Healthcare (Healthcare Workforce)

in committee · Tennessee · House May 18, 2026

HB 658: Athletic Trainers - As enacted, expands the scope of practice for athletic trainers by authorizing them to treat conditions that limit or prevent a person's participation in certain physical activities rather than just treating injuries that limit or prevent such participation; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 24.

HB 658 expands the scope of practice for athletic trainers in Tennessee by allowing them to treat conditions that limit or prevent participation in physical activities (not just injuries), directly affecting athletes and patients seeking preventive or rehabilitative care. The bill clarifies athletic trainers are healthcare providers and authorizes specific new procedures, including blood glucose monitoring, dry needling, and intravenous fluid administration. It amends licensing requirements to align with these expanded duties, requiring board certification and specific training for these new practices. The changes apply to all licensed athletic trainers practicing under physician supervision in the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands athletic trainers' scope to treat activity-limiting conditions and authorize new procedures, improving patient access to preventive/rehabilitative care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

Track

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 62: Athletic Trainers - As enacted, authorizes athletic trainers to use dry needling to carry out the practice of prevention, recognition, evaluation, management, disposition, treatment, or rehabilitation of athletic injuries; requires the board of athletic trainers to establish minimum competency requirements for an athletic trainer to demonstrate in order to practice dry needling. - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 63.

HB 62 authorizes Tennessee athletic trainers to use dry needling for preventing, treating, and rehabilitating athletic injuries, directly affecting licensed athletic trainers in the state. The bill requires the Board of Athletic Trainers to establish minimum competency standards that practitioners must demonstrate to safely perform dry needling. It clarifies that this practice does not constitute acupuncture under existing law. The policy change expands athletic trainers' scope of practice with specific safety safeguards, effective March 28, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands scope of practice for licensed athletic trainers to provide dry needling for injury treatment, improving access to non-acupuncture healthcare services without restricting coverage.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 18, 2026

SB 502: Athletic Trainers - As enacted, expands the scope of practice for athletic trainers by authorizing them to treat conditions that limit or prevent a person's participation in certain physical activities rather than just treating injuries that limit or prevent such participation; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 24.

SB 502 expands the scope of practice for licensed athletic trainers in Tennessee. It changes the definition of "athletic injury" to include any condition limiting physical activity participation (not just injuries), allowing trainers to treat such conditions under physician supervision. The bill also explicitly clarifies that athletic trainers are healthcare providers and lists specific procedures they may perform, such as blood glucose monitoring, injections, and wound closure. This directly affects licensed athletic trainers by broadening their treatment authority while maintaining requirements for physician oversight and board certification.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands athletic trainers' scope to treat conditions limiting activity (not just injuries), designates them as healthcare providers, and authorizes medical procedures like blood glucose monitoring, improving access to preventive care services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 954: Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires each law enforcement agency to develop and implement an alternative crisis response unit; requires the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission to establish uniform training standards for alternative crisis response units in all law enforcement agencies. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 38.

HB 954 requires all Tennessee law enforcement agencies to create and implement alternative crisis response units by January 1, 2026. These units must pair a full-time police officer with a qualified mental health professional who leads mental health-related emergency calls. The bill mandates the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission to establish uniform training standards for these units and provide annual officer training on supporting mental health professionals during crisis calls. The law directly affects every law enforcement agency in Tennessee and updates state statutes to formalize this crisis response model.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires mental health professionals in crisis response units, reducing police involvement in non-violent mental health emergencies - aligns with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health professionals in crisis response units, directly supporting mental health services by improving emergency care access and integration with law enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Healthcare Workforce Mental Health

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 10, 2025

HB 828: Health, Dept. of - As introduced, directs the commissioner to conduct a study on creating new or streamlining existing pathways to careers as primary care providers in this state for individuals who have medical training as noncommissioned officers in the armed forces of the United States; requires the commissioner to conduct the study using existing department resources; requires the commissioner to deliver findings and recommendations from the study to the chief clerk of the senate, chief clerk of the house of representatives, and the legislative librarian no later than December 31, 2025. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 33; Title 63 and Title 68.

HB 828 directs Tennessee's Health Commissioner to study how to simplify career pathways for military medics (non-commissioned officers with medical training) to become primary care providers like doctors, nurses, or physician assistants. The study will identify bureaucratic barriers in current licensing rules, determine which military training counts toward state requirements, and suggest recruitment strategies. It must be completed using existing department resources and reported to lawmakers by December 31, 2025. This bill does not change laws directly but aims to inform future policy based on the study's findings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirects study to streamline military medics' pathways to become licensed primary care providers, aiming to expand healthcare workforce and improve access to services.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransDirectly targets veterans (military medics) by studying career pathway simplification to become primary care providers, advancing veteran employment in healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Primary Care

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 13, 2025

HB 758: 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.

HB 758 establishes a licensing system for anesthesiologist assistants in Tennessee, requiring them to complete accredited education, pass a certification exam, and obtain licensure from the Board of Medical Examiners. The bill mandates that these assistants practice only under the direct supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist, who delegates specific tasks. It also makes practicing without a license a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by fines up to $1,000 or up to one year in jail. This legislation directly affects anesthesiologist assistants and the Board of Medical Examiners, creating new regulatory requirements for their scope of practice.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes licensing and supervision requirements for anesthesiologist assistants, enhancing patient safety and professional standards within healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

Track