Tennessee Bills

HB 2078, the "Parental Rights Protection Act," requires courts to hold a quick court review within 15 days if a criminal defendant's bond restricts their contact with, custody of, or visitation with a minor child (who isn't a victim of the crime). The government must prove, with clear evidence, that a serious threat to the child exists, less restrictive options won't work, and the restriction is truly in the child's best interest. If the court doesn't hold the review on time, the bond condition automatically cancels. The bill also presumes that parental contact is generally in a child's best interest. This directly affects criminal defendants in Tennessee facing bond conditions involving their children.

HB 1826 increases the maximum amount a county mutual insurance company in Tennessee can cover for a single risk from $100,000 to $250,000 without needing to share that risk with other insurers. This change directly affects county mutual insurance companies, which are local, non-profit insurers serving Tennessee communities. The bill amends two sections of Tennessee law (Title 56, Chapter 22) to update the dollar amount, and it will take effect on July 1, 2026.

SB 1720 makes two specific changes to Tennessee's public records law. It requires that addresses on nominating petitions for judicial and prosecutorial roles (like judge, district attorney, or public defender) be kept confidential, preventing public access to these addresses. It also requires that job application materials submitted by individuals seeking government employment be kept confidential. These changes amend Tennessee Code Sections 2-5-102 and 10-7-504 to establish these confidentiality protections.

SB 1712 would authorize Tennessee county mayors to lower flags on county property to half-staff to honor the death of a prominent citizen within their county, and similarly authorize municipal chief executives to do the same on municipal property. The bill amends Tennessee Code to provide this specific authority for county and municipal officials, replacing any need for ad-hoc resolutions for such tributes. This change directly affects county and municipal governments by establishing a clear statutory process for honoring notable community members who have passed away.

HB 1697 authorizes county mayors and municipal chief executives to lower flags on public property to half-staff upon the death of a prominent local citizen in their jurisdiction. The bill amends Tennessee law to add specific provisions allowing these officials to issue such orders for county and municipal properties. It does not create new requirements or costs but formalizes an existing practice under clear statutory authority. This is a procedural change affecting only local government flag protocols, not broader policy.

HB 2034 allows municipal courts in Tennessee to order a municipality to fix property maintenance violations when the property owner fails to correct the issue within 30 days of a court finding. This directly affects property owners who neglect maintenance and municipalities responsible for enforcing local property codes. The bill requires the municipality to cover remediation costs, which are then added as a legal claim (lien) against the property owner’s property. It amends multiple Tennessee code sections governing municipal courts and property ordinances. The law would take effect upon becoming law, aiming to ensure timely resolution of property violations.

HB 1659 makes two types of addresses confidential in Tennessee: (1) addresses listed on nominating petitions for judicial candidates (judges, chancellors, district attorneys, and public defenders), and (2) application materials submitted by individuals applying for government jobs. The bill amends Tennessee law to prevent these records from being publicly accessible, removing them from standard public records disclosure requirements. This directly affects judicial candidates and job seekers applying to state or local government positions. The change takes effect upon becoming law, without altering eligibility or hiring standards.

SB 1740 changes penalties for individuals under 21 who illegally purchase or possess tobacco, vaping, or nicotine products. For a first violation, courts may now require community service (up to 50 hours), completion of a court program about product dangers, or a 90-day informal adjustment. For second or subsequent violations, courts must add up to six months of probation (along with community service and the program). Parents or guardians of minors may face a $10-$50 civil penalty, and the law takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 1788 would prohibit certain foreign entities (including foreign-controlled businesses and individuals) from acquiring non-agricultural land in Tennessee. It requires existing owners of such land by foreign entities to register detailed information - like their nationality, purpose of ownership, and other U.S. land holdings - with the secretary of state by January 1, 2025. Violations of the acquisition ban are punishable as Class A misdemeanors, while failure to register incurs civil penalties up to $2,000 per violation. The bill directly affects foreign-controlled entities holding non-farm property in Tennessee, aiming to increase transparency around foreign ownership of land.

HB 1752 amends Tennessee law to require the transportation commissioner to include state representatives and senators from the affected county in written notices about contracts for emergency road repairs. The bill expands the current notice list - which only included the comptroller of the treasury - to add local lawmakers representing the county where a transportation failure or emergency occurs. This procedural change ensures county-level legislators are informed when the state contracts to fix urgent road or bridge issues. The bill does not alter funding, create new requirements, or change existing responsibilities.

HB 1517 extends the deadline for Tennessee counties to submit annual reports on mineral severance tax revenue from 30 to 90 days after their fiscal year ends. Counties must detail how much revenue was deposited into their road funds, how it was spent, and how it was used for road construction, maintenance, and repairs. The bill removes the comptroller of the treasury as a report recipient but keeps the comptroller responsible for auditing these reports. This directly affects counties collecting mineral severance taxes, which fund local road projects.

SB 1593 extends the deadline for Tennessee counties to report mineral severance tax revenue usage from 30 to 90 days after their fiscal year ends. It requires counties receiving these funds to submit annual reports detailing how much revenue was deposited into their road funds, how much was spent, and specifically how it was used for road construction, maintenance, and repairs. The bill removes the comptroller of the treasury as a report recipient but mandates that these reports undergo audit by the comptroller. This change applies to counties managing mineral severance tax revenue allocated to their road funds, as amended in Tennessee Code Annotated Section 67-7-207.