Healthcare

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 1852: TennCare - As introduced, enacts the "TennCare Buy-In Act." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 10 and Title 71, Chapter 5.

SB 1852, the "TennCare Buy-In Act," creates a new health coverage option for Tennesseans aged 18 to 64 who are not eligible for Medicare or other TennCare programs. Eligible individuals must meet income requirements (based on federal poverty level), pay a monthly premium that increases with income, and not be incarcerated or enrolled in other TennCare categories. The program uses Tennessee's existing TennCare managed care networks to provide comprehensive health benefits, excluding non-emergency transportation, with premiums due monthly and failure to pay risking coverage termination and a three-month re-enrollment lockout. Enrollment requires an application through online, mail, or in-person channels, with eligibility determined within 60 days and annual renewal required.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates new health coverage option for 18-64 uninsured Tennesseans using existing TennCare networks, expanding access to comprehensive benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 1646: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, requires health benefit plans entered into, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, to provide coverage for services related to acquired brain injury; requires the commissioner of commerce and insurance to promulgate rules to provide a process for an expedited appeal of an adverse determination related to such coverage. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 56 and Title 71.

HB 1646 requires Tennessee health insurance plans to cover specific treatments for acquired brain injury (ABI) starting January 1, 2027. It mandates coverage for 15 evidence-based therapies - including cognitive rehabilitation, neurobehavioral therapy, community reintegration services, and vision therapy - without lifetime limits or unreasonable annual caps on sessions. The bill also directs the state insurance commissioner to create rules for an expedited appeal process if insurers deny coverage for these ABI-related services. This affects health insurers offering plans in Tennessee and directly benefits individuals with ABI who require these specialized treatments.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for 15 ABI therapies without caps and creates expedited appeal process, expanding patient access to critical care services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 1909: Courts - As enacted, removes a conviction for domestic assault from the definition of a violent offender for purposes of drug treatment courts; changes the definition of a violent offender for purposes of drug treatment courts from an offender with a conviction for an offense involving certain acts to an offender with a conviction for a felony offense involving certain acts within the previous 10 years. - Amends TCA Title 16, Chapter 22.

SB 1909 changes eligibility rules for Tennessee's drug treatment courts by revising the definition of a "violent offender." It removes convictions for domestic assault from being considered a violent offense that disqualifies someone from these courts, while requiring that a disqualifying violent offense must now be a felony committed within the past 10 years. This means individuals previously barred due to a domestic assault conviction (but without a recent felony violent offense) may now qualify for drug treatment court instead of standard criminal sentencing. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 16-22-103 and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves domestic assault convictions from violent offender definition for drug treatment courts, expanding eligibility for rehabilitation programs and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves domestic assault conviction barrier for drug treatment courts, improving access to substance abuse healthcare services.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing Violent Crime

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1866: Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, creates the "Regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Health Care Act." - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 27; Title 56 and Title 71.

HB 1866, the "Regulate Artificial Intelligence in Health Care Act," requires health insurance companies, pharmacy benefits managers, and state health programs like TennCare to have a licensed healthcare professional review any AI-driven decision to deny, delay, or modify medical care based on medical necessity. The bill prohibits using AI alone for such decisions without this human review, which must consider the patient’s medical history, the provider’s recommendation, and individual clinical circumstances. Violations would be treated as unfair claims practices, allowing affected patients to sue for actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026, for most purposes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires licensed healthcare review for AI-driven care denials/delays, protecting patient rights and ensuring human oversight in medical necessity decisions.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates human review for AI-driven healthcare decisions, protecting patients from automated errors - aligns with regulating tech for consumer protection in healthcare.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs Artificial Intelligence

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 1790: Correction, Dept. of - As enacted, authorizes the department to adopt or amend a formulary for use in the correctional facilities operated by or on behalf of the department. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 41; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

SB 1790 requires insurers covering inmates in Tennessee to treat FDA-approved non-opioid pain medications equally with opioids in their preferred drug lists (PDLs), meaning non-opioid options cannot be disadvantaged in coverage or cost-sharing. It directly affects insurers offering policies that cover incarcerated individuals, including TennCare and private health plans. The law mandates that non-opioid medications (approved by the FDA for pain management) must have equal coverage treatment relative to opioids on the PDL, without prohibiting insurers from favoring one opioid over another. The bill applies to all such medications approved by the FDA for nine months or longer and takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates equal coverage for FDA-approved non-opioid pain meds in correctional settings, promoting rehabilitation and reducing opioid dependency among inmates, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to treat FDA-approved non-opioid pain meds equally with opioids in coverage, improving patient access to safer alternatives and reducing opioid reliance per healthcare policy goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Substance Abuse

