Tennessee Bills

This bill amends the Tennessee Code Annotated to change the deadline for a specific school safety requirement from February 1 to January 15. The change applies to entities governed by the relevant sections of the code, ensuring they meet the new earlier date. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2024, and was signed into law as part of a broader school safety update.

This bill limits the ability of private companies to be sued in class-action lawsuits following a cybersecurity breach. It applies to any private business, including non-profits, and protects them from civil liability unless the breach was caused by willful misconduct, wanton behavior, or gross negligence. The law defines a cybersecurity event as unauthorized access to or disruption of an information system containing sensitive personal data, such as social security numbers or financial account details. By raising the standard of fault required for lawsuits, the bill aims to reduce the legal exposure for organizations that suffer data breaches through ordinary negligence.

SB 2158 requires the Tennessee attorney general to review federal executive branch policies and spending related to illegal immigration. The bill mandates that the attorney general compile a report on these findings and deliver it to the governor and the speakers of the state senate and house of representatives. This legislation aims to address concerns about the financial and social impacts of immigration on the state by ensuring an official assessment of federal actions.

This bill amends Tennessee laws regarding persons with disabilities by removing a specific subsection from the state code. The change directly affects individuals with disabilities and the legal framework governing their rights. By deleting the existing text, the legislation alters the statutory provisions related to these protections. The act becomes effective immediately upon passage to update the current legal standards.

This Tennessee bill increases the monthly personal needs allowance for long-term nursing home residents from $50 to $70, effective January 1, 2025. The law requires that this higher amount be deducted from a resident's total income when calculating what they must pay for their care. Additionally, the bill directs the state health facilities commission to review and update rules preventing the misuse of these personal funds for unnecessary goods or services. The updated recommendations must be submitted to state legislative committee chairs by January 15, 2025.

This bill amends the County Powers Relief Act to change the deadline for counties to respond to certain state directives from thirty days to twenty-one days. It directly affects county governments in Tennessee by requiring them to act more quickly on specific administrative matters. The change is a procedural adjustment to the existing law, shortening the time frame for compliance without altering the underlying authority of the state or the counties.

This bill amends the Tennessee education code to change a specific deadline for school administrators from ten calendar days to ten business days. The change applies to the timeframe for schools to notify parents about certain administrative actions, ensuring that weekends and holidays are excluded from the count. By adjusting the definition of the deadline, the legislation aims to provide schools with a more practical schedule for completing required notifications.

This bill modifies Tennessee laws regarding expunctions, which are legal processes to seal or erase criminal records. It allows the state Bureau of Investigation to provide defendants with a certified copy of their expunction order for a reasonable fee. The legislation also clarifies which documents count as public records eligible for expunction and requires the Bureau to inform district attorneys if a person seeking expunction has already had one granted previously. These changes aim to streamline the record-clearing process and improve transparency for individuals petitioning to remove their criminal history.

This bill creates the Tennessee Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council to guide how state government uses artificial intelligence. The council consists of fifteen members, including state officials and representatives appointed by the governor and legislative leaders. Its main job is to develop an action plan that promotes awareness, education, and clear usage policies for AI tools among state employees. The council must submit its initial recommendations within six months and a final plan within twelve months of starting. The group is attached to the Department of Finance and Administration and will cease to exist on July 1, 2026.

This bill proposes to rewrite the city charter for Tullahoma, Tennessee, subject to local approval by the city's voters. It directly affects the city's governance structure by establishing a Board of Mayor and Aldermen consisting of the mayor and six elected members, while also mandating that the city be managed by a City Administrator. The legislation reaffirms the city's existing boundaries and grants the new governing body the authority to manage municipal affairs and property. By replacing the previous legal framework, the bill aims to modernize the rules that guide how the city is run and how its officials are selected.

This bill updates Tennessee laws to restrict land purchases by sanctioned aliens and foreign entities linked to countries subject to international arms trade regulations. It defines specific terms such as "agricultural land" and "prohibited foreign party" to clarify which groups face restrictions on owning or controlling property. The legislation prevents prohibited parties from acquiring agricultural land through direct ownership, long-term leases, or by holding a controlling interest in a business that owns such land. These changes directly affect foreign governments, designated terrorist organizations, and their agents or affiliates regarding their ability to hold real estate in the state.

This bill updates Tennessee's adoption and foster care laws by clarifying how parental rights are terminated and redefining the legal status of putative fathers. It establishes that a man is considered a putative father if he has registered his intent to claim paternity, provided financial support, lived openly with the child, or entered a permanency plan, ensuring his rights are protected during termination proceedings. The legislation also sets specific rules for calculating abandonment timeframes in supplemental petitions and requires out-of-state agencies and attorneys to partner with licensed Tennessee professionals for local adoptions. Additionally, the bill permits the payment of reasonable medical, legal, and living expenses related to pregnancy and adoption, including up to two years of counseling for birth parents, while prohibiting payments for services before the pregnancy begins.