Tennessee Bills

HB 2350 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services to provide foster parents with a copy of any petition to terminate a child's parental rights if the foster parent has cared for the child continuously for nine or more months. The department must deliver this copy within seven days of the petition being filed or served on them. This ensures foster parents - those meeting the nine-month care requirement - can learn about legal proceedings affecting the child they've been caring for. The bill also updates information-sharing rules to clarify that foster parents must keep confidential any termination petition copy they receive, except when necessary for the child's health or safety.

SB 2323 increases the annual purchase limit for over-the-counter products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine from 43.2 grams to 61.2 grams in Tennessee. It requires pharmacies to use an electronic sales tracking system (replacing the former "NPLEx" system) to log purchases of these products starting January 1, 2012, and mandates that manufacturers of such products pay monthly fees to the system administrator beginning January 1, 2027. The bill also updates rules for pharmacy counseling, data correction procedures, and law enforcement access to the tracking system data. This directly affects consumers buying these medications, pharmacies selling them, and manufacturers producing them.

HB 2535 amends Tennessee's oil and gas regulations (TCA Titles 59, 60, and 68) by updating definitions and operational requirements for drilling and production. Key changes include reducing the required buffer zone around streams from 0.5 miles to 0.25 miles for well sites, clarifying that "operator" includes those managing well operations, and strengthening permit conditions requiring compliance plans before drilling. The bill also revises terminology (e.g., replacing "crude petroleum" with "oil") and specifies that failure to follow approved plans may result in permit suspension or penalties. These adjustments directly affect oil and gas operators, regulators, and landowners near drilling sites.

HB 2534 shortens deadlines for administrative law judges handling environmental cases and clarifies board review procedures. It reduces the time for judges to issue initial orders from 180 to 90 days after a hearing concludes. The bill also specifies that certain environmental boards (attached to the Department of Environment and Conservation) cannot review initial orders themselves - they can only consider appeals filed directly by affected parties. This change affects environmental regulatory boards, businesses, and individuals involved in contested administrative cases before these boards. The law amends Tennessee Code Sections 60-1-401, 68-201-108, and 68-211-113 to implement these procedural updates.

HB 2101 increases the annual purchase limit for over-the-counter ephedrine and pseudoephedrine products from 43.2 grams to 61.2 grams per person. It updates tracking system references from "NPLEx" to "electronic sales tracking system" and requires manufacturers of these products sold in Tennessee to pay monthly fees to the system administrator starting January 1, 2027. Pharmacies must use the electronic system to record sales, generate stop-sale alerts for individuals on the methamphetamine registry, and prevent prohibited sales, with the system designed to be free for pharmacies and law enforcement.

SB 2194 requires public benefit hospitals in Tennessee to provide written notice to the Attorney General and the State Reporter at least 30 days before selling or transferring hospital assets (a "public benefit hospital conveyance transaction"). This notice requirement applies directly to public benefit hospital entities operating under Tennessee law. The bill amends existing statutes (Tennessee Code §§ 48-68-203(a) and related sections) to establish this advance notification process, enhancing transparency for public oversight of such transactions. The law takes effect upon enactment, with no changes to the underlying transaction rules themselves.

HB 2562 requires medical and osteopathic license holders in Tennessee to complete at least one hour of annual continuing education on nutrition topics. This applies to all physicians licensed under the Board of Medical Examiners (Title 63, Chapter 6) and osteopathic physicians licensed under the Board of Osteopathic Examination (Title 63, Chapter 9). The bill amends existing education requirements to mandate this specific nutrition focus, replacing previous general education rules. The change would take effect on January 1, 2028, pending legislative approval.

HB 2337 requires public benefit hospitals in Tennessee to provide written notice to the state attorney general and reporter at least 30 days before selling or transferring ownership of their facilities. This bill directly affects public benefit hospital entities and state oversight offices by adding a mandatory transparency step for such transactions. The key provision is the 30-day advance notice requirement, which must be submitted in writing. The bill amends Tennessee law to implement this notice period, without changing hospital ownership rules or financial obligations. (This is a procedural bill focused on disclosure timing.)

HB 2538 modifies a Tennessee law governing the Megasite Authority of West Tennessee by increasing the required notice period before imposing penalties for land use violations. Specifically, it changes the notice requirement from 10 days to 14 days in written form for individuals who violate the Authority's land use regulations. This bill directly affects property owners or developers who might face penalties for violating the Authority's rules. The change applies only to the Megasite Authority's enforcement process under existing Title 64, Chapter 9 of Tennessee law, without altering penalty amounts or violation definitions. The bill is currently pending before the Cities & Counties Subcommittee for further review.

HB 2543 amends Tennessee law to govern the use of the governor's response and recovery fund after emergencies or disasters. It specifies that funds can be provided to eligible local governments (counties, cities, school districts) and individuals in counties that declared a state of emergency, subject to strict conditions like federal aid being unavailable and costs exceeding state thresholds. The bill details eligible uses, including debris removal, infrastructure repairs, and emergency protective measures, with projects needing completion within 18 months. It also requires local cost-sharing based on county economic status and prohibits funding for costs covered by insurance or other sources. This bill directly affects local governments and residents in qualifying disaster areas seeking state financial assistance.

SB 2184 modifies Tennessee estate laws to clarify that the Uniform Partition Heirs Property Act does not apply when selling land to pay estate debts. It changes how courts calculate a surviving spouse’s right to claim a portion of the estate (elective share) by aligning with federal estate tax rules and excluding certain assets. The bill also updates conservatorship petition requirements to specify what must be included in the filing. These changes directly affect estate administrators, creditors, and surviving spouses handling estate settlements in Tennessee. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 2197 allows courts to expunge certain violent offenses from a person's record after they've received a pardon, directly affecting individuals who have been pardoned for specific crimes. The bill amends Tennessee law to remove the previous requirement that expungement petitions be limited to "nonviolent" offenses, instead requiring courts to specifically consider whether the offense sought for expungement was violent (such as murder, aggravated kidnapping, or sexual offenses involving minors). Courts must weigh the best interests of justice and public safety, including factors presented by both the petitioner and the district attorney general, when deciding such petitions. This creates a rebuttable presumption in favor of expungement for non-violent offenses while adding a specific review step for violent offenses.