HB 1489 would expand Tennessee's cancer presumption law for firefighters to include arson investigators. The bill amends state law to define "firefighter" as specifically covering full-time arson investigators employed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation or county sheriff's departments. This change means these investigators would automatically qualify for disability benefits if they develop cancer, as their job-related exposure would be presumed to cause it - similar to current firefighter protections. The bill directly affects arson investigators working in these specific state and local law enforcement roles.
HB 1774 requires Tennessee's Secretary of State to place an advisory ballot question on the November 2026 general election ballot asking voters if the state should authorize a regulated medical cannabis program. If approved, the program would allow medical cannabis use for qualifying patients, with tax revenue dedicated to after-school programs, mental health services, law enforcement training, and community education. The bill does not create the program itself but seeks voter approval through an advisory referendum. It directly affects all Tennessee voters in the 2026 election and would determine whether a future regulated medical cannabis system is implemented.
HB 1943 requires Tennessee hospital emergency departments to provide a medical screening exam to pregnant women reporting active labor or an emergency medical condition, without denial or delay. It prohibits transferring a pregnant woman to another facility unless her condition is stabilized (per federal EMTALA standards) and mandates that transfers only occur with a physician's written certification of medical necessity and the patient's informed consent. The bill directly affects pregnant women seeking emergency care and hospitals operating emergency departments, imposing penalties for violations like denying screenings or transferring without proper authorization. Key provisions include requiring hospitals to offer stabilization treatment or a safe transfer option, documenting patient consent for refusals, and ensuring transfers meet federal guidelines for specialized care. This legislation aligns Tennessee's emergency care protocols for pregnant patients with existing federal emergency medical treatment laws.
HB 1959, the "FAIR Rx Act," prohibits pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) from owning, controlling, or having any financial interest in pharmacies after January 1, 2027. It directly affects PBMs and pharmacies by banning arrangements like management contracts, revenue-sharing, or exclusive agreements that transfer operational control to PBMs. The bill requires pharmacies to disclose owners with 5%+ stakes and restricts limited-use pharmacy licenses from being sold to PBMs. These provisions aim to prevent conflicts of interest that could limit patient choice, increase costs, or undermine pharmacist independence in medication care.
SB 1526 extends the expiration date of Tennessee's participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to June 30, 2034. This bill directly affects licensed physicians and healthcare providers who seek to practice across state lines through the compact. The key provision amends Tennessee law to set a new termination date (June 30, 2034) for the compact, which currently allows streamlined licensure across participating states. The bill does not change the compact's operational rules, only its duration.
HB 1859, the "Freedom from Medical Debt Act," requires Tennessee’s state treasurer to contract with a nonprofit entity to repay medical debt for eligible residents. It directly affects Tennessee residents with household incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level or those owing medical debt equal to 5% or more of their annual household income. The bill prohibits healthcare providers from reporting medical debt to credit bureaus starting July 1, 2026, and mandates that nonprofits remove negative credit reporting after repaying debt. Eligible debt must remain unpaid for over 120 days after billing, and repayment contracts explicitly state the state is not liable for the debt.
SB 1509 extends the lifespan of Tennessee's Committee for Clinical Perfusionists until June 30, 2031, preventing its automatic expiration. This committee oversees licensing and practice standards for clinical perfusionists, who are specialized healthcare professionals managing heart-lung machines during surgeries. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 4-29-247 and 4-29-252 to remove outdated references and formally establish the committee's ongoing role. It directly affects clinical perfusionists and the regulatory framework governing their practice in Tennessee. The extension ensures continued oversight of this medical specialty without requiring new legislation before 2031.
SB 2070, the "SHIELD Act," prohibits health insurance companies from penalizing healthcare providers for treating patients with legally recognized vaccine exemptions (based on religious beliefs or medical contraindications). It requires insurers to exclude exempt patients from vaccination-related quality metrics, such as vaccination rate calculations, and bans insurers from dropping providers from networks or reducing payments solely because they treat such patients. The law applies to all quality measures used for reimbursement, including HEDIS, and ensures claims denied in violation of these rules are treated as "clean claims" subject to standard penalties. It takes effect July 1, 2026, affecting Tennessee healthcare providers, insurers, and patients with valid vaccine exemptions.
HB 1954 would allow healthcare providers working with correctional facilities to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder treatment, expanding current rules. It specifically modifies Tennessee law to include providers subcontracted through healthcare vendors contracted with the Department of Correction or county/municipal jails, provided other specified criteria are met. The bill amends Sections 53-11-311 and 63 of Tennessee Code to enable this expanded access within correctional healthcare settings. The bill is currently in committee review (as of February 2026) and has not yet become law. It directly affects correctional healthcare providers and incarcerated individuals receiving opioid treatment in Tennessee facilities.
SB 1797 prohibits managed care organizations (MCOs) in Tennessee from unilaterally suspending, denying, terminating, or otherwise ending contracts with qualified nursing facilities participating in the TennCare program. The bill directly affects nursing homes certified to provide Medicaid nursing care and MCOs that contract with them. Key provisions require MCOs to report concerns about facility performance to the Bureau of TennCare (not to act independently), and grant the bureau exclusive authority to determine termination - only allowing MCOs to act if the bureau has authorized termination, suspended payments for fraud, or if the facility was excluded from Medicare/Medicaid. The bill ensures nursing facilities cannot be removed from TennCare networks without bureau approval, maintaining service continuity for Medicaid beneficiaries during reviews.
