HB 813 exempts feminine hygiene products like tampons, pads, and menstrual cups from sales tax during Tennessee's annual sales tax holiday. The bill adds these products to the state's list of tax-exempt items under Title 67, Chapter 6 of the Tennessee Code. It defines "feminine hygiene products" to include all items used for menstruation or genital-tract secretions, covering common products shoppers use. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, directly benefiting Tennessee residents who purchase these items during the tax holiday.
HB 296 requires Tennessee health insurance plans to cover speech therapy for stuttering without annual limits, prior authorization, or restrictions based on the type of stuttering. It applies to all health benefit plans that renew or issue policies on or after July 1, 2025, directly affecting insurance companies and policyholders seeking speech therapy services. The law mandates coverage for both habilitative and rehabilitative speech therapy services, including telehealth options, without visit limits or medical necessity requirements. This implementation follows requirements originally proposed in Senate Bill 231 of the 114th General Assembly.
HB 482 adds prostate cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer to the list of conditions for which Tennessee firefighters automatically qualify for compensation (a "presumption") if diagnosed, unless medical evidence proves the cancer existed before employment. It directly affects full-time Tennessee firefighters diagnosed with these cancers after July 1, 2025. The key provision requires firefighters seeking this presumption to obtain a cancer screening exam after July 1, 2025, showing no prior evidence of these cancers. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 7-51-201 to expand the presumption list and establish the pre-screening requirement.
HB 1347 requires Tennessee's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to include the legislative librarian in its quarterly reports on accommodations in state hospitals and treatment facilities. The bill amends reporting requirements to add the legislative librarian as a recipient of these reports, which must detail delayed admissions and implementation impacts. This change directly affects the department (which must file the reports) and the legislative staff (who now receive these reports). The bill does not alter service delivery or funding but modifies the reporting structure for transparency.
HB 858 requires Tennessee's insurance commissioner to study how easily patients and doctors can request exceptions to step therapy rules online. The study will assess whether insurers' processes are accessible without unnecessary barriers for those seeking coverage for cancer treatments. The commissioner must submit findings and recommendations by December 2025. This bill affects insurers and healthcare providers who handle step therapy requests but does not change current coverage requirements. It becomes effective January 1, 2026.
SB 44 adds doula services to TennCare, Tennessee's Medicaid program, making coverage available for certified doulas who provide continuous emotional and physical support during labor, birth, and postpartum care. It directly affects low-income pregnant people in Tennessee who may now access doula support through TennCare. The bill requires the Department of Health to establish a certification verification process for doulas who complete approved training programs meeting specific standards, including knowledge of anatomy, support strategies, and community resources. This process will verify doulas' qualifications before they can provide services covered under TennCare.
SB 706, the "TennCare Network Reporting Reform Act," requires Tennessee's Medicaid program (TennCare) to publicly report specific data about service access starting in 2026. It directly affects TennCare beneficiaries, particularly those using disability waiver programs like CHOICES and Employment and Community First CHOICES, by making system performance data accessible. The bill mandates annual publication of metrics including appointment wait times, time between service approval and receipt, service utilization rates, and network adequacy data, broken down by service type, county, and demographics. This data must be published on TennCare's website in a downloadable CSV format for public transparency.
SB 185 establishes minimum (100%) and maximum (120%) reimbursement rates for rural hospitals providing routine inpatient services to TennCare enrollees. It directly affects rural hospitals defined as those with 49 or fewer beds located in non-urban census areas. The bill requires these rates to be based on each hospital's current Medicare reimbursement rates for the federal fiscal year, rather than a fixed formula. The legislation is pending review by the Senate Finance Committee and has not yet become law.
SB 135 allows students with prescribed rescue seizure medication to possess and self-administer it at school or school events under specific conditions. It directly affects students with seizure disorders who require emergency medication, requiring parental authorization, physician instructions detailing dosage and circumstances, and the medication to remain in its original sealed packaging. Schools must maintain these documents on file and notify parents of the school's limited liability (excluding willful misconduct), with parents signing to acknowledge this. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and aims to balance student safety with clear administrative requirements.
SB 550 amends Tennessee law to require the Senate Speaker to appoint one medical cannabis commission member as a substance abuse prevention specialist, selected from a list of three names provided by the Prevention Alliance of Tennessee. This change directly affects the medical cannabis commission composition and the Prevention Alliance of Tennessee, which must submit the candidate list. The appointment must occur on or after July 1, 2025, and replaces the previous requirement for this commission role. The bill updates Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 7, regarding commission membership criteria.
