Tennessee Bills

SB 1000 amends Tennessee state law to change the composition of the Tennessee Housing Development Agency's governing board. Specifically, the bill reduces the number of board members from nine to eight. This change applies directly to the agency responsible for administering housing programs in the state. The legislation takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

This bill updates Tennessee laws regarding how property tax liens are handled, who they affect, and how tax sales are conducted. It clarifies that property taxes, interest, and court costs create a first lien on both real estate and tangible personal property, ensuring these debts are paid before other claims. The legislation also defines what counts as legal notice for tax proceedings, allowing tracking records to prove mail delivery and establishing rules for when signatures on receipts are required. Additionally, it ensures that liens for property taxes take priority over receiver's liens and other encumbrances on a property. Finally, the bill explicitly states that tax sales do not automatically transfer valid ownership title to the buyer until further legal steps are completed.

This bill creates a formal reporting system for financial exploitation of elderly and vulnerable adults in Tennessee. It allows financial service providers and their employees to report suspected abuse to the state's Trustee and Bond Commissioner office. The law also requires the department to display a toll-free hotline for these reports on its website. By amending several state codes, the bill establishes a clear process for institutions to alert authorities when they suspect financial harm against older adults.

This bill increases the amount of land eligible for special property tax treatment under Tennessee's Agricultural, Forest and Open Space Land Act. Specifically, it raises the acreage limit from 1,500 to 5,000 acres for a single parcel within one taxing jurisdiction. The change applies to tax years starting on or after January 1, 2025, and directly affects landowners who wish to qualify their properties for reduced tax rates. By amending the state code, the legislation allows larger farms, forests, and open spaces to maintain their tax status without needing to split the land into multiple smaller parcels.

This bill amends Tennessee tax law to clarify how sales and use tax exemptions apply to individuals who have filed claims for natural disaster relief. Specifically, it updates the legal language to allow a tax exemption claim to be signed either by the claimant or by an authorized representative acting on their behalf. The change ensures that people who cannot sign documents themselves can still receive tax relief through a designated agent without facing additional administrative hurdles.

This bill extends the operational sunset date for the Tennessee Department of General Services to June 30, 2026. It achieves this by amending state statutes to officially recognize the department's creation and update its expiration timeline in the legal code. The change ensures the agency continues to function without interruption until the new end date is reached.

This bill, known as the "Back the Blue Act," increases the penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers in Tennessee by upgrading the charge from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. Under the new rules, anyone convicted of attacking a police officer, highway patrol agent, or other designated law enforcement official faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 60 days and a $10,000 fine. The legislation distinguishes these offenses from assaults against other first responders like firefighters or nurses, which remain Class A misdemeanors with a 30-day minimum sentence and a $5,000 fine. Additionally, the bill clarifies the legal definition of "law enforcement officer" to include various state and local agencies while excluding firefighters and emergency medical personnel from this specific category.

This bill reclassifies small group homes for the elderly in Tennessee into two distinct categories based on the number of unrelated residents they house. Homes with three or fewer residents are designated as Tier 1 and will be licensed and regulated by the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, while homes with four or more residents become Tier 2 and fall under the authority of the Health Facilities Commission. The legislation also updates rules regarding medication administration, allowing unlicensed staff to handle medications in Tier 1 homes but requiring a licensed medical professional in Tier 2 homes. Additionally, Tier 2 homes must secure approval from local zoning, building, and fire safety authorities before receiving a state license.

This bill increases the base salary for district attorneys general and district public defenders in Tennessee from $156,024 to $205,328, effective June 30, 2024. The law also establishes that their pay will automatically adjust on July 1 each year to match the average percentage raise given to state employees. By amending specific sections of the state code, the legislation ensures these legal officials receive compensation comparable to other state workers.

This bill amends Tennessee laws governing the Health Facilities Commission to improve how the agency issues enforcement orders against nursing homes. Specifically, it requires the commission to mail these orders within ten working days of an inspection and to clearly explain the facts, laws, and steps for contesting the decision. The change directly affects nursing home operators by ensuring they receive timely, detailed notices of violations and their right to appeal. This procedural update aims to increase transparency in the regulatory process without altering the commission's overall authority.

This bill reorganizes the Tennessee Energy Policy Council by updating its membership structure to include seventeen specific representatives from various sectors such as energy production, consumers, higher education, and environmental groups. The new composition ensures that the council includes voices from nuclear energy, renewable sources like solar and wind, as well as local utilities and transportation industries. Key provisions require the governor and legislative leaders to appoint these members while consulting with relevant industry experts and organizations. The legislation also adds a nonvoting student representative to bring academic perspectives to energy policy discussions.

This bill amends Tennessee law to change the required size of the state's National Guard deployment for disaster relief from three members to four members. It does not authorize the governor to deploy troops to the U.S. southern border, as that description in the provided text appears to be an error unrelated to the actual bill content. The change applies to the governor's authority under Title 58 of the Tennessee Code Annotated and takes effect immediately upon becoming law.