Tennessee Senate Bills

Comptroller, State - As enacted, adds to the list of companies for which the comptroller of the treasury may assess for taxation, and for state, county, and municipal purposes, all of the properties within the state owned, and all personal property used or leased, motor bus or truck companies, excluding towing companies, that meet certain criteria. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 9; Title 66 and Title 67.

Secretary of State - As enacted, requires the secretary of state to omit from each annual publication of agency information mailing addresses and telephone numbers of agency members. - Amends TCA Section 10-7-604.

Motor Vehicles, Titling and Registration - As enacted, clarifies that stuttering and other types of communication disorders are qualifying medical conditions for purposes of the "2021 Precious Cargo Act," which authorizes drivers who have certain medical conditions to apply for a designation in the Tennessee Vehicle Title and Registration System (VTRS) database of a need for assistance in communicating with first responders during traffic stops. - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 21, Part 3.

Courts, Juvenile - As enacted, expands the goals of zero to three court programs to include cases involving children five years of age or younger, with priority given to cases involving children younger than three years of age. - Amends TCA Title 37.

Public Records - As enacted, adds provider reimbursement information that is provided to the comptroller of the treasury to the existing list of examples of proprietary information types that are not subject to disclosure as public records. - Amends TCA Section 71-5-142.

Jails, Local Lock-ups - As enacted, authorizes the Tennessee corrections institute to establish certification requirements for corrections officers and to inspect and certify local correctional training academies; makes various changes regarding plans of action that may be submitted by a local certified facility following annual inspection; allows the director and full-time employees of the Tennessee corrections institute to carry a handgun under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 38; Title 39 and Title 41.

Statutes and Codification - As enacted, codifies the Acts of the 2025 regular and extraordinary sessions. -

Health Care - As enacted, prohibits a person from developing or deploying an artificial intelligence system that advertises or represents to the public that such system is or is able to act as a qualified mental health professional. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 47 and Title 63.

Correction, Dept. of - As enacted, requires the department to conduct an annual education assessment of each inmate who is serving a period of confinement for committing a felony offense to ascertain the inmate's highest grade or educational level attained, as well as their interest in continuing, completing, or advancing their education; requires the department to notify such inmates of the educational programming and opportunities available. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 41 and Title 49.

Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the Tennessee public charter school commission to June 30, 2030. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 49, Chapter 13.

Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the Tennessee fish and wildlife commission to June 30, 2030. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 70, Chapter 1, Part 2.

Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the Sequatchie Valley educational development agency to June 30, 2032. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 64, Chapter 1, Part 5.

Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact to June 30, 2034. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 63, Chapter 13, Part 5.

Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the health facilities commission to June 30, 2030. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 68, Chapter 11, Part 2.

Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the department of agriculture to June 30, 2030. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29; Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 1 and Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 2.

Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the committee for clinical perfusionists to June 30, 2031. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 63, Chapter 28.

Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the board of podiatric medical examiners to June 30, 2031. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 63, Chapter 3.

Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the board of optometry to June 30, 2031. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 63, Chapter 8.

Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the board of dispensing opticians to June 30, 2031. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 63, Chapter 14.

Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the board of dentistry to June 30, 2031. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 63, Chapter 5.

Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the board of communications disorders and sciences to June 30, 2031. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 63, Chapter 17.

Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the board of chiropractic examiners to June 30, 2031. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 63, Chapter 4.

Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact to June 30, 2034. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 63, Chapter 17.

Portland - Subject to local approval, deletes provisions requiring a referendum to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of the city's water or light plant. - Amends Chapter 568 of the Private Acts of 1939; as amended.

Memorials, Recognition - Vintage901 Wine, Food and Music Festival, 10th anniversary -

Memorials, Recognition - Pastor Mike Ellis, Sr. and Impact Baptist Church and Ministries, 20th church anniversary -

Memorials, Personal Occasion - Malcolm Louis Wallace, 79th birthday -

Memorials, Interns - Iyana Debro -

Memorials, Sports - Fayette-Ware High School Wildcats boys' basketball team -

General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position - Supports Tennessee’s response to the United States Department of Energy Request for Information on Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses. -

Food and Food Products - As enacted, prohibits LEAs and public charter schools from selling, offering for sale, or providing to students on school property through a school nutrition program any food or beverage item that contains Allura Red AC; Erythrosine B; Tartrazine; Sunset Yellow FCF; Erioglaucine disodium salt; Indigo carmine; or Fast Green FCF. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6.

Taxes, Real Property - As introduced, adds an exception to the requirement that mineral and other interests in real property are assessed to the owner of the real property. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 5.

Handgun Permits - As introduced, extends the fee waiver for a lifetime enhanced handgun carry permit to include a retired law enforcement officer who served for less than 10 years prior to retirement, was POST-certified, or had equivalent training, on the date the officer retired, and retired from service due to an injury received in the line of duty as a law enforcement officer. - Amends TCA Title 38 and Title 39.

Real Property - As introduced, prohibits the state or a local or municipal government from requiring a builder or developer of real property to pay for the building or development of infrastructure that is nonessential to the development, maintenance, or growth of the builder's development property. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13; Title 54 and Title 66.

Employees, Employers - As enacted, defines for purposes of the Tennessee Lawful Employment Act, a "private employer" as any person who is required by federal law and regulations to report remuneration paid to at least one employee; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8 and Title 50.

State Employees - As enacted, grants eligible state employees mandatory paid leave for fostering a minor child. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 50, Part 8.

Education, Curriculum - As enacted, authorizes LEAs and public charter schools to offer students in any of the grades five through 12 a hunter education course that is approved by the wildlife resources agency as part of physical education, health, or safety instruction. - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 70, Chapter 2, Part 1.

