Tennessee Bills

HB 1984 expands access to buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder by allowing more healthcare providers to directly administer buprenorphine mono or buprenorphine without naloxone, as long as they act within their scope of practice. It specifically permits prescribing these medications to nursing mothers and patients with documented adverse reactions to naloxone, and clarifies that prescribing injectable forms doesn’t restrict providers from later prescribing non-naloxone buprenorphine. The bill amends Tennessee’s pharmacy law (TCA Title 53, Chapter 11) to remove barriers for these specific scenarios. This directly affects healthcare providers (like nurse practitioners or physician assistants) and patients seeking opioid treatment, particularly nursing mothers and those with allergies to naloxone.

SB 1970 allows non-citizens in Tennessee to access their own law enforcement records, such as arrest reports or incident reports, which previously were restricted to state citizens. To obtain these records, non-citizens must submit a written request, valid photo ID, and a signed affidavit confirming the record pertains solely to them. The bill amends Tennessee’s public records law (TCA Title 10, Chapter 7) to override a prior citizenship restriction for this specific purpose. It does not affect confidential records or grant access to records about others. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 2070, the "Tennessee Energy Freedom Act," protects fossil fuel industry activities by limiting legal liability for emissions. It prohibits lawsuits or penalties related to emissions from coal, oil, and natural gas operations (defined as "covered activities") unless the emissions violate federal environmental laws like the Clean Air Act. The bill restricts liability claims to "in-jurisdiction products" - meaning only emissions from fossil fuels actually shipped into Tennessee - and bars claims based on emissions from products sold outside the state. This directly affects fossil fuel companies operating in Tennessee and any entities seeking to hold them liable for emissions.

HB 1582 extends Tennessee's Interstate Compact for Juveniles, a cooperative agreement with other states for handling juvenile offenders crossing state lines, until June 30, 2034. This bill amends Tennessee law to change the expiration date from its current date to the new deadline, ensuring the compact remains active without needing renewal. The extension directly affects Tennessee's juvenile justice system, courts, and agencies that coordinate with other states on juvenile cases. It is a procedural change that maintains existing operations without altering the compact's substance or requirements.

SB 1859 modernizes Tennessee's Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) by adopting updated definitions and provisions from the Uniform Law Commission's 2018 and 2022 amendments. It directly affects businesses, legal professionals, and consumers involved in commercial transactions by clarifying key terms like "conspicuous" (requiring terms to be visibly noticeable to a reasonable person), "delivery" of electronic documents, and the definition of "electronic" to include modern digital technology. The bill makes technical updates to existing UCC sections without creating new substantive requirements, such as replacing "authenticated" with "signed" in contract rules. These changes ensure Tennessee's commercial law aligns with current business practices and digital transactions.

SB 485 requires Tennessee courts to follow federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) procedures in child custody cases involving Indian children. It directly affects Indian children, their families, tribal courts, and Tennessee child welfare agencies by establishing tribal jurisdiction over these cases. The bill mandates that courts transfer custody proceedings for Indian children not living on tribal reservations to tribal courts unless there’s a valid reason not to, and it defines key terms like "Indian child" and "tribal jurisdiction" to align with ICWA standards. This policy change ensures tribal involvement in custody decisions to protect cultural connections and family stability.

SB 1213 ensures that English language learner (ELL) students in Tennessee public schools can receive the same language assistance services during standardized tests (like TCAP or end-of-course assessments) that they received in their regular classroom, provided the support doesn’t invalidate the test. It directly affects ELL students who previously may have been denied these accommodations during testing. The bill defines "language assistance services" as either: (1) support from an ESL-certified teacher under an individual learning plan, or (2) classroom accommodations provided by general teachers when parents waived ESL services. This policy change applies starting the 2025-2026 school year for all state-mandated assessments.

SB 866 modifies Tennessee's legal time limits for construction-related lawsuits. It removes a four-year deadline (statute of repose) that previously barred certain counterclaims or third-party claims about defects in real property design, planning, supervision, or construction. This change directly affects property owners, contractors, and developers involved in disputes over construction quality. The bill allows these specific claims to be filed beyond the standard four-year period after a project's substantial completion. The amendment takes effect July 1, 2025.

SB 609 (Tennessee) amends state law to increase the frequency of guaranteed communication between non-custodial parents and their children from twice weekly to three times weekly via phone or video call, when technology is available for both parties. This change directly affects parents who do not have physical custody of their children in Tennessee custody cases. The bill specifically revises Tennessee Code Annotated Section 36-6-101(a)(3)(B)(i) to replace "twice" with "three (3) times" for these unimpeded communication rights. It does not alter custody arrangements or financial support obligations, focusing solely on communication frequency. The bill was introduced in the Tennessee Senate on January 31, 2025, and passed its first committee consideration on February 10, 2025.

HB 2356 amends Tennessee law to allow local school districts (LEAs) to authorize school security personnel - such as school safety officers or campus security staff - to review exterior bus camera footage when investigating illegal passes of stopped school buses. Currently, only law enforcement officers (POST-certified or state-commissioned) could review such evidence; this bill expands that authority to include trained school security staff. The change requires LEAs to maintain separate agreements with law enforcement for police review, but school security review can occur concurrently without restricting police involvement. This directly affects school districts and their security personnel by streamlining evidence review for bus safety violations.

HB 2505 prohibits the operation of virtual currency kiosks in Tennessee by making it a Class A misdemeanor to knowingly install, permit, or operate such devices. It directly affects kiosk operators, property owners who allow installations, and anyone managing these terminals. The bill defines "virtual currency kiosk" as an electronic terminal facilitating crypto exchanges (like converting digital currency to cash) and specifies penalties for violations. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to all such activities after that date.

SB 2529 requires Tennessee's Department of Transportation to install signs or markers at rest areas and welcome centers indicating the presence of adult-sized changing tables (height-adjustable platforms in family restrooms). It also mandates the department to publish online a list of locations with these facilities. The bill directly affects motorists using state highways who rely on rest areas, particularly parents or caregivers needing accessible changing options. Key provisions include using standardized traffic sign symbols and consulting tourism officials for implementation, with the requirement taking effect July 1, 2026.