Tennessee Bills

SB 2326 requires Tennessee homeowners' associations (HOAs) that collect regular assessments for common expenses to obtain and maintain a blanket fidelity bond. This bond must cover losses from theft or dishonesty by HOA officers, directors, employees, or their managing agents, with coverage calculated as the HOA's reserve balances plus 25% of annual assessment income (minimum $10,000). The bill applies to all HOAs operating under Tennessee law that collect regular dues, effective July 1, 2026. It mandates this insurance to protect HOA funds, with the board or managing agent responsible for securing the bond.

HB 1527 requires all public and charter schools in Tennessee to teach child trafficking prevention and awareness as part of health education for every student from kindergarten through 12th grade, replacing the previous requirement that it be taught through family life curriculum. Schools must create and publish detailed implementation plans by August 1, 2026, and submit annual reports by July 1 each year starting in 2027, outlining how the instruction is delivered, who provides it, and the materials used. The bill amends Tennessee law to mandate this education and reporting, effective for the 2026-2027 school year and beyond. It applies to all local school boards and public charter school governing bodies.

HB 1623 sets specific operational start dates for three government entities created during Tennessee's 2025 legislative session: the Advisory Committee on Open Government, the Board of Professional Bondsmen, and the Conservatorship Management Task Force. The bill amends Tennessee Code to require these entities to begin functioning on predetermined dates rather than immediately after their creation. This change ensures their activities align with legislative timelines established for the 2025 session. The law takes effect upon becoming law.

HB 1665 prohibits healthcare providers in Tennessee from asking minors specific gender-related questions (such as whether a minor feels normal in their body or identifies as a different gender) without a parent being physically present, fully informed, and providing written consent. The bill applies to all healthcare settings covered under Tennessee law and requires such questions to be directly related to a minor's current medical or psychological treatment. Exceptions include emergency care, mandated reporting for abuse, and situations where a minor is emancipated or a parent themselves. The legislation also bars insurance companies from requiring these questions for payment or penalizing providers who don't ask them. It amends multiple Tennessee code sections (Titles 4, 33, 47, 56, 63, 68, 71) to enforce these requirements.

SB 1638 designates "Tennessee" by Drew Holcomb as an official state song, adding it to Tennessee's list of state symbols. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated to include this song under the official state songs section (TCA § 4-1-302(16)). This change directly affects the state's official designation of cultural symbols but has no practical impact on residents or policy. It is a symbolic, non-substantive bill with no financial or regulatory provisions.

SB 1568 designates August 8 of each year as "Clog Dancing Day in the Volunteer State" to recognize clog dancing's cultural heritage in Tennessee. The bill does not create new policies or affect specific groups - it simply establishes an annual observance to honor the tradition's historical significance, community role, and connection to Tennessee's Appalachian roots and cultural identity. It is a ceremonial designation with no substantive legislative impact.

HB 1971 restricts lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of state laws by removing the right to seek declaratory or injunctive relief against state governmental actions. It specifically prohibits individuals from suing the state to invalidate statutes, while allowing such challenges against local governments (like cities, counties, or school districts). The bill maintains state sovereign immunity by ensuring no waiver of the state’s legal protection from lawsuits. It does not affect claims seeking monetary damages or challenges to local government actions.

HB 1799 modifies Tennessee's comptroller reporting requirements. It deletes two existing reports: one about broadband services in underserved areas and another about the Tennessee Helping Heroes Scholarship Program. The bill also revises the property tax relief program reporting by requiring the comptroller to annually estimate program costs during budget preparation and submit this to the legislature. These changes affect the state comptroller's office and the General Assembly, streamlining certain reporting obligations.

HB 2044 expands the scope of practice for certified medical assistants (CMAs) in Tennessee by allowing physician assistants (PAs) to delegate medication administration tasks to them. The bill specifically adds 15 medication categories to what CMAs can administer, including vaccines, oral/sublingual medications, topical treatments, inhalers, and certain anesthetic agents (like transdermal patches), while prohibiting delegation of tasks requiring clinical judgment. It requires ambulatory clinics to train and verify CMAs' competency for medication administration, updates certification requirements to include additional certifying bodies, and clarifies that PAs must work under protocols with collaborating physicians. The changes directly affect CMAs, PAs, and outpatient clinics, aiming to clarify delegation authority under existing medical practice laws.

SB 1691 amends Tennessee law to allow the executive director of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance or an attorney employed by that bureau to conduct training for bureau members and the Tennessee Ethics Commission. The bill updates two sections of state code (TCA 2-10-214 and 3-6-116) to include these staff members as authorized trainers. This is a procedural change affecting only the internal operations of the ethics oversight body, with no direct impact on voters, candidates, or campaign finance rules.

HB 1741 requires insurers covering incarcerated individuals in Tennessee to treat FDA-approved non-opioid pain medications equally with opioids on their preferred drug lists (PDL). Specifically, insurers must not disadvantage or discourage coverage for non-opioid pain treatments compared to opioids, provided the non-opioid has been FDA-approved for pain management for at least nine months. The bill applies to all insurance policies covering inmates, including those through TennCare or private insurers, and amends multiple Tennessee Code titles related to healthcare coverage. It takes effect January 1, 2027, and does not prevent insurers from favoring one opioid over another or one non-opioid over another.

HB 166 requires Tennessee's Office of Legislative Information Systems to archive the House Select Committee on Redistricting's webpage from the 112th General Assembly. It mandates preserving all videos, documents, maps, and other materials on that webpage to remain functional and publicly accessible. This procedural bill directly affects the public by ensuring historical redistricting records remain available for review. The law amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 3-1-103(f) and takes effect upon enactment.