SB 922 requires Tennessee's Health Commissioner to study ways to help veterans with military medical training (like medics or corpsmen) become primary care providers in Tennessee, such as doctors, nurses, or physician assistants. The study must identify barriers in current laws, find where military training counts toward licensure, and suggest new or streamlined career pathways. It directs the commissioner to use existing department resources and report findings and recommendations to lawmakers by December 31, 2025. This bill does not change laws immediately but aims to create future options for veteran healthcare workers.
SB 1200 allocates 1% of revenue generated from sports gaming in Tennessee to the Department of Veterans Services starting July 1, 2025. This funding directly supports state veterans services programs, including counseling, housing assistance, and other support initiatives for veterans. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to redirect this specific portion of sports gaming revenue to the veterans department. It does not change existing allocations for other services, such as the 4% currently dedicated to mental health and substance abuse services.
SB 1011 would create a legal exception to Tennessee's criminal abortion law for cases where a licensed physician performs an abortion and the pregnancy resulted from specific defined crimes: aggravated rape, rape, rape of a child, especially aggravated rape, especially aggravated rape of a child, or incest. This exception directly affects patients who become pregnant through these crimes and the licensed physicians who provide abortions in those circumstances. The bill amends Tennessee Code Section 39-15-213 to add this exception, allowing such abortions without criminal penalty under state law. The policy change specifically limits the exception to the listed offenses as defined in other Tennessee statutes.
HB 1123 increases the threshold for medical bills presumed necessary and reasonable in civil lawsuits from $4,000 to $25,000 when itemized bills are attached to the complaint as exhibits. This directly affects plaintiffs in medical malpractice or injury cases who can now have higher medical costs automatically accepted as valid without additional proof. The key mechanism requires plaintiffs to submit itemized bills with their complaint, shifting the burden of proof to defendants for amounts exceeding $25,000. The bill amends specific Tennessee codes and takes effect July 1, 2025.
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.
SB 1199 requires the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to include the legislative librarian as a recipient of its quarterly reports. These reports detail the implementation of accommodations, delayed admissions, and facility operations in state hospitals and treatment centers. The bill amends existing reporting requirements without changing service standards or funding. It directly affects the department’s reporting process by adding a new recipient for transparency purposes. The legislation is procedural, focusing solely on report distribution.
SJR 346 is a non-binding legislative resolution expressing the Tennessee General Assembly's support for regulating or banning Kratom sales within the state. It directly affects convenience stores and retailers selling Kratom products (sold as capsules, powders, or liquids), as well as consumers who purchase it as an unregulated "herbal supplement." The resolution cites health risks including over 2,000 national overdose deaths linked to Kratom, lack of safety labeling, and a specific case of a young man’s fatal overdose involving Kratom. It urges Tennessee to adopt stricter controls or an outright ban, aligning with actions taken by other states and countries that have classified Kratom as a controlled substance.
HB 37 requires insurers offering health plans to Tennessee state employees to treat FDA-approved non-opioid pain medications equally with opioids on their preferred drug lists (PDL). It prohibits insurers from discouraging coverage for non-opioid options used for pain management, though it allows insurers to prefer one opioid over another or one non-opioid over another. This applies specifically to state employee group insurance plans covered under Tennessee Code Annotated sections 56-7-3801 to 56-7-3803. The law, effective January 1, 2026, aims to expand access to non-opioid pain treatments without mandating their preference.
HJR 69 is a non-binding resolution urging Tennessee to adopt a comprehensive plan to address chronic disease. It proposes four key areas: reforming food access (e.g., restricting junk food in SNAP benefits, increasing healthy food availability), integrating health education in schools, improving government health standards (like banning toxins and updating FDA processes), and requiring nutritious meals in state facilities. The resolution directs state officials to support these principles and participate in an annual "Make Tennessee Healthy" summit. It does not create new laws but calls for policy shifts to reduce preventable health issues affecting Tennesseans.
HB 595, the "Freedom to Grow Our Tennessee Families Act," requires Tennessee health insurers to cover specific fertility services starting January 1, 2026. It mandates coverage for fertility diagnostic care, treatment (to achieve pregnancy), and preservation services (like egg freezing), including at least three egg retrievals with unlimited embryo transfers. The law prohibits insurers from denying coverage based on medical history (e.g., cancer treatment), using donor gametes, or discriminating due to race, gender, or relationship status. It also bans waiting periods and requires insurers to base coverage limits solely on medical guidelines from established fertility organizations. This directly affects Tennessee residents with health insurance plans and the state’s health insurers.
