Tennessee Senate Bills

Motor Vehicles - As enacted, revises law relative to out-of-service orders issued to commercial drivers and related penalties. - Amends TCA Title 55 and Title 65, Chapter 15.

Millington - Subject to local approval, requires a candidate for the office of mayor to be a resident of the City of Millington for one year preceding the election rather than 60 days to qualify to run for such office. - Amends Chapter 238 of the Acts of 1903; as amended and rewritten.

Human Services, Dept. of - As enacted, requires the commissioner of human services to provide the commissioner of correction with a form application for food assistance for use by inmates who are preparing for release. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5, Part 3.

Utilities, Utility Districts - As enacted, establishes a process for a municipality that operates a sewerage system outside of its corporate boundaries and has imposed a moratorium on new sewer connections outside of its corporate boundaries for a period of five or more consecutive years to extend sanitary sewer service or allow sewer connection only to property located within an adjacency area if the property owner or developer agrees to pay, or the municipality assesses, a housing surcharge. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 12; Title 13; Title 29; Title 54; Title 64; Title 65; Title 68 and Title 69.

Education, Curriculum - As enacted, establishes a pilot program that provides grants to local education agencies to advance substance abuse and violence prevention programs. - Amends TCA Title 49.

Education - As enacted, requires an educational oversight board tobe created for an LEA that meets certain criteria and is established to annually conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of the LEA to determine the factors that may be contributing to the LEA meeting such criteria; requires the oversight board to develop a transformation plan that identifies performance andoperational goals for the LEA and benchmarks for assessing the LEA's progress toward meeting such goals; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 49.

Education, Dept. of - As enacted, requires the department to provide at least one professional development course that provides asynchronous instruction on the use of artificial intelligence in the classroom and that is made available, at no cost, to teachers in grades 6-12; requires such teachers to complete at least one department-approved professional development course on the use of artificial intelligence in the classroom by the later of August 1, 2028, or within two years of becoming licensed as a teacher in this state. - Amends TCA Title 49.

Water - As enacted, authorizes municipal water and sewer systems to undertake certain projects on private property. - Amends TCA Title 7; Title 63; Title 65; Title 68 and Title 69.

State Government - As enacted, terminates the James K. Polk Memorial Association and requires the Tennessee historical commission to enter into good faith negotiations for the purchase and transfer of the James K. Polk Home in Columbia. - Amends TCA Title 4.

Taxes, Real Property - As enacted, establishes the process for property tax assessment and valuation of multi-unit rental housing that receives a federal, state, or local incentive based on low-income renter restrictions. - Amends TCA Title 7; Title 13; Title 48; Title 49; Title 67 and Title 68.

Safety - As enacted, enacts the "Riley Gaines Women's Safety and Protection Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 37; Title 41; Title 49 and Title 68.

Gleason - Subject to local approval, for the term beginning December 2028, increases the mayor's compensation from $200 to $400 per month and compensation for each alderman from $100 to $200 per month. - Amends Chapter 33 of the Private Acts of 1985; as amended.

Monterey - Subject to local approval, deletes obsolete provisions authorizing the mayor to serve as the ex officio recorder for the town of Monterey; establishes the position of Town Administrator and prescribes the Administrator's powers, duties, and functions. - Amends Chapter 492 of the Acts of 1901; as amended.

Benton County - Subject to local approval, updates the system for the management of county finances, including, but not limited to, budgeting, investment oversight, debt management, and cash management oversight. - Amends Chapter 541 of the Private Acts of 1939; as amended and rewritten.

Grundy County - Subject to local approval, creates the Southern Cumberland Plateau Regional Water and Wastewater Authority. -

Shelby County - Subject to local approval, changes the conditions under which the occupancy tax will no longer be levied; changes the allocation of the revenue from the occupancy tax if the tenant of the indoor sports facility no longer occupies such facility. - Amends Chapter 131 of the Private Acts of 1969; as amended.

Haywood County - Subject to local approval, for county attorney, requires state law license; hiring preference to be given to a resident; oath of office; to advise and represent county commission, the county mayor, and other county officials; authorizes county commission to employ legal counsel other than county attorney; replaces "quarterly county court" with "county commission"; and replaces "county judge" with "county mayor." - Amends Chapter 350 of the Private Acts of 1945; as amended.

Stanton - Subject to local approval, revises the general powers of the town; revises provisions related to the town judge. - Amends Chapter 142 of the Private Acts of 1990.

Tullahoma - Subject to local approval, allocates 3.8 percent of each annual operating budget, but not less than $1.5 million, to the maintenance of streets and roads within the city limits of the City of Tullahoma. - Amends Chapter 553 of the Acts of 1903.

Niota - Subject to local approval, rewrites the charter of the City of Niota. - Amends Chapter 48 of the Private Acts of 1919; as amended and rewritten.

Lexington - Subject to local approval, clarifies the duties of the mayor as the chief executive officer of the city; authorizes the mayor to suspend an employee; clarifies that office of mayor is a full-time position. - Amends Chapter 402 of the Acts of 1901; as amended and rewritten.

