Healthcare (Healthcare Workforce)

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 24, 2026

HB 1984: Controlled Substances - As enacted, authorizes additional healthcare providers to directly administer buprenorphine mono or buprenorphine without the use of naloxone; adds that prescribing a buprenorphine product to nursing mother or prescribing an injectable mono product does not restrict certain healthcare providers from prescribing a buprenorphine product for the treatment of opioid use disorder without naloxone. - Amends TCA Title 53, Chapter 11.

HB 1984 expands access to buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder by allowing more healthcare providers to directly administer buprenorphine mono or buprenorphine without naloxone, as long as they act within their scope of practice. It specifically permits prescribing these medications to nursing mothers and patients with documented adverse reactions to naloxone, and clarifies that prescribing injectable forms doesn’t restrict providers from later prescribing non-naloxone buprenorphine. The bill amends Tennessee’s pharmacy law (TCA Title 53, Chapter 11) to remove barriers for these specific scenarios. This directly affects healthcare providers (like nurse practitioners or physician assistants) and patients seeking opioid treatment, particularly nursing mothers and those with allergies to naloxone.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands access to buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder by allowing more healthcare providers to prescribe without unnecessary restrictions, improving patient access to addiction treatment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Substance Abuse

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 1493: Computers and Electronic Processing - As enacted, requires TACIR to study artificial intelligence and submit a report to the governor and both speakers by January 31, 2027. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 33; Title 39 and Title 47.

SB 1493 creates a Class A felony offense for knowingly training AI systems that encourage suicide, criminal homicide, or develop emotional relationships with users. It specifically prohibits AI chatbots from simulating human appearance/voice, acting as a mental health professional, or prompting users to isolate from family or share sensitive information. The bill directly affects AI developers and companies creating chatbots that meet its definitions, excluding standard customer service bots, video game features, and basic voice assistants. Violators face criminal penalties and civil lawsuits allowing victims to seek $150,000 in liquidated damages or actual harm compensation.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates Class A felony for AI training encouraging suicide/homicide, expanding criminalization of AI development per bill's explicit offense definitions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill prohibits AI from encouraging suicide (mental health crisis) and acting as unlicensed mental health professionals, directly protecting patient safety and mental health services.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill explicitly criminalizes AI training for harmful behaviors like encouraging suicide/homicide or simulating human relationships, directly restricting AI development capabilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Healthcare Workforce Mental Health Artificial Intelligence

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 644: Nurses, Nursing - As enacted, requires the board of nursing to permit a student to enroll in a practical nursing program offered by a public institution of higher education governed by the Tennessee board of regents if the student meets the qualifications for a high school diploma or its equivalent and meets other requirements; requires the board of nursing to permit a student enrolled in a practical nursing program to sit for the national council licensure exam for practical nurses (NCLEX-PN) upon completion of a practical nursing program. - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 63.

SB 644 modifies Tennessee's nursing regulations to expand access to practical nursing programs at public colleges. It requires the Board of Nursing to allow students meeting high school diploma or equivalent qualifications to enroll in these programs and permits them to take the NCLEX-PN exam upon completion. The bill also mandates a minimum of 1,296 clock hours for practical nursing programs and requires public colleges to offer pre-nursing courses starting in high school. These changes directly affect prospective practical nurses and public institutions of higher education governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access by requiring public colleges to admit students with high school diploma to nursing programs and mandates pre-nursing courses in high school, enhancing educational pathways.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands nursing program access and licensure requirements, directly increasing healthcare workforce capacity and improving patient access to nursing services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 1054: Medical Occupations - As introduced, limits a foreign training license of limited duration to an internationally licensed physician who meets certain listed criteria. - Amends TCA Title 63.

SB 1054 creates a temporary "foreign training license" for internationally trained physicians in Tennessee who meet specific criteria. To qualify, applicants must hold an AMA-approved medical degree (or board-approved equivalent), complete 3 years of postgraduate training in an approved country (or have 7 years of practice), maintain good standing in their home country's licensing system, and secure employment with a Tennessee healthcare provider. The license is tied to that specific employer and requires 2 years of active practice in Tennessee before transitioning to a full license. This bill directly affects internationally licensed doctors seeking to practice in Tennessee without U.S. medical training.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates temporary license for foreign-trained physicians, expanding healthcare workforce and improving patient access in Tennessee.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 817: Drugs, Prescription - As enacted, authorizes a healthcare practitioner to prescribe and a pharmacist to dispense a prescribed, bronchodilator rescue inhaler to an authorized entity to be administered to a person believed to be experiencing asthma symptoms or respiratory distress in an emergency situation, under a standing protocol from the healthcare practitioner; encourages schools in LEAs and public charter schools to keep bronchodilator rescue inhalers to be administered to students believed to be having asthma symptoms or in respiratory distress in an emergency situation. - Amends TCA Title 49; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 817 allows healthcare providers to prescribe and pharmacists to dispense asthma rescue inhalers to authorized entities (like schools, childcare centers, sports venues, and restaurants) under a pre-approved plan. Schools in Tennessee are encouraged to keep these inhalers in at least two accessible, secure locations (e.g., offices or nurse stations) for immediate use during asthma emergencies. The bill protects trained staff and schools from liability when administering the inhaler in good faith during emergencies, as long as they follow the healthcare provider’s standing protocol. It specifically amends Tennessee law to create these protocols for both general authorized entities and schools.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables schools to stock emergency asthma inhalers, improving immediate access to care during respiratory emergencies, directly advancing public health access and safety protocols.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

