Healthcare (Substance Abuse)

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 65: Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the department of mental health and substance abuse services to June 30, 2029. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 4, Chapter 3.

SB 65 extends the operation of Tennessee's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services until June 30, 2029, by amending specific sections of state law. The bill removes an automatic expiration date (sunset provision) for the department, ensuring its continued funding and operations. This change directly affects the department's ability to provide mental health and substance abuse services across the state. The legislation modifies Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapters 29 and 3, to reflect this extension.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends mental health department funding until 2029 by removing sunset provision, preventing defunding and ensuring service continuity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 1381: Housing - As enacted, authorizes local governments to regulate sober living homes for recovery from alcohol, drug, and substance abuse to the extent such regulation complies with the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13 and Title 33.

SB 1381 authorizes Tennessee local governments (cities, counties, or metropolitan areas) to regulate sober living homes - alcohol- and drug-free residences where adults recovering from substance abuse live together - to ensure compliance with federal Fair Housing and ADA laws. Key provisions require such homes to be at least 1,000 feet from schools/daycares, allow local zoning rules for location/operation, and mandate clinical referrals from licensed providers before admission. The bill directly affects sober living home operators, local governments creating regulations, and residents seeking recovery housing. It updates state housing laws to clarify that these homes are not treatment facilities and must avoid discriminatory practices under federal law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires clinical referrals from licensed providers for sober living homes, enhancing access to substance abuse treatment services and aligning with healthcare standards.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAuthorizes local regulation of sober living homes to comply with Fair Housing Act/ADA, preventing discrimination against recovery housing and supporting tenant rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse Zoning

Track

failed · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 1212: Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, Dept. of - As introduced, creates the temporary youth mental health service program. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 49.

HB 1212 establishes a temporary program to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder services for Tennessee youth under 18. The program creates a web-based portal for age-appropriate mental health screenings, connects youth with providers for in-person or telehealth sessions, and reimburses providers for up to three initial sessions per youth using existing K-12 mental health funds. Providers must offer at least three sessions per youth to qualify for reimbursement, and the Department of Mental Health must run a public awareness campaign involving schools and community groups. The program expires on July 1, 2026, requiring a final report to health committees on service usage and outcomes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates temporary youth mental health program with web portal, provider reimbursement for initial sessions, and expands access to services using existing funds, directly advancing mental health care access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse Telehealth

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 579: Employees, Employers - As enacted, allows for eligible employees to be absent four weeks from work following a living organ donation surgery; requires the department of health to create living organ donor informational material and make such material available on the department's website. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 50; Title 56 and Title 68.

SB 579 would provide eligible Tennessee workers 12 weeks of job-protected leave for recovery after living organ donation surgery, with leave counted toward employment seniority. It prohibits insurers from denying coverage or charging more for life, disability, or long-term care insurance solely because someone is a living organ donor. The bill also requires the Tennessee Department of Health to create and post public educational materials about living organ donation by July 2025, covering benefits, risks, and insurance impacts. This bill directly affects living organ donors, employers, and insurance providers in Tennessee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurers from denying coverage or charging more for organ donors, protecting access to health insurance and promoting organ donation awareness through public education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides 12 weeks job-protected leave for organ donation recovery and prohibits insurance discrimination against donors, directly advancing worker protections in employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Substance Abuse Paid Leave

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 243: Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the department of mental health and substance abuse services to June 30, 2029. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 4, Chapter 3.

HB 243 extends the legal existence of Tennessee's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services until June 30, 2029, preventing its automatic termination. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated sections 4-29-246 and 4-29-250 to remove the department's previous sunset date and formally define it within state law. This affects the department's ongoing operations and the Tennessee residents who rely on its services. The law became effective April 29, 2025, after passing through the legislature.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends mental health department's legal existence until 2029, preventing termination and ensuring continued access to mental health services for Tennessee residents.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

Track

introduced · Tennessee · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 1347: Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, Dept. of - As introduced, adds legislative librarian to the list the department of mental health and substance abuse services must submit its quarterly report to on the implementation and impact of available suitable accommodations, including the number and length of any delayed admissions, in state-owned or -operated hospitals or treatment resources. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 16; Title 17; Title 18; Title 20; Title 21; Title 24; Title 29; Title 30; Title 32; Title 33; Title 34; Title 36; Title 37; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates detailed reporting on mental health accommodations and delayed admissions, enhancing oversight to improve service transparency and patient access in state facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 550: Health Care - As enacted, increases the number of members on the medical cannabis commission from nine to 10, and provides that the additional member must be a member who is a specialist in the area of substance abuse prevention and serve as a nonvoting member. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 68, Chapter 7.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds substance abuse prevention specialist to medical cannabis commission, strengthening public health oversight within healthcare policy framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 21, 2025

HB 261: Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the statewide planning and policy council for the department of mental health and substance abuse services to June 30, 2029. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 33, Chapter 1.

HB 261 extends the existence of Tennessee's statewide planning and policy council for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services until June 30, 2029. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 4-29-246 and 4-29-250 to update references to this council, ensuring its continued operation. This change directly affects the mental health department by preventing the council from sunsetting (ending automatically) under previous law. The bill does not alter the council's responsibilities or funding, only its operational timeline. The extension was enacted as Public Chapter 13 in 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends mental health council's operation until 2029, preventing termination and ensuring continued policy planning for mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 1290: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, makes permanent the exclusion of narcotic testing equipment used to determine whether a controlled substance contains a synthetic opioid, unless the narcotic testing equipment is possessed for purposes of the commission of a drug offense, from the definition of drug paraphernalia; removes the July 1, 2025, repeal date for that exclusion. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-402.

SB 1290 permanently removes a temporary expiration date for a law that excludes certain testing equipment from being classified as drug paraphernalia. Specifically, it makes permanent the exclusion of equipment used to test for synthetic opioids (like fentanyl) unless the equipment is used to commit a drug crime. This change directly affects harm reduction organizations, public health workers, and law enforcement using such tools for legitimate testing purposes. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-17-402 by deleting the prior repeal date of July 1, 2025. The law is now permanent and took effect April 3, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill permanently removes restrictions on synthetic opioid testing equipment for harm reduction, supporting public health initiatives without criminalizing legitimate use. Aligns with criminal justice reform by reducing unnecessary criminalization ...90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves legal barrier for public health workers to use synthetic opioid testing equipment, enabling harm reduction programs that protect community health and prevent overdoses.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement Public Health Substance Abuse