Lafayette - Subject to local approval, moves the date of elections from coinciding with the primary in May to coinciding with the general election in November; increases the compensation of the council members from $100 to $150 for each council meeting and from $50 to $75 for each committee meeting; increases the annual salary of the mayor from $45,000 to $75,000; authorizes the mayor, subject to confirmation of the city council, a superintendent of streets and a superintendent of sanitation. - Amends Chapter 325 of the Private Acts of 1945; as amended.

Sardis - Subject to local approval, removes archaic references to debtor's prisons, city marshal, the original members of the board of mayor and aldermen, and city recorder authority; sets salaries of board members by ordinance rather than by charter; authorizes the board to set meeting dates by ordinance rather than by charter, increases terms of the mayor and aldermen from two to four years; and removes certain residency requirements for legal qualified voters who live within the municipality. - Amends Chapter 833 of the Private Acts of 1949; as amended.

Obion County - Subject to local approval, clarifies that the county highway superintendent of the county highway department be appointed by the county commission pursuant to state law. - Amends the private acts of Obion County.

Bristol - Subject to local approval, revises election provisions for city council and the board of education to comply with changes to general election law; reduces the time after final passage for an ordinance to take effect from 17 days to seven days; changes the due dates for property taxes; creates a department of education. - Amends Chapter 84 of the Private Acts of 1991; as amended.

Jonesborough - Subject to local approval, authorizes the board of mayor and alderman for the Town of Jonesborough to elect a mayor from among the aldermen to fill a vacancy; authorizes the Town recorder to carry liability insurance rather than be bonded in an amount prescribed by Town ordinance; updates the election dates for the mayor and board of aldermen. - Amends Chapter 135 of the Acts of 1903; as amended.

Winchester - Subject to local approval, expands the board of public utilities' jurisdiction to wastewater treatment systems; requires the mayor to serve as a standing member of the board during the mayor's term; creates four-year terms for members; and makes various other changes. - Amends Chapter 34 of the Private Acts of 2019.

Hamblen County - Subject to local approval, abolishes the Hamblen County Road Commission, effective August 31, 2028. - Repeals Chapter 313 of the Private Acts of 1949; as amended.

Hamblen County - Subject to local approval, updates appointment provisions, qualifications, and compensation for the office of county attorney. - Amends Chapter 677 of the Private Acts of 1949; as amended.

Charlotte - Subject to local approval, revises various provisions of the charter of the City of Charlotte relating to its corporate powers; the city council; the city clerk; codification of ordinances; duties of mayor; city court, judge, and court clerk; and budgeting, centralized purchasing, and taxes. - Amends Chapter 154 of the Private Acts of 1955; as amended.

Bond Issues - As enacted, authorizes the state to issue and sell bonds. -

Appropriations - As enacted, makes appropriations for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026. -

Utilities, Utility Districts - As enacted, authorizes, during a state of emergency that is based on a natural emergency, an emergency utility worker to travel upon public roads and enter areas subject to curfew or restricted access orders when such access is necessary to perform emergency utilities restoration activities; provides that an emergency utility worker, and the emergency utility worker's employer, are immune from civil liability for injury, death, or property damage resulting from an act or omission of the emergency utility worker committed in good faith while engaged in emergency utilities restoration activities during a state of emergency declared that is based on a natural emergency. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 29; Title 39 and Title 58.

State Government - As enacted, designates the Rhododendron and the Fall-O-Dendron festivals of Roan Mountain as the official Rhododendron and the Fall-O-Dendron festivals in this state in recognition of the festivals' contributions to the preservation of the heritage, history, and beautiful landscapes of this state. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4; Title 8 and Title 9.

Industrial Development - As enacted, revises law relative to industrial development corporations. - Amends TCA Title 7 and Title 48.

Public Funds and Financing - As enacted, revises law relative to pension plans and proxy advisors. - Amends TCA Title 9, Chapter 4.

DUI Offenses - As enacted, clarifies present law regarding the revocation of a person's driver license for an implied consent violation. - Amends TCA Section 55-10-407.

Taxes - As enacted, adds to the definition of a "qualified public use facility" as used in the Local Tourism Development Zone Business Tax Act a mixed-use development containing a performance venue with a seating capacity of at least 2,500; authorizes a municipality or public authority that has financed a qualified public use facility within a tourism development zone and that qualifies for an allocation of sales tax revenue from within that zone under the Convention Center and Tourism Development Financing Act of 1998 and under other provisions of sales tax law to use the revenue for purposes authorized in the act or other law. - Amends TCA Title 7 and Title 67.

County Government - As enacted, authorizes a county legislative body operating under the County Purchasing Law of 1957 to set the compensation for the director of accounts and budgets. - Amends TCA Title 5 and Title 8.

