SB 143 requires Tennessee's Department of Health to provide free diapers to new mothers or working parents/guardians of children under age two upon request, excluding those already enrolled in TennCare or CoverKids programs. It also mandates that all public schools (including charter schools) provide free feminine hygiene products in women's and girls' bathrooms and locker rooms for students in grades 4-12, with the state reimbursing schools for these costs. The bill directs the Department of Health to create public health campaigns promoting both diaper access and feminine hygiene product availability. These provisions apply starting July 1, 2025, for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond.
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.
HB 1239 clarifies that only physicians licensed in Tennessee may prescribe buprenorphine for FDA-approved uses in opioid recovery or medication-assisted treatment. It also establishes new requirements for non-Tennessee-licensed healthcare providers (such as those working in correctional facilities) to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder: they must hold a federal DEA registration, be employed by or contract with a correctional facility or jail, and have clinical protocols for medication-assisted treatment. The bill revises existing law to limit prescribing authority while creating specific pathways for correctional healthcare providers. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.
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.
HB 26, the "Unborn Child Protection Act of 2025," prohibits mailing or delivering abortion-inducing drugs into Tennessee. It defines these drugs as medications (like mifepristone and misoprostol) used to terminate a pregnancy, excluding them when used for other medical purposes (such as treating stomach ulcers). The bill imposes strict liability, requiring anyone who causes an unborn child's death through such mailings to pay $5 million in damages without needing to prove fault. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting drug manufacturers, distributors, and anyone mailing abortion-related medications into the state.
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.
