Tennessee Bills

SB 2222 creates a legal pathway for individuals to seek financial damages from people or entities that pay demonstrators to participate in protests, if those demonstrators commit specific criminal acts during the demonstration. It directly affects organizers who compensate protesters and individuals harmed by protest-related misconduct. The bill establishes liability if the demonstrator's conduct matches one of 11 listed offenses (such as rioting, disorderly conduct, or civil rights intimidation), without requiring a prior criminal conviction against the demonstrator. This policy change shifts potential financial responsibility to those who fund protest participation when illegal actions occur. The bill is currently pending in the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee.

HB 2141 makes certain records related to college athletics confidential in Tennessee. It prohibits public disclosure of commercial contracts for intercollegiate athletics programs until July 2033 and extends the existing ban on disclosing game/player integrity records until July 2026. The bill explicitly states that confidentiality doesn't create legal claims for individuals, only allowing businesses to seek relief if disclosure harms their economic advantage. This applies directly to Tennessee's public universities operating athletics programs, affecting how they handle sensitive contract details and competitive game information.

HB 2355 increases penalties for businesses illegally disposing of sewage by upgrading violations from a Class C to Class B misdemeanor when committed during septic waste removal operations. It directly affects businesses permitted to remove accumulated wastes from septic systems. The bill requires courts to notify the environmental commissioner upon conviction, triggering automatic permit suspensions (30 days for first offense, 90 days for second, permanent revocation for third or subsequent violations). These changes apply to violations occurring on or after July 1, 2026.

HB 2498 prohibits Tennessee's TennCare program from covering or reimbursing medical procedures performed to help individuals "identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with their sex" or to treat "discomfort from discordance between sex and asserted identity." The bill specifically excludes coverage for gender dysphoria, gender identity disorders, or related mental conditions, but allows coverage for congenital defects, precocious puberty, disease, or physical injury. Existing treatments started before the law's effective date (July 1, 2026) may continue until March 31, 2027, with physician certification required for continuation. The bill directly affects TennCare beneficiaries, particularly transgender and non-binary individuals seeking gender-affirming care.

HB 2089 requires Tennessee public schools and charter schools to observe November 7 annually as "Victims of Communism Day." It mandates at least 45 minutes of instruction in world history and geography courses about how communist regimes caused suffering through poverty, starvation, violence, and suppression of rights. The law specifically requires teaching about historical examples including Stalin’s Soviet Union, Mao Zedong’s China, Pol Pot’s Cambodia, Fidel Castro’s Cuba, and Nicolás Maduro’s Venezuela. This policy directly affects all high school students in Tennessee public schools taking world history or geography courses. The requirement applies starting with the 2026-2027 school year.

HB 2536 changes who serves on three Tennessee insurance committees. It replaces members appointed by organizations (like the Tennessee State Employees Association or Tennessee School Boards Association) with members appointed directly by the commissioner of finance and administration. Specifically, it adds a "preferred service employee" to the state insurance committee, requires school board representatives to be chosen by the commissioner (not the School Boards Association), and has municipal/county employees appointed by the commissioner for local government insurance roles. These changes apply to state employees, school districts, and local governments participating in Tennessee's group insurance programs, effective July 1, 2026.

SB 2602 increases the annual honey production threshold requiring food manufacturing and inspection compliance from 150 gallons to 835 gallons in Tennessee. This change directly affects small honey producers who previously had to meet regulatory requirements at the lower 150-gallon level. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (TCA Title 44, Chapter 15 and Title 53) to adjust this threshold, exempting more small-scale producers from state inspection requirements.

HB 1871 amends Tennessee law to require that anyone convicted of second-degree murder (specifically for knowingly killing another) must receive a minimum sentence of Range II, the second-lowest sentencing range for criminal offenses. This directly affects individuals convicted of second-degree murder under the specified circumstances, setting a floor for their sentencing. The bill changes sentencing guidelines by prohibiting judges from imposing a sentence below Range II for these convictions, though sentences could still fall within Range III if deemed appropriate. The law applies to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2026.

HB 2020 amends Tennessee's food safety law to exclude churches, temples, synagogues, and civic or veteran's organizations from the definition of "food service establishment" when food is prepared, served, transported, or stored by volunteer personnel. This means these groups will not be subject to commercial food safety regulations, such as health inspections or food handler permits, for volunteer-run food activities. The bill clarifies that storing unopened canned food, non-hazardous packaged bulk food, or dry goods does not affect this exemption. The change takes effect upon becoming law, reducing regulatory burden for volunteer-based food operations.

HB 1815 allows jails to refuse accepting arrestees who require medical attention and were arrested for a non-violent misdemeanor (not a crime against a person). The arresting agency must arrange for a healthcare provider to evaluate the person and obtain a release form confirming they no longer need medical care or can be confined. If the healthcare provider provides this release form, the jail must accept the person. The bill directly affects individuals arrested for minor non-violent offenses needing medical care at the time of arrest.

HB 1663 exempts family child care homes operating under a U.S. Department of Defense certificate (per 32 CFR 79.6) from Tennessee's licensing requirements, provided they serve only military-connected families ("eligible patrons" as defined in federal regulations). The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 71, Chapter 3, to clarify that such providers do not need a state license or exemption to operate legally. This directly affects military-affiliated child care providers who already comply with federal DoD standards. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 1850 amends Tennessee law to prevent the Department of Children's Services from requiring relative caregivers (including those in kinship foster care programs) to provide a child with their own bedroom when determining placement. The bill directly affects relative caregivers and the department by removing this specific housing requirement, unless safety or medical reasons necessitate it. Key provisions clarify that placement decisions must prioritize a child's best interest without mandating separate bedrooms, easing barriers for families with limited housing space. This change applies to all kinship foster care placements under the amended sections of Tennessee Code Annotated.