Tennessee Bills

SB 2279 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to publish all inspection criteria used for pain management clinics on its website, making compliance standards transparent for clinics. It mandates that the department publicly share the criteria for identifying "high-risk" prescribers (based on patient overdose rates) and remove such designations after prescribers complete required training. The bill also exempts pain management specialists from the high-risk prescriber list and allows them to temporarily cover for medical directors without counting toward the four-clinic limit for medical directors. These changes directly affect pain management clinics, prescribers, and pain management specialists by clarifying regulatory expectations and providing pathways to address high-risk designations.

This bill officially recognizes the annual winner of the Old Time Bluegrass and Fiddlers' Jamboree in Holladay as Tennessee's state champion fiddler. It amends state code to formally designate this title for the competition winner, which has been held since 1957 and celebrates traditional fiddle music. The bill does not create new programs or funding - it simply establishes a ceremonial recognition for the event's top fiddler. This designation directly affects the winner of the West Tennessee Fiddlers' Championship held each April in Holladay.

This bill restricts Tennessee's animal health commissioner from mandating tests or vaccinations for general animal health protection. Instead, the commissioner may only require such measures to detect or treat USDA-listed "notifiable" (emergency/emerging/regulatory) or "monitored" (endemic) diseases. The commissioner retains the ability to recommend tests or vaccinations for general animal health protection. The law directly affects animal owners, importers, and the commissioner by narrowing when mandatory health actions can be ordered under state law.

SB 2365, the "Parental Rights Protection Act," requires courts to hold an expedited hearing within 15 days if a bond condition restricts a defendant's parental contact, custody, or visitation with a minor child (excluding cases where the child is a victim). The government must prove, with clear evidence, that a present threat of harm exists, less restrictive alternatives won't prevent harm, and the restriction serves the child's best interests. The bill presumes parental contact is in the child's best interest, shifting the burden to the government to justify restrictions. This directly affects defendants in criminal cases, courts issuing bond conditions, and children whose custody or visitation rights are restricted.

SB 2601 increases the retained risk limit for county mutual insurance companies in Tennessee from $100,000 to $250,000 per single risk covered by an insurance policy. This change directly affects county mutual insurance companies operating under Tennessee law, allowing them to cover larger individual risks without seeking additional reinsurance. The bill amends two specific sections of Tennessee Code Annotated (Title 56, Chapter 22, Sections 56-22-106(c)(1)(B) and (c)(2)) to update the dollar amount. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026.

SB 2466 clarifies that stealing merchandise from a cargo container with the intent to avoid paying the full price constitutes theft under Tennessee law. It directly affects individuals who enter cargo containers to remove goods without authorization. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee's criminal code to specifically include "entering a cargo container and removing merchandise" as a defined theft offense. This change makes it explicitly illegal to steal from containers with the intent to deprive merchants of the merchandise's full value. The law focuses on preventing cargo theft by clearly defining the act as a criminal offense.

HB 2139 clarifies that stealing merchandise from a cargo container with the intent to deprive a merchant of the item's stated price constitutes theft. This bill directly affects merchants who lose goods from cargo containers and law enforcement handling such theft cases. It adds a specific provision to Tennessee law defining this act as theft, requiring the intent to steal merchandise from containers. The bill amends multiple sections of the Tennessee Code (Titles 4-7, 16-18, 20-22, 24-28, 37-40, 43, 54-55) to include this new theft definition.

HB 2252 (Tennessee) requires applicants for livestock market licenses to include their email address on the application form to the Department of Agriculture. This procedural bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 43-11-102(a)(1), 44-11-102, and 53-11-102 to add email address as a mandatory field for livestock market operators. The bill directly affects individuals or businesses seeking to operate livestock markets in Tennessee by changing the required information in their licensing application. It does not alter business operations or regulations, only the administrative details submitted during licensing.

HB 1679 updates Tennessee law for individuals under 21 caught illegally buying, possessing, or using fake age proof for tobacco, vaping, or nicotine products. For a first violation, courts can require up to 50 hours of community service, completion of an educational program about the dangers of these products, a small fine ($10-$50), or a 90-day informal adjustment. For a second or subsequent violation, courts must add probation for up to six months to the community service and educational program requirements. The bill applies to underage individuals and takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 2028 requires business entities (like online platforms or search engines) that blacklist small businesses to provide written notice within 24 hours of the action. It directly affects small businesses (defined as those with 50 or fewer full-time employees) and business entities that remove them from search results, reduce their visibility, or delete 25%+ of their reviews. The notice must explain the reason for the blacklist, detail how the business can resolve it, and provide contact information for a representative. If a business fails to comply, affected small businesses can sue for actual damages, punitive damages, attorney fees, or court-ordered injunctions. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to actions after that date.

HB 1751 allows Tennessee residents holding memorial or military license plates to submit annual verification proof electronically instead of through traditional methods like mail or in-person visits. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 4, to authorize the Department of Revenue to accept digital submissions for confirming continued eligibility for these special plates. This change directly affects veterans, military families, and memorial plate holders who must renew their plate status yearly. The policy simplifies the verification process without altering eligibility requirements or plate benefits.

HB 1974 requires public school principals to remove a student named as the "respondent" in a court-issued order of protection from any shared classroom or school activity with the student named as the "petitioner" (the protected student), for the duration of the protection order. The bill mandates that schools provide alternative instruction for any classes the removed student misses and applies specifically to orders issued under Tennessee’s domestic violence protections (TCA Title 36). It directly affects public school students involved in protection orders, school administrators, and school districts, ensuring schools comply with court orders to maintain safety. The law takes effect upon enactment and applies only to orders issued on or after that date.