Tennessee Bills

This Tennessee House Joint Resolution commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States Postal Service, which was established in 1775. The bill honors postal workers and expresses support for maintaining the service as a public institution. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as a formal recognition of the agency's history and role.

This bill designates the winner of the Miss Tennessee pageant as an official ambassador for the State of Tennessee during her one-year reign. The resolution applies to the individual crowned by the Miss Tennessee Organization, which is affiliated with the Miss America Opportunity. As an honorary and volunteer role, the designated ambassador would promote Tennessee's culture, tourism, and community initiatives at official and public events. The bill does not create new legal obligations or funding, but formally recognizes the pageant winner's role in representing the state.

This bill is a House Joint Resolution that formally recognizes March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility in Tennessee. It honors the contributions, resilience, and dignity of transgender Tennesseans and acknowledges the historical and ongoing challenges they face. The resolution does not change laws or create new policies; it serves as a symbolic statement of recognition and support for the transgender community within the state.

This bill (HJR 881) is a procedural resolution confirming Governor Bill Lee's appointment of Drew Goddard to the Heritage Conservation Trust Fund Board of Trustees. It directly affects Goddard, who will serve a term expiring October 31, 2029, representing Middle Tennessee on the board. The resolution follows Tennessee law requiring legislative confirmation for this governor-appointed position. The bill itself does not create new policy or alter existing laws - it solely ratifies the appointment.

SB 2615 changes a deadline for taxpayers claiming excise tax exemptions in Tennessee. It extends the filing deadline from the 15th to the 20th day of the fourth month following the first tax year for which the exemption is claimed. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 67, Section 67-4-2008(f), replacing "fifteenth day" with "twentieth day" in the relevant section. This directly affects businesses and individuals eligible for excise tax exemptions under current law.

HJR 879 is a procedural resolution confirming Governor Bill Lee's appointment of Mike Frick to the Heritage Conservation Trust Fund Board of Trustees. It does not create new policy or affect any specific programs; it simply formalizes Frick's appointment, which requires legislative confirmation under Tennessee law. Frick, a retired Bank of America executive with community leadership experience, will serve a term expiring October 31, 2029, representing West Tennessee on the board. The resolution has no substantive policy impact beyond confirming this existing appointment.

HB 2546 modifies Tennessee's Sports Hall of Fame governance. It reduces the executive committee from seven to six members (including the commissioner, board chair/vice chair, and one regional representative), adds a requirement for the board to direct the Hall's mission and strategic direction, and shortens the timeline for submitting annual operational plans to the commissioner to 90 days before each year. The bill directly affects the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame board and the commissioner of tourist development. These changes aim to streamline governance and clarify operational oversight without altering the Hall's public mission.

HB 2208 clarifies that the four trustees overseeing Tennessee's post-employment benefits may appoint a designee to act on their behalf when absent. This procedural bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 8-27-801 to explicitly state that each trustee position (including the finance commissioner, Senate finance chair, House finance chair, and retirement system board chair) can use a designee. It does not change benefit amounts or eligibility but streamlines administrative operations for retirement trustees. The bill affects the governance structure of the state's retirement system administration.

HB 2159 clarifies rules for garagekeepers (like auto repair shops) who store vehicles for repairs without the owner's written authorization for storage. It allows them to enforce a lien if they first make a good-faith effort to get consent for repairs and send certified mail notice to the owner. Garagekeepers must wait 30 days after mailing the notice (or 30 days after receiving the owner's return receipt) before enforcing the lien. The bill also requires garagekeepers to keep records of their contact attempts and certified mail receipts to prove compliance. This directly affects vehicle owners whose cars are stored without prior written permission and garagekeepers seeking to claim repair costs.

HB 2453 removes a requirement that businesses provide written assurances of compliance with Tennessee's Consumer Protection Act of 1977, eliminating the need to file these assurances with Davidson County courts. The bill adds new prohibitions against selling radar-jamming devices or making false claims about paying traffic citations for such devices. It also clarifies the attorney general's authority in consumer protection lawsuits and updates references to related laws. This bill directly affects businesses selling consumer goods or services in Tennessee, particularly those in the automotive safety equipment sector, with key changes taking effect July 1, 2026.

HB 2454 amends Tennessee's trust and estate laws (Titles 32, 35, and 67) to make several key changes affecting trust beneficiaries, trustees, and charitable organizations. It allows confidential trust information in court filings to be redacted or filed under seal without a prior court order, enhancing privacy for trust matters. The bill also increases the threshold for certain trust provisions from $100,000 to $250,000 and updates terminology to replace "agreement of qualified beneficiaries" with "nonjudicial settlement agreement" throughout the code. Additionally, it grants charitable organizations specific rights similar to individual beneficiaries regarding trust notices and participation in settlements. These changes streamline procedures and clarify rights for those involved in trust administration.

HB 2531 establishes an annual grant program for rescue squads in Tennessee to purchase firefighting and rescue equipment (excluding vehicles). It directly affects municipal, county, or nonprofit rescue squads providing emergency response services. The bill requires the Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance to evaluate grant applications, select recipients annually, and disburse funds - ensuring equal funding across Tennessee's three grand divisions. Grants must cover equipment costs or federal grant matching requirements, with unspent funds carried forward to future years. The program is funded through annual state appropriations.