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 1949: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts the "mRNA Bioweapons Prohibition Act," which prohibits the manufacture, acquisition, possession, or making accessible to others of mRNA injections and products; requires state and local government officials to use all lawful means necessary to investigate or enforce suspected violations; punishes violations the same as manufacturing, acquiring, possessing, or transferring a weapon of mass destruction, which is a Class B felony. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 14; Title 39; Title 40; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 1949, the "mRNA Bioweapons Prohibition Act," prohibits the manufacture, possession, or distribution of modified mRNA products (including certain vaccines and gene therapies) in Tennessee, classifying violations as Class B felonies - equivalent to weapons of mass destruction offenses. It defines prohibited products as synthetic mRNA with specific genetic modifications (e.g., N-methyl-pseudouridine substitutions) used in medical treatments, excluding naturally occurring mRNA. The bill requires state and local officials to investigate violations and allows residents to sue for enforcement failures. It exempts naturally occurring mRNA and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by classifying mRNA product violations as Class B felonies (equivalent to WMD offenses), increasing penalties without addressing criminal justice reform priorities.92% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareProhibits mRNA-based medical treatments (vaccines, gene therapies) under felony penalties, restricting patient access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 1761: Firefighters - As introduced, requires this state's employee assistance program, including components for mental health and wellness, to be available to all active members of a volunteer fire department and all active volunteer members of a combination fire department; makes various other changes. - Amends TCA Section 8-50-119 and Title 68, Chapter 102.

HB 1761 requires Tennessee's state employee assistance program - providing mental health and wellness support - to be available to all active volunteer firefighters in recognized volunteer and combination fire departments, with the state covering all costs. It directly affects volunteer members of these departments, who previously may not have had access to such state-funded support. The bill amends two key sections of state code to expand eligibility and clarify program access, while also making minor technical updates to fire department reporting requirements. The policy change takes effect January 1, 2027, and aims to address mental health needs specific to frontline fire service workers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands state-funded mental health services to volunteer firefighters via employee assistance program, explicitly requiring coverage for mental health components with state cost coverage.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands state-funded mental health benefits to volunteer firefighters, directly enhancing workplace wellness support and access to employee assistance programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Employees

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 2032: Employees, Employers - As enacted, requires a public safety employer to provide an employee or prospective employee with reasonable access to the employee's or prospective employee's full employment record, including the results of any mental health evaluation or screening; makes certain other changes relative to employment by a public safety employer. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 38; Title 50; Title 62 and Title 68.

SB 2032 requires Tennessee public safety employers (such as police departments, fire services, and emergency medical personnel) to provide employees and job applicants with reasonable access to their full employment records, including mental health evaluation results. If an applicant is denied employment based on a mental health evaluation, they can request the evaluation results and submit an alternative evaluation at their own expense, which the employer must review. The bill amends multiple Tennessee codes to implement these transparency requirements and allows employees to sue for violations, with the winning party recovering attorney fees. This law directly affects public safety workers and job seekers in roles involving protection of persons or property.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill ensures transparency in mental health evaluations for public safety employment, protecting applicants' rights and promoting fair hiring practices within law enforcement, aligning with accountability reforms.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures public safety employees access to mental health evaluation records used in employment decisions, protecting individual rights regarding mental health documentation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires public safety employers to provide access to employment records including mental health evaluations and allows applicants to challenge denials with alternative evaluations, strengthening transparency and due process for workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Mental Health Public Employees Tags Public Safety

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 1872: Healthcare Liability - As enacted, authorizes a person to bring a civil action against a healthcare professional for an injury that is a result of a medical procedure, if the procedure was for enabling the person to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the person's sex or treating purported discomfort or distress from a discordance between the person's sex and asserted identity, and the person consented; or if the person was a minor at the time of the procedure, the person's parent, guardian, or representative consented due to an act of coercion by the professional. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 63 and Title 68.

HB 1872 would create a new civil lawsuit option for individuals (or their parents/guardians for minors) who consented to certain medical procedures due to coercion by a healthcare professional. Specifically, it targets procedures related to gender identity (like puberty blockers or hormones) when consent was obtained through coercion, not voluntary choice. The bill sets a strict 18-year deadline to file such lawsuits, starting from the procedure date or when the injury was discovered. This bill does not change existing medical standards but adds a legal remedy for alleged coercion in specific gender-related healthcare contexts. (Note: The bill is pending in committee and not yet law.)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates civil cause of action for coerced consent in medical procedures, protecting patient rights by allowing lawsuits when consent was obtained through coercion, specifically addressing gender identity-related care.85% confidence

Track

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 23, 2026

HB 2044: Medical Occupations - As enacted, allows a physician assistant to delegate medication administration to a certified medical assistant; adds categories of medications to the list of medications that a certified medical assistant is authorized to administer or prepare, and makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 63; Title 68, Chapter 11, Part 2 and Chapter 1042 of the Public Acts of 2024.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands certified medical assistant scope to administer 15 new medication categories under PA delegation, improving patient access to care in ambulatory settings by increasing provider capacity.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing