Tennessee Bills

HB 1705 requires all Tennessee state and local government employers (including counties, cities, school districts, and public agencies) to verify new hires' work authorization using the federal E-Verify program starting July 1, 2026. Employers must maintain verification records and cannot hire without this check. The Attorney General can enforce compliance by withholding state funds (such as grants or shared taxes) from local governments that fail to comply. This bill directly affects public-sector employers and creates a financial penalty for non-compliance, without altering federal immigration law.

SB 1603 requires Tennessee's Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) to study whether state and local governments are prepared to support a medical marijuana program. The study will examine the process for implementing such a program and assess the readiness of government entities, with all state agencies required to assist TACIR upon request. TACIR must submit its final report to the legislature by November 1, 2026. This bill does not create a medical marijuana program but aims to inform future legislative decisions by evaluating operational readiness.

SB 1637 amends Tennessee law to allow sheriffs and other authorized officials to require payment of the fee for serving a garnishment before performing the service, rather than after. The bill clarifies that all garnishments are treated as "original" for fee purposes, meaning the standard fee applies to every garnishment served. This change directly affects creditors (who initiate garnishments) and debtors' asset-holding entities (which must pay the fee upfront), as well as the officials serving the garnishments. The law takes effect upon becoming law.

SB 1654 requires Tennessee's comptroller of the treasury to publish an annual summary of audit findings for state and local government entities on the comptroller's website. This makes key details from government audits publicly accessible, directly affecting the comptroller (who must now share the reports) and residents (who gain easier access to oversight information). The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law to mandate this online publication, ensuring transparency without changing the audit process itself. It focuses on making existing audit results more available rather than altering how audits are conducted.

SB 1659 amends Tennessee sentencing laws to add 12 new aggravating factors that juries must consider when sentencing defendants convicted of rape of a child or aggravated rape of a child. Key provisions include factors like the defendant being in a position of trust (e.g., teacher or caregiver), prior convictions involving minors, filming the crime, using substances to influence the victim, or the offense being especially heinous. The bill directly affects defendants in these specific child sexual assault cases by making certain circumstances mandatory for sentencing consideration. It also removes a prior mitigating factor (victim participation/consent) that applied to child rape cases and takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 2030 removes specific Tennessee law sections (70-4-112 and 70-4-122) that previously governed raccoon hunting. This change allows the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission to regulate raccoon hunting through its own rules and proclamations, rather than relying on fixed statutory requirements. The bill directly affects raccoon hunting regulations in Tennessee, giving the Commission greater flexibility to manage the activity. It takes effect on July 1, 2026.

SB 1683, the "Tennessee Child Care Hosting Safe Harbor Act," limits liability for employers and host entities (like businesses, nonprofits, or schools) that provide space for licensed child care providers. It shields these entities from civil lawsuits for provider negligence, unless the entity itself was grossly negligent or acted with willful misconduct. The law clarifies that merely providing space, utilities, or financial support does not make an entity liable for managing the child care operation. This bill applies to incidents occurring on or after July 1, 2026, and does not affect the liability of the child care providers themselves.

SB 1679 modifies how Tennessee local governments can issue short-term debt known as grant anticipation notes (GANS). It directly affects cities, counties, and other local governments seeking to finance public works projects before receiving grant funds. The key change authorizes the state comptroller to approve certain GANS if a local government demonstrates economic distress from a natural disaster certified by FEMA. The bill also requires local governments to secure these notes with pledged grant funds and clarifies that proceeds from other debt types (like bond anticipation notes) cannot cover GANS payments.

SB 1479 requires Tennessee's Department of Correction to coordinate with the Department of Safety to help inmates released after serving a felony sentence obtain driver licenses or photo ID licenses if they had a valid license before incarceration. It automatically extends the expiration date of a driver license that expired during incarceration or within six months after release by six additional months. The bill also mandates a data-sharing agreement between the two departments to streamline this process and ensures licenses expired solely due to incarceration are treated as valid for reentry. This applies specifically to inmates discharged from prison who plan to live in Tennessee and had a driver license in good standing prior to incarceration.

HB 1254 requires state or local governments to provide law enforcement officers with written notice of reasons for being placed on a "Brady list" (a list of officers with unresolved concerns) before final placement. It gives officers at least 10 business days to respond to the allegations before the list placement becomes final. The bill directly affects law enforcement officers in Tennessee and amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 38, Chapter 8, to establish this procedural safeguard.

HB 569 gives home buyers and borrowers in Tennessee the exclusive right to select their own closing agent (a company handling real estate transaction paperwork and funds) for property sales or loans. It prohibits sellers from forcing buyers to use a specific closing agent or tying contracts to such choices. Sellers may hire their own licensed attorney to represent them during closing - covering fee negotiations, document review, and deed preparation - but the chosen closing agent cannot charge the seller for services without the attorney’s written consent. The law applies to all Tennessee real estate transactions and takes effect July 1, 2025.

HB 878 clarifies that when clerks of specific Tennessee courts fail to collect and pay privilege taxes on court litigation, the unpaid amount becomes a personal debt owed by the clerk, not the court. This directly affects clerks handling litigation in courts listed under Tennessee law (e.g., county or circuit courts). The bill amends state code to explicitly state that uncollected privilege taxes are the clerk’s financial obligation, shifting responsibility from the court system. It does not change tax rates or create new taxes, but ensures clerks are accountable for collected funds. The bill is procedural, focusing on clarifying existing tax collection responsibilities.