Tennessee Bills

SB 2427 amends Tennessee law to expand eligibility for medication aide certification to include students in good standing enrolled in approved nursing schools who complete specific coursework in nursing fundamentals, pharmacology, and medication administration with a passing grade. This change directly affects nursing students seeking early certification, alongside existing pathways for certified nurse aides or licensed occupational therapy assistants. The bill also establishes a 14- to 90-day timeframe for training programs and adjusts how certification exam pass rates are calculated. These provisions aim to streamline the certification process for medication aides while maintaining safety standards.

SB 2362 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services (DCS) to partner with the Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) to better serve children with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) in state custody or at risk of entering custody. The bill mandates DDA expertise for five key areas: assessing children's needs and services, determining appropriate placements, overseeing placements and quality, training DCS staff and providers, and coordinating disability-specific care. DCS must implement DDA's recommendations and submit annual reports to legislative committees starting in 2027, tracking referrals, evaluations, placements, oversight findings, and training status. This directly affects children with I/DD in state custody or at risk, ensuring their care aligns with DDA's specialized expertise.

SB 2280 allows Tennessee's District Attorneys General Conference to cover software licensing fees for district attorney offices across judicial districts, regardless of whether the staff member using the software is funded by the state or another entity. This bill removes a previous restriction requiring staff positions to be state-funded for such software fees to be paid from conference funds. The change directly affects all district attorney offices in Tennessee by simplifying funding for necessary software applications. It amends Tennessee Code Sections in Titles 8, 9, 16, and 40 to implement this funding mechanism. The bill focuses on administrative efficiency without altering substantive legal procedures.

SB 2310 would prohibit Tennessee public schools and charter schools serving grades K-5 from allowing students to use digital devices at school, requiring teachers to use digital devices for instruction, or administering assessments electronically - except for specific cases. The bill directly affects K-5 students and educators in these schools, with key exceptions for public virtual schools, compliance with disability laws (IDEA, Section 504, ADA), and state-mandated assessments like the Tennessee universal screener. It would take effect July 1, 2026, if passed, banning digital device use during instruction and assessments for young students while maintaining existing requirements for disability accommodations and state testing. The bill does not address social media or require schools to remove devices from classrooms entirely, only restricting their use for instruction and assessments.

SB 2233 tightens Tennessee's restrictions on foreign-owned entities purchasing land. It lowers the ownership threshold requiring review from 33% to 10% for agricultural land and 50% to 33% for non-agricultural land. The bill defines "prohibited foreign parties" more broadly (including entities under U.S. sanctions) and sets a 60-day compliance deadline after designation or acquisition. It exempts entities approved by U.S. national security reviews (like CFIUS) from these restrictions. The law applies to both agricultural and non-agricultural land purchases by sanctioned foreign entities.

SB 2670, the "Higher Education Purchasing Act," allows private, nonprofit colleges and universities in Tennessee to access the same statewide discounted procurement contracts currently available to public institutions. It directly affects eligible private institutions (accredited, Tennessee-based, and approved by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission) by permitting them to purchase goods and services through state contracts at the same pricing as public schools, without requiring new state funding or fees. Key provisions prohibit vendors from charging higher prices to private institutions or retaliating against them for participating, while ensuring public institutions retain full access to contracts and state costs remain unchanged. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and requires the state to establish a simple enrollment process for private institutions to join existing procurement systems.

SB 1843, the "Nitrous Oxide Abuse Prevention and Retail Sale Prohibition Act," bans vape shop retailers from selling nitrous oxide (commonly known as laughing gas) in Tennessee. The bill specifically prohibits vape shops - defined as businesses selling electronic smoking devices or related products - from offering nitrous oxide for retail sale, with penalties starting at $500 per violation for first offenses and escalating to license suspension or revocation for repeat violations. Manufacturers who facilitate these sales face $10,000 fines per product. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting vape shop operators and their compliance with retail sales restrictions.

SB 1880 creates a new Office of Homeland Security within Tennessee's Department of Safety. This office will coordinate state efforts to prevent, protect against, and respond to threats - including terrorism, cyberattacks, school threats, and critical infrastructure vulnerabilities - while working with federal, local, and private partners. The bill establishes specialized homeland security officers (with statewide peace officer powers) to investigate these threats and support school security planning, election infrastructure protection, and law enforcement coordination. It directly affects state agencies, local law enforcement, schools, and election officials through new investigative authority and coordination requirements.

SB 1840, known as "Quinton's Law," extends the statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits in Tennessee under specific conditions. It adds a three-year deadline for filing such claims if criminal charges are filed within two years by law enforcement, a district attorney, or a grand jury related to the same incident. This change directly affects families seeking civil remedies when criminal proceedings are active for the death. The law applies to causes of action accruing on or after July 1, 2026, and modifies existing time limits for other civil actions in Titles 28, 39, and 40 of Tennessee Code.

This legislative bill honors Almae Ray Chappell on the occasion of her 94th birthday. It formally recognizes her contributions to her family and community, noting her long life and personal interests. The resolution directs the state to prepare and present a copy of the document to her as a gesture of appreciation.

Senate Joint Resolution 1205 is a commemorative measure that honors Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler for his career in law enforcement. The resolution acknowledges his service history, including his time as a corrections officer, narcotics detective, and Chief Deputy, as well as his current role as Sheriff since 2018. It formally thanks him for more than forty-five years of public service and authorizes the presentation of a copy of the resolution to him.

SB 2031 creates a new legal right for individuals to sue healthcare professionals if they were coerced into receiving certain medical procedures - such as puberty blockers, hormones, or surgeries - based on false claims about gender identity. It specifically applies when patients (or parents/guardians for minors) consented due to coercion by the provider, and the procedure was intended to help someone "identify with a purported identity inconsistent with sex." The bill defines "medical procedure" broadly to include hormone treatments, surgical interventions, and related care. Lawsuits must be filed within 18 years of the procedure or when the injury was discovered.