HB 1961, the "Tennessee Veteran Protection and Due Process Act," prohibits Tennessee state and local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration authorities in detaining or transferring veterans without specific safeguards. It requires police to screen individuals for military service and verify veteran status using documents like a DD-214 before honoring federal immigration requests. The law mandates that federal authorities must provide written certification confirming non-veteran status or VA verification, and transfers require a judicial warrant and proof that veterans' immigration options were considered. Veterans in state custody must also be informed of their right to military-experienced legal counsel and maintain access to benefits during proceedings.
This bill, known as the "Tennessee Women's Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, and Education Act" (or "Trixtian's Law"), protects pregnant and postpartum individuals in Tennessee's criminal justice system by prohibiting the use of their pregnancy-related health information as evidence in criminal cases. It bans criminal charges based on pregnancy outcomes like miscarriage, stillbirth, or drug exposure during pregnancy, and requires correctional facilities to provide pregnancy testing within 72 hours. Facilities must also report annual data on incarcerated pregnant individuals and birth outcomes (without personal identifiers) to the Department of Health, while expediting transfers of pregnant people to state custody. These provisions directly affect incarcerated women, correctional facilities, and health data reporting practices across Tennessee.
HB 2063 requires Tennessee's Senate and House speakers to set the same number of allowable conferences (or conference days) for legislators from each chamber to claim expense and mileage reimbursements. This bill amends state law to ensure equal treatment between Senate and House members when attending meetings related to legislative duties, such as conferences, workshops, or state business gatherings. It does not change the total reimbursement amount but standardizes the maximum number of approved events per chamber. The policy affects all Tennessee state legislators who seek reimbursement for travel related to official legislative activities.
HB 1491, the "Protecting Religious Liberty and Expression in Public Schools Act," restricts public school employees from enforcing the "separation of church and state doctrine" unless required by a specific court order or a directly-on-point U.S. Supreme Court ruling. It defines this doctrine to include specific Supreme Court cases like *Lemon v. Kurtzman* and *Everson v. Board of Education*, and prohibits state employees from applying it broadly in school settings. The bill allows students, parents, or others harmed by such enforcement to sue for damages, injunctions, or attorney fees. It directly affects public school staff (teachers, administrators) and students in Tennessee K-12 schools by altering legal standards for religious expression.
HB 1862 requires Tennessee state and local elected officials' personally identifying information (like home addresses or phone numbers) to be kept confidential by government entities, with limited exceptions. It mandates redaction of this information in public records while ensuring access to otherwise public data isn't blocked. Exceptions include law enforcement, courts, and officials who personally authorize disclosure - this does not affect existing public personnel records. The bill directly affects elected officials by protecting their personal details from routine public access, effective July 1, 2026.
HB 912 deletes an obsolete section of Tennessee law that required the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee to conduct a study on the economic feasibility of a statewide energy policy and submit a report to the energy task force by December 15, 2014. The bill removes this outdated requirement from the state code, as the study deadline has long passed and the provision is no longer applicable. This procedural change updates the legal framework without altering any active policy or creating new obligations.
HB 851 amends Tennessee's absentee voting rules for citizens living overseas or serving in the military under federal law. It creates specific categories for "civilian overseas voters," "federal-only voters," and "military voters," clarifying who qualifies for absentee ballots. The bill requires applicants to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship (like a passport or birth certificate) and overseas residence (such as a foreign lease or bank statement) when registering temporarily. This directly affects Tennessee residents temporarily or permanently living outside the U.S. who wish to vote absentee.
This bill amends Tennessee's privacy law to change the definition of "definable group" from "glee club" to "choral group" for the Ensuring Likeness, Voice, and Image Security Act. The change affects how the law identifies groups of people whose likeness, voice, or image may be protected under privacy regulations. By updating this specific term, the bill ensures that choral groups are treated the same as glee clubs regarding personal rights protections. The amendment takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
HB 608 prohibits Tennessee state and local governments from requiring builders or developers to fund infrastructure that isn't essential to their specific project. It specifically prevents governments from mandating payment for non-adjacent infrastructure or infrastructure beyond what was initially estimated for the development. The bill applies only to residential projects under 300 homes or multi-family housing under 500 units, covering elements like roads, utilities, or internet cabling not directly needed for the property's creation, maintenance, or growth. It does not affect existing zoning, tax laws, or permits, and takes effect July 1, 2025, for new contracts.
This bill changes the deadline for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to report on background check fees collected from gun dealers. Instead of reporting by February 1 each year, the TBI must now submit its report to legislative committees by February 15. The report details fees paid by gun dealers that exceed the actual costs of conducting background checks. This is a procedural adjustment affecting how the state tracks excess fees, with no changes to fee amounts or regulations.
SB 2451 requires Tennessee's state fire marshal to post training materials on their website to help owners, tenants, and employees of educational and institutional buildings (like schools and hospitals) conduct proper fire drills. This amendment to Tennessee Code Annotated Title 68 adds a new digital resource requirement to the existing law, which already mandates the fire marshal's availability for in-person training. The bill directly affects facilities with high occupancy, such as schools and hospitals, by providing accessible online tools for fire safety training. The change takes effect July 1, 2026, and focuses on improving fire drill preparedness through readily available digital resources.
HJR 840 is a commemorative resolution honoring Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a nurse and Minneapolis resident killed by ICE agents on January 24, 2026, while legally recording their actions. The resolution memorializes his life, noting his background as a Green Bay native, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs nurse, and community member, and describes the circumstances of his death as shown in video evidence. It does not create new laws or policies but formally expresses the Tennessee General Assembly’s sympathy to his family and extends condolences for his loss. This is a purely ceremonial resolution with no direct policy impact or affected parties beyond the commemoration.