Regional Authorities and Special Districts - As enacted, revises the "Convention Center Authorities Act of 2009" as the "Convention Center and Agricultural Exposition Authorities Act." - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 89.

Tennessee Arts Commission - As enacted, reconstitutes the commission. - Amends TCA Title 4.

Insurance, Health, Accident - As enacted, authorizes a health insurance entity to offer a short-term limited-duration plan and hospital indemnity coverage on the marketplace. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 10; Title 12; Title 29; Title 35; Title 36; Title 37; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41; Title 42; Title 45; Title 47; Title 49; Title 50; Title 52; Title 53; Title 56; Title 58; Title 63; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 71.

Criminal Procedure - As enacted, requires a defendant who is ordered to wear a transdermal monitoring device or alternative device, including other alternative alcohol or drug monitoring device, or global positioning monitoring device, as a condition of pretrial release, and who has not been determined by the court to be indigent, to pay all fees associated with the installation, monitoring, maintenance, and operation of the device. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55.

Taxes - As enacted, provides that an application for an exemption from property taxation for property owned by a religious, charitable, scientific, or nonprofit educational organization that is filed within 180 days after the exempt use of the property began will be effective as of the date the exempt use began, if the application is made after May 20th of the year for which the exemption is sought, but prior to the end of the year; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 67.

Recreational Areas - As enacted, expands the purposes for which monies from the Ocoee River recreation and economic development fund may be expended by the Ocoee River recreation and economic development fund board; replaces the park manager member of the board with the director of the division of state parks. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 10 and Title 11, Chapter 8.

Children - As enacted, enacts the "Tennessee Child Care Red Tape Reduction Act." - Amends TCA Title 13, Chapter 7 and Title 71, Chapter 3.

Natural Disasters - As enacted, enacts the "Local Disaster Displacement Tax Relief Act." - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 4; Title 58 and Title 67, Chapter 4.

Regional Authorities and Special Districts - As enacted, vacates the present board of commissioners of each existing authority for metropolitan and regional airports, and reconstitute a new governing body; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7 and Title 42.

Firearms and Ammunition - As enacted, revises the exemption for judges to the offense of carrying weapons during judicial proceedings. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

Criminal Offenses - As enacted, makes revisions to law relative to offenses occurring at a house of worship. - Amends TCA Title 29 and Title 39.

Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - As enacted, requires each fertility clinic operating in this state to obtain a certificate from the department of health to perform assisted reproductive technology services. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 29; Title 36; Title 63 and Title 68.

Taxes, Sales - As enacted, extends the deadline by which a county that borders at least three distressed rural counties must apply to be eligible to retain the sales and use tax generated from a commercial development district from December 31, 2026, to December 31, 2040; extends the deadline for the commissioner of finance and administration to approve a commercial development district from June 30, 2031, to June 30, 2041. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 6.

Alcoholic Beverages - As enacted, authorizes the consumption of alcoholic beverages and beer on the premises of a temporary special event zone located in Davidson County, subject to certain requirements. - Amends TCA Title 7 and Title 57.

Newspapers and Publications - As enacted, requires the Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations (TACIR) to conduct a study to determine if newspapers of general circulation remain the most efficient and effective manner for governments to provide the public with transparent and accessible information. - Amends TCA Title 1, Chapter 3 and Title 8, Chapter 44.

Health Care - As enacted, makes various changes to health-related laws, including, but not limited to, requiring the commissioner of health to prescribe conditions under which processed and verified claims data found on the UB-92 form are made available to the public; revising law relative to critical access hospitals, and revising law relative to certificates of need. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 63 and Title 68.

Fireworks - As enacted, requires a person who offers sparkling devices for sale and who does not hold a fireworks permit to register each location at which the person offers such devices for sale with the state fire marshal; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 68.

Housing - As enacted, establishes the community workforce housing innovation pilot program to be administered by the Tennessee housing development agency; authorizes the agency to provide loans to an applicant for construction or rehabilitation of workforce housing in each of the three grand divisions; requires the housing to be affordable to natural persons or families who meet certain criteria. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 53; Title 13; Title 48, Chapter 101, Part 3; Title 56 and Title 67.

Teachers, Principals and School Personnel - As enacted, clarifies that certain individuals who have not completed the amount of clinical practice required by the educator preparation provider in which the individual is enrolled may receive a temporary clinical permit if all other requirements for the permit are satisfied; allows such an individual who is issued a temporary clinical permit to meet the clinical practice requirements of the EPP in which the individual is enrolled by combining the amount of clinical practice the individual completed before being issued a temporary clinical permit with the amount of time the individual taught under the temporary clinical permit. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 5.

Education - As enacted, creates an early educator workforce development resource task force. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 49.

Education - As enacted, makes various revisions to education law, including, but not limited to, requiring each public school to annually submit to the department of education a list of all local assessments administered to students, requiring the department to publish the percentage of students who attain proficiency for the English language arts portion of the TCAP, and establishing the assessment review board to annually review the TCAP tests administered to students in the most recent school year. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 49.