Tennessee Bills

Taxes, Real Property - As introduced, prohibits a city or county collecting official from requiring a taxpayer to pay the full tax due for an assessment for which an appeal is pending before the county or state boards of equalization. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 5.

Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, requires proposed subdivision plans to be approved by a local planning commission or other agency authorized to approve such plans prior to their submission to the department for approval rather than such plans being approved by the department first. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13 and Title 68, Chapter 221.

Appropriations - As introduced, makes appropriations for the purpose of defraying the expenses of certain legislative enactments passed during the 2026 session of the 114th General Assembly; earmarks sufficient state funds for the purpose of funding any bill naming a highway or bridge in honor of a service member killed in action. -

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts the "Shielding Tennesseans from Oligarchic Power and Eliminating Lawless Obstruction of Necessities Act (STOP ELON Act)," which creates a new offense of interfering with an individual's or entity's receipt of a loan, grant, or financial assistance that the individual or entity is lawfully entitled to receive from the federal, state, or local government, with intent to deprive the individual of the loan, grant, or financial assistance, which is punished as theft; authorizes a victim of an offense to bring a civil action to recover the funds that the victim did not receive because of the offense. - Amends TCA Title 29 and Title 39.

Solid Waste Disposal - As introduced, creates exception to the state regulation of biosolids by authorizing the legislative body of Grundy County to regulate such activities. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 68, Chapter 211; Title 68, Chapter 221 and Title 69.

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, creates the offense of carrying or possessing a firearm, including a firearm that was privately assembled and does not contain a serial number or other mark that conforms with federal law, if, at the time of carrying or possessing, the person is not a citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13 and Title 55, Chapter 50.

Water Pollution - As introduced, prohibits the department of environment and conservation from applying criteria that will result in the classification of real property as a wetland if the property is prior converted cropland that is exempt from classification as a wetland under federal law. - Amends TCA Title 11, Chapter 14, Part 4 and Title 69.

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, authorizes a county legislative body to elect not to permit persons within the county to lawfully carry a handgun without a handgun carry permit by passage of a resolution; requires a county that has passed such a resolution to provide notice to persons present within the county by posting notice of the resolution in conspicuous public locations throughout the county. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

Naming and Designating - Designates September 22 as "Veterans Suicide Prevention Day." -

Constitutional Amendments - Proposes an amendment to Article II, Section 28 of the Constitution of Tennessee to authorize counties and municipalities, by a two-thirds vote of the local legislative body, to make the levying and collection of the tax on all real property, or one or more subclassifications of real property, by the jurisdiction optional or may authorize alternative payment plans, including advanced tax payments or deferred tax payments that include a lien against the title of the property. -

Local Education Agencies - As introduced, enacts the "School District Capital Improvements Investment Trust Act." - Amends TCA Title 49.

Healthcare Liability - As introduced, removes the three-year statute of repose for a healthcare liability action based on an injury that was not discovered when the negligent act or injury occurred so that the action may be brought within one year from the date of such discovery. - Amends TCA Title 28 and Title 29.

TennCare - As introduced, directs the governor to seek a new TennCare waiver within 180 days of the effective date of this act to provide medical assistance coverage for individuals whose gross annual income is equal to or less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level; clarifies that the amendment takes effect upon federal approval. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5.

Safety - As introduced, changes the reporting date, from February 1 to January 15, by which the commissioners of education and safety must jointly report to the governor and the general assembly on the implementation of the "Schools Against Violence in Education Act." - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 68.

Memorials, Recognition - Human Trafficking Awareness Month, January 2026 -

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts the "mRNA Bioweapons Prohibition Act," which prohibits the manufacture, acquisition, possession, or making accessible to others of mRNA injections and products; requires state and local government officials to use all lawful means necessary to investigate or enforce suspected violations; punishes violations the same as manufacturing, acquiring, possessing, or transferring a weapon of mass destruction, which is a Class B felony. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 14; Title 39; Title 40; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

Autopsies - As introduced, requires a county medical examiner to report certain instances of the natural death of an infant or young person under 20 to the federal Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Sudden Death in the Young Case Registry; requires the county medical examiner to review the deceased infant's or young person's immunization and medical records; authorizes civil penalties and license sanctions for violations. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 63 and Title 68.

Insurance, Health, Accident - As introduced, deletes an obsolete requirement that the department of commerce and insurance conduct a study to determine the appropriateness of a separate premium rating for medicare supplement policies for populations under 65 years of age upon the expiration of five years from May 27, 2010. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 56 and Title 71.

Pensions and Retirement Benefits - As introduced, clarifies that the notification provided by a retiree's new employer to the retirement system concerning the reemployment of the retiree as a law enforcement officer must be provided in writing. - Amends TCA Title 8.

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, reduces, from five to four business days, the amount of time a warden has to report an offense in a penal institution to the appropriate district attorney generals. - Amends TCA Title 39.

Children's Services, Dept. of - As introduced, changes from January 31 to February 15 the date by which the commissioner shall publish an annual report regarding operation of the department and the services and programs under its supervision. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 37.

Evidence - As introduced, permits the introduction into evidence of a video recording of a child victim being interviewed by a forensic interviewer regarding sexual or physically violent contact with the child if the forensic interviewer is an employee of the department of children's services and meets certain requirements. - Amends TCA Title 9, Chapter 4, Part 2 and Title 24, Chapter 7, Part 1.

Bail, Bail Bonds - As introduced, requires bondsmen to file the quarterly reports on number of bonds issued by the bondsman in the preceding quarter by the thirtieth day of January, April, July, and October, rather than the twenty-fifth day; requires court clerks to file the quarterly reports on number of bonds accepted by the clerk in the preceding quarter by the thirtieth day of January, April, July, and October, rather than the twenty-fifth day. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 11.

