SB 2032 requires Tennessee public safety employers (such as police departments, fire services, and emergency medical personnel) to provide employees and job applicants with reasonable access to their full employment records, including mental health evaluation results. If an applicant is denied employment based on a mental health evaluation, they can request the evaluation results and submit an alternative evaluation at their own expense, which the employer must review. The bill amends multiple Tennessee codes to implement these transparency requirements and allows employees to sue for violations, with the winning party recovering attorney fees. This law directly affects public safety workers and job seekers in roles involving protection of persons or property.
SB 1751 modifies Tennessee adoption law to allow courts to waive the required home study when a child has already lived with prospective adoptive parents for six months, provided the adoption is in the child's best interest. This change directly affects adoptive parents who have cared for a child in their home for six months, removing a standard requirement that previously applied to all adoptions. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law to add this exception while maintaining the court's authority to approve or deny the waiver based on the child's welfare. It does not eliminate home studies for all adoptions but creates a specific pathway for cases where a child has been residing with the adoptive family. The key provision requires courts to review the circumstances and confirm the adoption aligns with the child's best interest before waiving the home study.
SB 1864 modifies Tennessee's security guard licensing rules by adding stalking to the list of crimes requiring a five-year waiting period after completing a sentence or probation before an applicant can register. It also disqualifies applicants from security guard registration if they are listed on a state or out-of-state abuse registry or have firearm prohibitions (like orders of protection). The bill updates requirements for security guards to report arrests or convictions related to specified offenses within 10 days. These changes directly affect individuals seeking security guard licenses who have certain criminal histories.
SB 2005 requires certain fire investigators in Tennessee to hold a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification to exercise police powers - such as making arrests - in arson or suspected arson cases. This applies to the Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance and their deputies, municipal fire investigators, and salaried county fire investigators. Investigators may still conduct routine fire origin investigations without certification but must have it when using police authority. The requirement takes effect January 1, 2027, with POST issuing certifications after meeting police officer qualifications and completing annual training.
SB 2013 establishes a two-year moratorium on approving new out-of-state nursing programs seeking to place students in Tennessee for clinical experiences. It directly affects out-of-state nursing programs (though existing approved programs retain status during the moratorium) and requires the Tennessee Board of Nursing and the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement to develop new standards for these programs. Key mechanisms include mandating annual reporting on student placements, preceptors, and outcomes, and requiring verification of preceptor licensure and program data. The bill also directs the Center to publish final standards by June 2027 and annual oversight reports starting in 2027.
HB 2043 prevents certain state agency rules from automatically expiring on June 30, 2026. Specifically, it keeps permanent rules filed with the Secretary of State on or after January 1, 2025 - those in effect when the bill passes and scheduled to expire on June 30, 2026 - active until the agency repeals, amends them, or new legislation supersedes them. This directly affects Tennessee state agencies that create these rules and the public subject to them, as it avoids an automatic lapse of existing regulations. The bill does not change the rules themselves but extends their validity through standard rulemaking processes. It explicitly states rules cannot remain in effect if they conflict with other laws outside the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.
HB 1803 amends Tennessee law to include "bottling distilled spirits" within the legal definition of "manufacture" for alcohol licensing purposes. This change directly affects businesses that bottle distilled spirits (like whiskey or vodka), requiring them to obtain a manufacturer's license instead of a separate bottling permit. The bill updates Tennessee Code §57-3-101 to explicitly list bottling as a manufacturing activity under the same regulatory framework as distilling, brewing, and winemaking. This creates a more consistent licensing structure for all alcohol production and handling operations within the state. The bill is currently pending in committee review as of February 2026.
HB 2082 (Tennessee) protects parents and legal guardians who raise children consistent with their biological sex from certain legal consequences. It prohibits courts from considering such actions - like using correct pronouns or making medical decisions based on biological sex - as grounds for child abuse findings, custody denials, or removal of children. The bill explicitly states this does not override laws against actual abuse or neglect, and it requires courts to disregard these parental choices when determining custody arrangements in the child’s best interest. This bill directly affects Tennessee parents, courts, and child welfare agencies handling custody and dependency cases.
SB 2132 prevents certain state agency rules from automatically expiring on June 30, 2026. Specifically, it applies to permanent rules filed with the secretary of state on or after January 1, 2025, that are active when the bill takes effect and would otherwise expire on that date. These rules will remain in effect indefinitely until changed by the agency, new legislation, or repealed - rather than expiring as scheduled. The bill does not override other laws, ensuring rules cannot conflict with statutes outside the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act. This is a procedural adjustment to administrative rules, not a substantive policy change.
SB 1788 prohibits Tennessee local governments (like cities or counties) from moving homeless individuals to another jurisdiction without first getting written agreement from that receiving area. It also bans using public funds for such relocations unless housing and services are confirmed available in the new location. The bill authorizes Tennessee’s attorney general to impose civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation and lets affected jurisdictions sue for damages or block violations through court orders. These changes apply to local government actions under Tennessee law, directly impacting how municipalities handle homeless population relocations.
SB 1883 modifies Tennessee's administrative procedures for contested cases involving boards attached to the Department of Environment and Conservation. It shortens the deadline for administrative law judges to issue initial orders from 180 to 90 days after a hearing concludes. The bill clarifies that these boards cannot review initial orders unless a party appeals directly to them within 15 days, preserving the right to appeal while streamlining the process. This change applies to cases governed by Titles 60, 68, and 69 of Tennessee Code Annotated.
HB 1784 designates January 22 of each year as "Sanctity of Life Day" for observance in Tennessee, as part of the state's recognition of days of special significance. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 15, Chapter 2, to formally add this day to the state's list of recognized observances. It cites the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court Dobbs decision (which overturned Roe v. Wade) as context for renewing Tennessee's commitment to protecting life. This is a symbolic measure without regulatory or financial impact, as it only establishes an annual day of recognition.