Pharmacy, Pharmacists - As introduced, changes from April 15 to October 15, the date on which the bureau of TennCare is directed to annually report to the senate health and welfare committee and the health committee of the house of representatives regarding program costs and patient outcomes related to incorporating the pharmacist-provided medication therapy management pilot program each year the pilot program is supported. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 53; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

Local Education Agencies - As introduced, limits, for Carroll County, the weighted full-time equivalent average daily attendance for which the county is required to apportion all school funds collected by the county for current operation and maintenance purposes to that generated by students whose primary legal residence is located in Carroll County. - Amends TCA Title 5 and Title 49, Chapter 3.

Bail, Bail Bonds - As enacted, establishes a presumption that a defendant should not be released on the defendant’s personal recognizance if the defendant is charged with a felony offense that involved the use or display of a firearm or resulted in the serious bodily injury or death of the victim; requires a magistrate who determines that the presumption has been rebutted to include in the bail order written findings for each factor considered in making such a determination. - Amends TCA Title 40.

Health, Dept. of - As introduced, excludes from the definition of a public swimming pool subject to regulation in the same manner as a hotel or public swimming pool by the department of health any privately owned, controlled-access, above-ground swimming pool that is installed indoors at a fitness facility and used only by facility staff and students for the purpose of swimming instruction if the pool meets certain criteria. - Amends TCA Title 68.

Education, Curriculum - As enacted, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires each LEA and public charter school to, as part of the social studies curriculum, to present a civics instructional video approved by the state board of education at least once to students in grades six through eight and at least once to students in grades nine through 12. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 1 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

Holidays and Days of Special Observance - As enacted, designates the third Sunday in June of each year as "Fathers' Day." - Amends TCA Title 15, Chapter 2.

Alcoholic Beverages - As enacted, requires a manufacture's license for the manufacturing of alcoholic spiritous beverages or vintage alcoholic beverages issued to or renewed by a manufacturer to authorize the sale at retail a product for which a manufacturer owns the intellectual property rights and that the manufacturer received bottled as imported from Mexico; authorizes the manufacturer to serve certain samples of the product manufactured or distilled at the premises or imported and registered for distribution and sale in this state. - Amends TCA Title 57.

Clerks, Court - As enacted, requires a person ordered to use an ignition interlock device to provide the clerk of the court with documentation showing qualifications for certain assistance on the date the person was ordered to use the device to show need to participate in the electronic monitoring indigency fund. - Amends TCA Section 55-10-419.

Criminal Offenses - As enacted, specifies that, in regard to the criminal offense of desecration of a venerated object, "desecrate" includes, but is not limited to, the removal of objects from a place of burial by a person other than a family member of the deceased or an authorized representative of the cemetery. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 46.

Open Meetings - As enacted, requires a local governing body subject to the open meetings laws to reserve a period of public comment to provide the public with the opportunity to comment on any matter germane to the jurisdiction of the governing body, regardless of whether the matter is listed on the agenda for the meeting. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 44.

Motor Vehicles, Titling and Registration - As enacted, redefines "hybrid electric vehicle" to clarify that it is a motor vehicle that is propelled by a combination of an electric motor and an internal combustion engine or other power source and components thereof. - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 4.

Holidays and Days of Special Observance - As enacted, designates November 2nd of each year as "James K. Polk Day." - Amends TCA Title 15, Chapter 2.

Election Laws - As enacted, requires political advertisements to include a disclaimer if the advertisements include deepfake elements impersonating or depicting a candidate engaging in activity or speech in which the impersonated or depicted candidate did not in fact engage; makes a violation of such disclaimer requirement a Class C misdemeanor; entitles candidate to damages and equitable relief for violations. - Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 19.

Memorials, Sports - Chad Austin, District 13 Coach of the Year -

Memorials, Sports - Adamsville High School girls' basketball team -

Local Education Agencies - As introduced, authorizes LEAs and public charter schools to refuse to enroll students who are unlawfully present in the United States. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 49.

Children's Services, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the department to record, by audio recording or video recording, all interviews of children conducted by department employees as part of the department's investigation of claims of abuse or dependency and neglect. - Amends TCA Title 10, Chapter 7, Part 5; Title 24; Title 37 and Title 38.

Fiscal Review Committee - As introduced, clarifies which procurement contracts are subject to review by the fiscal review committee of the general assembly; removes requirement that impact to commerce statements be included on fiscal notes prepared by the fiscal review committee. - Amends TCA Title 3, Chapter 2 and Title 4, Chapter 56.

Local Education Agencies - As introduced, requires each LEA to submit a report to the department of education by July 31 each year that includes, for the immediately preceding school year, the number of students the LEA provided with information on the career and technical education opportunities offered by the LEA after the students were administered a career aptitude assessment in grade seven or eight. - Amends TCA Title 49.

Animal Control - As introduced, requires the owner of a dangerous dog to register the dangerous dog with the animal control authority for the area in which the dog is kept for a period of three years, restrain the dangerous dog at all times on a leash or in a secure enclosure, and obtain liability insurance coverage; establishes a public dangerous dog registry. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 44.

Traffic Safety - As introduced, imposes state and local litigation taxes on a person who violates the prohibition against using a wireless telecommunications device or stand-alone electronic device while operating a motor vehicle; removes the ten-dollar cap on court costs imposed for such violations. - Amends TCA Section 55-8-199.

General Assembly, Confirmation of Appointment - Steven Emil Johnson, Fish and Wildlife Commission -

General Assembly, Confirmation of Appointment - Robin Morrison, Tennessee public utility commission -