Tennessee Bills

HJR 1341 is a House Joint Resolution that honors the Dyersburg High School Lady Trojans basketball team for winning the 2026 TSSAA Division I, Class AAA state championship. The resolution formally commends the players, coaches, and support staff for their achievements and sets the stage for presenting a copy of the resolution to the team. This is a commemorative measure with no new laws or funding, serving only to recognize the team's success.

This Tennessee House Joint Resolution designates May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month to raise public awareness about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive and currently incurable neurodegenerative disease. The resolution highlights the impact of ALS on patients and their families, noting that the disease affects muscle control and can lead to breathing difficulties, while also pointing out that military veterans face higher risks of developing the condition. It acknowledges the critical role of research, clinical trials, and organizations like the ALS Association in advancing treatments and support for those affected. The bill serves as a commemorative measure to honor individuals impacted by the disease and to encourage continued advocacy for funding and public understanding.

House Joint Resolution 803 is a procedural resolution urging the Tennessee Secretary of State to add a section about the Appalachian dialect's history and significance to Section VI of the Tennessee Blue Book. It specifically requests inclusion of how the dialect developed from regional isolation, Native American and Scotch-Irish influences, and its grammatical features (like "might could" or "need" followed by past tense). The resolution aims to counter stigmatization of the dialect by recognizing it as a legitimate, systematic part of Tennessee's cultural heritage. This is a non-binding request affecting only the content of the state's official reference publication, not a new law.

This legislative resolution formally commends Stratton Bone, a long-serving Wilson County official and state representative, for his contributions to Tennessee agriculture and local leadership. The bill recognizes the naming of a building at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon as the "Stratton Bone Made in Tennessee Building" to honor his legacy. It highlights his specific achievements, including his role in founding the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program and his service on the House Agriculture Committee. The resolution serves as an official acknowledgment of his public service rather than establishing new laws or policies.

SB 2207 extends the required waiting period for school boards selling career and technical education (CTE) facility properties from 30 to 45 days. This change applies specifically to school boards advertising such properties for sale in local newspapers before completing a negotiated sale. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections governing school facilities to implement this timeline adjustment. The policy change only affects the administrative process for selling CTE properties, with no other substantive modifications to school finance or operations. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 2426 requires Tennessee's Department of Education, Office of Early Learning, to submit an annual report by July 1 each year to the governor and General Assembly on pre-kindergarten program status. The report must include specific data like the number and locations of pre-K providers, provider types, and the number of at-risk children served. It also mandates that this report be published on the department's website for public access. This bill directly affects the Office of Early Learning by establishing a new annual reporting requirement for pre-kindergarten program data.

SB 2650 requires Tennessee's attorney general to notify crime victims about escrow accounts holding funds for civil judgments using email, phone calls, and text messages - beyond just direct in-person or mail contact. This change directly affects victims in civil cases where compensation may be available through court-ordered escrow funds. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (Titles 29, 36, 37, 39, and 40) to update notification methods, ensuring victims receive timely information through multiple accessible channels. It focuses on procedural clarity without altering eligibility or funding amounts for victims.

SB 2355 requires juvenile court clerks in Tennessee to report the total amount of guardian ad litem administrative fees that were not waived but also not collected. This applies directly to juvenile court clerks, who must include this specific data in their monthly reports to the administrative director of the courts and the comptroller. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law (Titles 16, 20, 33, 34, 36, and 37) to add this reporting requirement. The change focuses on transparency around uncollected fees, without altering fee amounts or eligibility.

SB 2175 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to prioritize water system projects in counties with fewer than 57,000 residents (based on the 2020 or later census) for consideration for loans from the water system revolving loan fund. It defines "rural county" as having a population below 57,000 and amends state law to automatically include such projects on the priority list. This change directly affects water infrastructure projects in smaller counties by ensuring they receive automatic consideration for funding. The bill modifies existing law to streamline access to loan programs for rural water systems without altering the fund's structure or funding levels.

SB 2354 shortens the deadline for reporting wildlife-related injuries from 48 to 24 hours after an incident involving captive wildlife. It directly affects owners, handlers, or facilities that possess captive wildlife, requiring them to notify the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency more quickly. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-70-416, 44, and 70 to implement this change, aiming to improve response times for medical care. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026.

SB 2547 shortens the deadline for notifying appointing authorities about vacancies on Tennessee's underground storage tanks and solid waste disposal control board, reducing the timeframe from 90 to 45 days. This procedural change directly affects the board members and the state agencies responsible for appointing replacements. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated sections related to solid waste management to implement this faster notification requirement, streamlining vacancy reporting without altering substantive waste disposal policies.

SB 2219 restricts access to juvenile court records in Tennessee related to delinquency or unruly proceedings. It limits viewing of these records - previously open to inspection - to only three groups: court personnel (judges, magistrates, staff) acting in official duties; district attorneys and assistants handling child-related cases; and public defenders and assistants handling child-related cases. The bill prohibits anyone with access from disclosing or sharing these records except as permitted by law. This change, effective January 2027, modifies Tennessee’s juvenile court rules to tighten confidentiality around sensitive juvenile court documents.