Tennessee Bills

HB 1548 removes an outdated requirement that the comptroller of the treasury study prescription drug costs and usage in nursing homes for TennCare. This provision, which mandated a 2005 report to legislative leaders, is no longer needed as its deadline has long passed. The bill deletes Section 71-5-195 from Tennessee law, eliminating a procedural obligation with no current effect on policy or operations.

HB 1511 requires Tennessee public schools, including local districts and charter schools, to teach students about the formation of the U.S. and Tennessee governments using foundational federal and state documents (like the Constitution) at appropriate grade levels. This instruction must align with the state board's established social studies standards. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, to add this specific curriculum requirement. It was introduced in January 2026 and is pending further legislative action.

HB 1512 (Tennessee) requires local school districts (LEAs) to publish their character education curriculum on their official websites. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49, Section 49-6-1007(c), adding a specific mandate for LEAs to make this curriculum publicly accessible online. This change directly affects all local education agencies in Tennessee by establishing a new transparency requirement for their character education programs. The law takes effect upon becoming law, with no additional funding or implementation details specified in the bill text.

HB 1076 shortens the deadline for Tennessee insurance companies to submit rate changes and policy details to the state insurance commissioner. It reduces the filing period from 30 to 21 days before proposed effective dates for all rates, policy forms, and endorsements. This change applies directly to insurers, agents, and brokers who must now file materials 9 days faster under Tennessee insurance laws (amending TCA Title 4, 56, and 71). The bill focuses solely on streamlining the submission process without altering the substance of insurance regulations.

SJR 536 is a procedural resolution that sets the official schedule for Tennessee's 2025-2026 legislative sessions. It directs the 2025 General Assembly to adjourn at the close of business on April 22, 2025, and specifies that the 2026 session will begin at 12:00 noon on January 13, 2026. This resolution directly affects the state legislature's operational calendar.

HB 1091 shortens the timeframe for Tennessee's Department of Children's Services to review temporary childcare licenses. It reduces the deadline from 90 days to 80 days after a temporary license is issued, requiring the department to determine if providers comply with regulations before granting permanent licenses. This directly affects childcare providers operating under temporary licenses who need to transition to permanent status. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law related to childcare licensing procedures.

HB 566 allows Tennessee's Department of Finance and Administration and the Office of Criminal Justice Programs to use existing resources and seek additional federal or state funding to design and implement grants targeting gun violence reduction. The bill specifically defines "gun violence" as homicide, violent crime, and domestic violence, and amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to enable this funding mechanism. It does not create new spending but directs state agencies to leverage current resources and pursue external funding for grant programs. The bill directly affects state agencies managing criminal justice programs and communities impacted by gun violence through potential grant-supported initiatives.

HB 1120 removes outdated reporting requirements from Tennessee law affecting "zero to three court programs" (which serve infants and toddlers) and "safe baby courts" (where parents surrender newborns safely). The bill amends state code to delete obsolete language about initial reports and instead requires these programs to submit annual reports - including program data - to four state agencies (Children's Services, Mental Health Services, Administrative Office of Courts, and the Council of Juvenile Judges) by February 1 each year. This change streamlines reporting by updating the current process without altering the underlying obligations. The bill directly impacts these specific child-focused programs and the state agencies that oversee their data collection.

HB 1146 changes Tennessee's broadband application review timeline by requiring communities to approve or deny broadband project applications within 30 calendar days (instead of 30 business days) after submission. This directly affects local governments in "broadband-ready communities" that review such applications under state economic development laws. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee Code (Titles 4, 7, 13, 65, and 67) to implement this deadline change, streamlining the process by including weekends and holidays in the review period. It does not alter the 30-day requirement itself, only the definition of the timeframe.

HB 1179 extends the required notice period for pharmacy audits in Tennessee from two to three weeks. This change directly affects pharmacists and pharmacies, giving them more time to prepare before an initial on-site audit by entities like pharmacy benefits managers, the state, or their agents. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law governing pharmacy insurance benefits and audit procedures to implement this longer notice period. The policy change takes effect January 1, 2026, and focuses solely on adjusting the timing of audit notifications.

HB 1178 changes Tennessee's reporting requirements for university governing boards. It replaces the annual submission of grievance activity summaries with a requirement to provide such reports only when specifically requested by the Senate or House education committees. The bill directly affects the Board of Regents, state university boards, and the University of Tennessee's board of trustees. This amendment to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, streamlines administrative reporting by eliminating the annual obligation. The change takes effect July 1, 2025.

HB 1145 changes the annual filing deadline for professional corporations in Tennessee from January 1 to January 15. This affects domestic and foreign professional corporations authorized to provide licensed services (like law or medicine) in the state, requiring them to submit an annual qualification statement to their relevant licensing authority. The key provision extends the filing window by 14 days, providing more time for corporations to complete required documentation. The amendment modifies specific sections of Tennessee law under Titles 4, 39, 47, 48, 62, and 63 related to business organizations.