HB 2235, the "Tennessee Fair Chance Housing Act," prohibits housing providers (like landlords, property managers, and real estate agents) from discriminating against applicants based solely on criminal history. It establishes time limits: housing providers can only consider misdemeanor convictions within the past 3 years and felony convictions within the past 10 years. For sex offense convictions, providers must conduct an individualized assessment to determine if there's a direct safety risk before denying housing. The bill also bans questions about arrests that didn't result in conviction and requires written evaluations considering factors like rehabilitation efforts and the nature of the offense.
SB 2506, the "Tennessee Fair Chance Housing Act," prohibits landlords and housing providers from refusing to rent or lease housing solely based on a person's criminal history. It limits consideration of criminal records to a 3-year look-back period for misdemeanors and 10 years for felonies (except for sex offenses, which require an individualized safety assessment). Housing providers must conduct an individualized assessment considering factors like the offense severity, time since conviction, rehabilitation efforts, and safety risks before denying housing. This law directly affects renters with criminal records and housing providers managing residential properties across Tennessee.
HB 1501 would allow Tennessee municipalities to require real estate investment trusts (REITs) owning 10 or more rental units within city limits to register with local building code enforcement agencies. REITs would need to provide their contact information and the full addresses of all properties they manage, with updates required within 30 days of any changes. Municipalities could impose a $50 weekly fine for non-compliance, but must provide a hearing opportunity before levying penalties. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not authorize fees for REITs to file required information.
HB 2041 prohibits landlords, property managers, or others serving eviction notices from sharing videos of the eviction process (like handing out papers) without the tenant's written permission. It directly affects tenants whose privacy is violated and landlords or their agents who might share such videos. The law creates a private right to sue, allowing victims to seek at least $25,000 per violation, plus actual damages, attorney fees, and other relief. This applies to real-time or near real-time video sharing, excluding law enforcement officers acting in their official duties.
HB 1940 makes records of certain eviction court cases confidential after specific conditions are met. It applies to unlawful detainer actions (landlord-tenant eviction cases) filed on or after July 1, 2026, that were dismissed, have no pending appeals, and either have passed three years since filing or have written agreement from all parties to shield records. The bill requires courts to keep these records private, removing them from public inspection under Tennessee law. This change affects landlords and tenants in dismissed eviction cases by limiting public access to their court records after the specified time or agreement. The bill does not alter eviction procedures or outcomes, only the accessibility of dismissed case records.
SB 1993 prohibits landlords, property managers, or others serving eviction paperwork from sharing real-time videos of the eviction process without the tenant's written permission. It directly affects property owners and their agents who might film or broadcast eviction notices, while excluding law enforcement officers acting in their official duties. The law creates a private right to sue for violations, with a minimum $25,000 penalty per intentional breach, plus actual damages and legal fees. This protects tenants from unauthorized public exposure during eviction proceedings, focusing on consent and financial recourse.
This Tennessee bill changes the notice period landlords must provide before terminating a lease for specific tenant violations. It extends the timeframe from three calendar days to three business days after written notice is given, covering incidents like violent acts, threats to safety, hazardous conditions, or unauthorized occupancy. The law applies to all residential rental agreements under Tennessee's landlord-tenant laws (affecting Titles 5, 6, 7, 13, 56, 62, 66, 67, and 68 of Tennessee Code). It makes a technical adjustment to existing procedures without creating new violations or altering tenant rights.
SB 350 prohibits Tennessee landlords from banning tenants from lawfully possessing, carrying, or storing firearms, firearm parts, or ammunition in their leased homes, apartments, or businesses, or in vehicles parked on landlord-controlled property. It directly affects tenants and landlords statewide, requiring lease agreements to comply with this rule starting July 1, 2025, with existing leases needing amendment by July 1, 2026. The bill voids any lease terms conflicting with this prohibition after July 1, 2025, and allows tenants to sue landlords for damages if they violate the law. It applies to all residential leases governed by Tennessee Code Annotated Title 66.
SB 961, the "Affordable Housing and Tenant Protection Act," allows Tennessee local governments to adopt rent control ordinances for private residential properties after conducting housing supply assessments and establishing local rent agencies. It creates the "Increased Housing Program" administered by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA), which provides gap financing to developers building affordable housing and down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers for owner-occupied homes. The program prioritizes communities affected by recent federally declared disasters and requires annual reporting on program outcomes. This bill directly affects renters, landlords, and developers in localities that adopt rent control, while expanding state-level support for affordable housing construction and homebuying.
HB 298, the "Homes not Hedge Funds Act," prohibits business entities from purchasing more than 100 single-family homes in Tennessee counties with populations exceeding 150,000 (based on 2020 census data) for rental purposes. It defines "single-family home" as detached, semi-detached, or townhomes with no shared utilities, and applies to corporations, LLCs, or investment groups (excluding government entities). The bill allows the state attorney general or affected individuals to sue violators for up to $100 per day per home, plus damages, attorney fees, or punitive penalties. It takes effect for new rental contracts signed after enactment, aiming to limit large-scale rental acquisitions in densely populated areas.