Track

signed · Tennessee · House May 8, 2025

HB 760: Drugs, Prescription - As enacted, authorizes a healthcare practitioner to prescribe and a pharmacist to dispense a prescribed, bronchodilator rescue inhaler to an authorized entity to be administered to a person believed to be experiencing asthma symptoms or respiratory distress in an emergency situation, under a standing protocol from the healthcare practitioner; encourages schools in LEAs and public charter schools to keep bronchodilator rescue inhalers to be administered to students believed to be having asthma symptoms or in respiratory distress in an emergency situation. - Amends TCA Title 49; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

HB 760 authorizes healthcare providers to prescribe bronchodilator rescue inhalers to specific "authorized entities" (like schools, childcare centers, restaurants, and sports venues) for emergency use during asthma or respiratory distress episodes. It requires these entities to store inhalers in accessible, unlocked locations and train designated staff to administer them under pre-approved protocols. The bill also encourages all public schools and charter schools to maintain at least two inhalers in secure, accessible locations (e.g., offices or nurse’s stations) for student emergencies. Crucially, it provides legal protection for staff and entities who follow the protocols, shielding them from liability unless there was intentional disregard for safety. The law became effective May 2, 2025, after Governor’s signature.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes emergency access to asthma treatment in schools/public venues, improving patient access and public health readiness for respiratory emergencies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

died · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 155: Death - As enacted, removes the limitation that a death must have been anticipated for a registered nurse to make the actual determination and pronouncement of death if a deceased was a patient or resident at a nursing home, hospital, or assisted-care living facility. - Amends TCA Title 68.

HB 155 amends Tennessee law to allow registered nurses to pronounce death for patients or residents in nursing homes, hospitals, or assisted-care facilities without needing to confirm the death was "anticipated." The bill removes this prior requirement and instead requires the attending physician's written agreement to sign the death certificate, which must be present at the time of death. This change directly affects registered nurses working in healthcare facilities by expanding their authority to formally declare death. The law took effect upon enactment (April 8, 2025), streamlining the death certification process for healthcare providers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves unnecessary restriction on nurses' authority to pronounce death in healthcare facilities, improving procedural efficiency without impacting coverage or funding.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals Long-Term Care

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died · Tennessee · House Feb 6, 2025

HB 289: Health, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the department to submit a report to certain legislative committees concerning the practice of anesthesiology. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 62; Title 63 and Title 68.

HB 289 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to submit a report by January 1, 2026, to health committees in both legislative chambers. The report must include specific data on anesthesiologists practicing in the state, residency program participants, and graduates from anesthesiology programs, plus recommendations to increase their numbers. This bill directly affects the Department of Health (which must produce the report) and informs decisions about the state's healthcare workforce. The bill was introduced in January 2025 but was withdrawn on February 6, 2025, and is no longer active.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates report to increase anesthesiologist numbers, directly supporting healthcare workforce planning and access to specialized care.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 461: Medical Occupations - As introduced, establishes the scope of practice for anesthesiologist assistants, subject to regulatory oversight by the board of medical examiners as part of such practice. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 461 establishes licensing and regulatory requirements for anesthesiologist assistants in Tennessee. It requires these professionals to obtain a license from the Board of Medical Examiners, complete specific education and certification, and work exclusively under the supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist who delegates specific duties. The bill defines key terms like "assists" and "supervision," sets continuing education rules, and makes unauthorized practice a Class B misdemeanor punishable by fines or jail time. This directly affects anesthesiologist assistants seeking to practice in Tennessee and the supervising physicians who must oversee their work.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes licensing, supervision, and standards for anesthesiologist assistants to ensure safe practice under medical oversight, enhancing healthcare quality and patient safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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signed · Tennessee · House May 27, 2025

HB 1089: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, requires the department of mental health and substance abuse services to establish a mental health evaluation process for a community mental health center or qualified mental health professional to evaluate a defendant convicted of domestic assault, child abuse, aggravated child abuse, cruelty to animals, aggravated cruelty to animals; requires a court in which a person is convicted of any such offense to order the offender to undergo a mental health evaluation prior to the sentencing hearing. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1089 requires courts to order mental health evaluations for defendants convicted of specific abuse-related crimes - including domestic assault, child abuse, aggravated child abuse, or cruelty to animals - before sentencing. The law directs Tennessee's Department of Mental Health to create a process where community mental health centers or qualified professionals conduct these evaluations. It directly affects defendants in these cases and the state's mental health evaluation system, adding a pre-sentencing step to assess potential mental health factors. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-14-202 and related titles to implement this requirement, effective May 21, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires mental health evaluations for abuse offenders pre-sentencing to address root causes and improve rehabilitation, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates court-ordered mental health evaluations for abuse offenders, expanding access to mental health services through legal system integration.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing Violent Crime Healthcare Workforce Substance Abuse