Tennessee Bills

HB 1126 allows Tennessee state agencies and local health departments to submit annual compliance reports electronically instead of on paper for the Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act. The bill amends specific Tennessee Code sections (Titles 4, 50, and 57) to permit this electronic submission method. It directly affects state governmental entities and local health departments that currently file these reports annually. The key change is streamlining the reporting process by adding electronic submission as a permitted option under existing law.

HB 1172 requires Tennessee's district attorneys general conference to create an annual report detailing all convictions under the Terrorism Prevention and Response Act of 2002 from the previous year. The report must be submitted to the Tennessee General Assembly by January 15 each year, starting in 2026. This procedural bill affects district attorneys (who compile the data) and the General Assembly (which receives the report), with no changes to the underlying terrorism law. It establishes a regular reporting mechanism to track how the 2002 terrorism statute is applied in court.

HB 1183 amends Tennessee law to extend the deadline for the Department of Finance and Administration to submit an annual report on aviation fuel tax revenues. Specifically, it changes the reporting date from December 31 to January 15 each year, requiring the department to detail the total aviation fuel tax revenues collected in the previous fiscal year. This procedural change affects the department’s reporting schedule and the legislative committees (finance and transportation committees) that receive the report. The bill does not alter tax rates or revenue collection mechanisms, only the timing of the report.

HB 1184 removes outdated definitions of "contractor" and obsolete penalty rules from Tennessee's licensing statutes. It specifically amends Section 62-6-136 (which prohibits unlicensed contracting) by deleting redundant language and references to now-unused provisions. The bill affects the state's contractor licensing system and the legal framework governing unlicensed contracting activities. This is a technical cleanup of existing law, not a policy change, to ensure statutes reflect current licensing requirements without outdated references. The bill does not create new rules or penalties.

HB 1297 changes Tennessee's landlord-tenant law by extending the notice period for lease termination from **three calendar days to three business days** when a tenant or occupant commits certain violations. It applies to situations involving violent acts, immediate threats to health/safety, hazardous conditions, or unauthorized occupancy. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law (including Title 66) to implement this change, giving landlords a more realistic timeframe to address violations without counting weekends or holidays. This directly affects landlords and tenants in Tennessee rental properties where lease violations occur.

HB 1186 shortens the required notice period for Tennessee state agencies planning to outsource facilities management services to private companies. It reduces the advance notification timeframe from 30 to 21 days before signing such contracts within a specific legislative district. This change directly affects state departments or agencies and the legislators representing the affected district. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to implement this 21-day notice requirement. The policy change is purely procedural, focusing on the timing of agency notifications to legislators.

HB 1208 amends Tennessee law to allow pharmacists to provide weight management services through existing collaborative practice agreements with physicians. This change directly affects pharmacists in Tennessee who operate under such agreements and patients seeking weight management support through pharmacy settings. The bill adds "weight management services" to the list of authorized services in these agreements under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 63, Chapter 10. It does not create new requirements but expands current practice options for pharmacists. The bill is currently pending amendment after initial introduction.

HB 1228 requires Tennessee's Board of Regents to provide its tenure policy in either electronic or printed format upon request. This bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 49-8-301(a), 8, 49, and 62 to establish this accessibility requirement. The policy directly affects the Board of Regents and public university faculty whose tenure decisions rely on the published policy. It does not change tenure standards or procedures, only how the existing policy document is made available to stakeholders. The bill is procedural, focusing on document distribution rather than policy content.

HB 1246 requires Tennessee's Attorney General's office to report on investigations into consumer protection violations (like scams or unfair business practices) where artificial intelligence was used to commit those violations. The report must cover cases from January 2024 through December 2025 and be submitted to specific legislative committee chairs by July 1, 2026. This bill does not change consumer protection laws but mandates data collection on AI's role in enforcement. The report may be submitted electronically, and the bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to reflect this requirement.

HB 1195 requires Tennessee school districts (local education agencies or LEAs) to post their existing character education curriculum on the district's public website. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49, Section 49-6-1007(c), adding the specific requirement for online publication. The law directly affects all public school districts in Tennessee by mandating transparency about their character education programs. It does not change curriculum content but ensures parents and the public can access current materials online.

HB 1221 removes outdated language from Tennessee law regarding the state board of education as an authorizer for public charter schools, which expired on June 30, 2021. The bill updates procedures for charter schools by clarifying that the state commission, not the board, serves as the primary authorizer for charter amendments and termination petitions starting July 1, 2021. It deletes obsolete provisions about the board's role and streamlines the process for charter schools to request changes to their agreements or voluntary termination. This bill directly affects public charter schools and their governing bodies by defining current authorizer responsibilities under Tennessee Code.

HB 1185 requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to submit its annual report on narcotics investigations by March 1 each year to legislative committees with jurisdiction over criminal matters. The bill amends existing law to change the submission deadline from an unspecified annual date to a specific March 1 deadline. This procedural change directly affects the TBI's narcotics investigation division and the legislative committees that oversee criminal justice. The bill does not create new policies but standardizes the timing for a required report.