Tennessee Bills

HB 2210 requires Tennessee's Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) to provide the state legislature with specific recommendations on disaster preparedness, prevention, and mitigation. The bill directs TEMA to propose measures aimed at eliminating emergencies or reducing their impact, as well as improving disaster response capabilities. This applies directly to TEMA, which must develop these recommendations, and the General Assembly, which will review them. The bill amends existing Tennessee law (TCA Title 58) to formalize this requirement, without creating new regulations or funding. It focuses on strengthening proactive planning rather than reactive measures.

HB 2174 would allow sitting or retired chancery, circuit, appellate, or governor-appointed judges to carry firearms in any location where law enforcement officers are permitted to carry weapons. This applies only to judges who already qualify for an enhanced handgun carry permit under existing Tennessee law. The bill amends state statutes to expand judges' carry rights to match law enforcement locations, without requiring new permits. It directly affects qualified judges seeking to carry weapons in public spaces where police officers may carry. The policy change focuses solely on location permissions, not on altering permit requirements.

HB 2446 removes two specific restrictions on grants for Tennessee's volunteer fire departments. It eliminates the requirement that annual grant funds must be equally divided among the state's three grand divisions (East, Middle, West) and removes the ban on using grant money to purchase fire trucks or vehicles. This change gives local fire departments more flexibility in how they allocate funds and use them for equipment. The bill directly affects volunteer fire departments receiving state grants under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 68. The changes apply to grants awarded after June 30, 2026.

SB 2338 changes Tennessee's grant rules for volunteer fire departments by removing two specific restrictions. It eliminates the requirement to split annual grants equally among the state's three geographic regions (East, Middle, and West Tennessee) and removes the ban on using grant funds to purchase fire trucks or vehicles. These changes give fire departments more flexibility in how they allocate and use their state grant money. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Section 68-102-154, and applies to grants awarded after June 30, 2026.

SB 2385 updates Tennessee's definition of "economically disadvantaged" students for school funding. It expands eligibility to include students directly certified for free meals (without household applications) and those from households receiving Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR benefits. The bill requires the state to allocate additional funds to school districts if their funding decreases due to this expanded definition, ensuring they receive at least the same weighted allocation as the prior year. It also mandates the state to seek a federal ESSA plan amendment to reflect this updated definition, effective for the 2027-2028 school year.

SB 2404 deletes an ended 2023-2024 pilot program that provided grant funds to five local school districts for preschool initiatives, and removes a Tennessee preschool task force created to develop a strategic plan by June 2024. The bill amends state education laws (Tennessee Code Sections 49-6-109 and related titles) to eliminate these outdated structures. It directly affects the five school districts that previously participated in the pilot program and the task force members. The bill makes no new policy changes but formally removes existing, expired provisions from state law.

SB 2221 modifies TennCare ambulance assessment rules by extending the annual payment deadline for ground ambulance services from June 30, 2026, to June 30, 2027. It also changes the late payment penalty from $50 per calendar day to 5% of the unpaid balance per month. This directly affects ambulance providers enrolled in Tennessee's TennCare program who owe annual assessments. The bill replaces a fixed daily fee with a monthly interest-based penalty for overdue payments.

HB 2502 classifies international money transfers originating in Tennessee (sent outside the U.S. or its territories) as taxable services for licensed money transmission companies. It requires tax revenues from these transactions to be allocated as follows: 25% to the state general fund, 25% to counties for infrastructure projects based on population, 25% to a new K-12 teacher salary fund, and 25% to a law enforcement training pay supplement. The bill establishes a dedicated "international money transmission tax fund" to manage these revenues, with refunds available for taxpayers who apply between June 1-30 annually. This policy directly affects money transmission businesses operating under Tennessee's Money Transmission Modernization Act.

HB 2097 extends the deadline for ground ambulance providers to pay their annual assessment under TennCare from June 30, 2026, to June 30, 2027. It also changes the penalty for unpaid assessments from $50 per day to 5% of the unpaid amount per month. This bill directly affects ambulance providers in Tennessee who pay the annual assessment to TennCare. The key change simplifies penalty calculations by replacing daily fines with a monthly percentage charge, making the enforcement mechanism clearer.

SB 2166 would require licensed money transmitters in Tennessee (like Western Union or similar services) to pay sales tax on money sent from Tennessee to locations outside the U.S. or its territories. The tax revenue would be split equally: 25% to the state general fund, 25% to counties for infrastructure projects based on population, 25% to a new fund for K-12 teacher salary increases, and 25% to a law enforcement training supplement fund. The tax would apply to transactions starting January 1, 2027, if the bill becomes law. This directly affects businesses that handle cross-border money transfers within Tennessee.

HB 2385 clarifies that wastewater utility systems in Tennessee must provide a connection to property owners when the utility has a gravity sewer line *adjacent* to the property, not just when the line is physically on the property. This change directly affects property owners seeking sewer connections and the utility companies responsible for providing service. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 7-82-710(a)(1) and related chapters to update the language from "located on" to "located on or adjacent to" the property. The key mechanism is a simple wording correction to expand the requirement for utility connections. This is a procedural clarification, not a new policy or funding measure.

HB 2510 extends deadlines for counties bordering distressed rural counties to retain sales tax from commercial development projects. Specifically, it pushes back the application deadline from December 31, 2026, to December 31, 2040, and delays the commissioner's approval deadline from June 30, 2031, to June 30, 2041. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 6, affecting local governments seeking to maintain tax revenue from designated commercial districts. These changes provide additional time for eligible counties to secure tax retention under existing law.