this authority. The change directly affects county governments using the 1957 law, giving them control over a specific staff salary decision. The policy change is limited to compensation for this single position and does not alter other county budgeting processes.

HB 2204 requires Tennessee's intergovernmental relations commission (TACIR) to study state and local law enforcement officers' salaries and benefits. The study will examine how current pay affects hiring, retention, and staffing - especially in smaller cities and counties - and how state pay changes influence local departments. TACIR must complete the study using existing resources and submit a report to the governor and legislature by January 31, 2027. This bill does not change pay rates but aims to provide data for future decisions about law enforcement compensation.

HB 2328 would allow Tipton County to participate in the Neighborhood Preservation Act and the Tennessee Local Land Bank Program by adjusting state law to include counties with a population between 60,900 and 61,000 (based on the 2020 census). The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 13-6-105 and 13-30-103 to add Tipton County’s specific population range as qualifying for these programs. This change directly affects Tipton County, enabling it to access state resources for neighborhood preservation and land bank initiatives. The bill does not alter the programs themselves but expands eligibility to Tipton County based on its census population. It remains under review by the State & Local Government Committee as of March 2026.

SB 2149, the "HOPE Treatment Act," creates a framework for Tennessee to fund clinical trials using ibogaine - a compound being studied for treating mental health and substance use disorders - to accelerate research into its medical potential. It allows groups of organizations (including drug developers, universities, and hospitals) to form a "cohort" and apply for state funding to conduct FDA-approved trials for conditions like opioid addiction, PTSD, depression, and traumatic brain injury. The bill requires detailed proposals covering trial design, safety protocols, participant recruitment, and aftercare plans before funding is granted. This initiative aims to advance research on ibogaine within Tennessee, aligning with broader state and federal interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies.

SB 2318 changes Tennessee law to allow private postsecondary institutions (including religiously affiliated colleges) to establish public charter schools. It removes current restrictions that prevented such institutions from becoming charter school sponsors and permits them to apply directly to local school boards or the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. The bill also allows these institutions to give enrollment preference to children of their employees or governing body members, similar to how public universities handle such preferences. This policy directly affects private colleges seeking to operate public charter schools and their employees' families.