Correction, Dept. of - As introduced, increases from 90 to 100 days of receiving a valid judgment of conviction for when the department has to notify the victim witness coordinator of the scheduled parole hearing date when the inmate will be eligible for parole consideration. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

Education, Dept. of - As introduced, changes, beginning in 2027, the deadline for the department to submit its annual report on the school safety alert grant pilot fund from February 1 to January 15. - Amends TCA Title 49.

Education, Higher - As introduced, extends, from January 1 to January 15, the deadline for the department of correction to submit its annual report on higher education opportunities available to incarcerated individuals to the chairs of the judiciary and education committees of the senate and the criminal justice and education administration committees of the house of representatives. - Amends TCA Title 49.

Adoption - As introduced, changes from 100 years to 90 years the amount of time that must elapse from the date the adoption was finalized before confidential adoption records become public records open to inspection. - Amends TCA Title 18; Title 36, Chapter 1; Title 37; Title 49, Chapter 4, Part 9; Title 49, Chapter 5, Part 7 and Section 49-6-1304.

TennCare - As introduced, enacts the "TennCare Buy-In Act." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 10 and Title 71, Chapter 5.

Naming and Designating - As introduced, redesignates the Legislative Plaza and War Memorial Plaza, respectively, in front of the War Memorial Building as the "Winfield Dunn War Memorial Plaza." - Amends TCA Title 3, Chapter 1; Title 4 and Title 58, Chapter 4.

Motor Vehicles, Titling and Registration - As introduced, subjects plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, instead of all hybrid electric vehicles, to the $100 additional vehicle registration fee for electric vehicles. - Amends TCA Section 55-4-116.

Traffic Safety - As introduced, authorizes a tow truck to display a single, steady-burning or flashing blue light to the rear, but not the front, of the tow truck when stationary and engaged in the recovery of, or otherwise providing assistance to, another vehicle. - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 9, Part 4.

Gaming - As introduced, requires a licensee offering interactive sports wagering in this state to restrict access to such wagering on certain campuses of public institutions of higher education; requires certain public institutions of higher education to restrict internet access to interactive sports wagering on campus. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49, Part 1 and Title 49.

Correction, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the department to develop and implement a performance-based contracting program for each contractor with which it contracts to operate prison facilities; requires the program to make the payment of an amount equal to 25 percent of the total funds appropriated to the contractor during a fiscal year conditional upon yearly performance improvements based upon a set of performance measures. - Amends TCA Title 41.

Taxes, Privilege - As introduced, removes licensed attorneys who have practiced more than 20 years from the application of the professional privilege tax. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 17.

Privacy, Confidentiality - As introduced, prohibits a state or local government entity from requiring implantation of a microchip or other permanent identification marker as a condition to receive benefits or services, or participate in assistance programs, offered or otherwise provided by the entity; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 40; Title 47; Title 50 and Title 56.

Taxes, Sales - As introduced, exempts from the sales and use tax the retail sale of infant formula and diapers and wipes designed to be used by infants and children. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 6, Part 3.

Education, Higher - As introduced, waives, for the dependent child of a law enforcement officer or firefighter who was killed or who died as a direct result of injuries received while performing their official duties, the tuition and fees charged by the public institution of higher education at which the dependent child is enrolled as a student. - Amends TCA Title 49.

Lottery, Scholarships and Programs - As introduced, requires the Tennessee higher education commission to submit a report to the education and finance committees of the senate and house of representatives identifying any fiscal year, beginning with the 2004 fiscal year, for which net lottery proceeds were insufficient to fully fund certain scholarships and grants, resulting in a pro rata reduction in award amounts or a draw upon the general shortfall reserve subaccount. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 4, Chapter 51 and Title 49, Chapter 4.

Public Records - As introduced, requires the department of correction to disclose records and information to any member of the general assembly, upon written request, to enable the member to determine whether the laws of this state are being complied with regarding inmates in the department's custody. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4; Title 10, Chapter 7; Title 40 and Title 41.

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, expands the offense of adulteration of food, liquids, or pharmaceuticals to include adulteration for the purpose of making the user of the food, liquid, or pharmaceutical involuntarily intoxicated; classifies the offense as a Class D felony. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, enacts the "Climate Resiliency Fund Act." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 5; Title 9; Title 60; Title 67 and Title 68.

Local Education Agencies - As introduced, adds sixth grade to the grade levels for which a local board of education is required to establish an alternative school for students who have been suspended or expelled from the regular school program; requires a student in sixth grade who has been suspended for more than 10 days or expelled from the regular school program to attend an alternative school if there is space and staff available, with certain exceptions. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6.

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, prohibits a person who is convicted of a felony from running for public office, regardless of whether the person receives a presidential pardon; prohibits a public employee from receiving retirement benefits from the Tennessee consolidated retirement system, any superseded retirement system, or any other public pension system, if such employee or official is convicted of a felony. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 8; Title 39 and Title 40.

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, states that a person who has not been convicted of a violent, felony crime and who is lawfully able to own or to possess a firearm under the Constitution of Tennessee is considered to be individually licensed and verified by this state within the meaning of the provisions regarding individual licensure and verification in the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act. - Amends TCA Title 39.

Sentencing - As introduced, increases the penalty for failing to stop at the scene of an accident when the person knew or should reasonably have known that death resulted from the accident by requiring a mandatory period of confinement of not less than one year and a minimum fine of $10,000. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55.

Sewage - As introduced, implements a system of graduated periods of suspension of a person's license to engage in the business of removing accumulated wastes from subsurface sewage disposal systems following conviction for offenses involving illegal dumping of sewage. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 68, Chapter 221.

Sewage - As introduced, increases, from a Class C to Class B misdemeanor, the classification of offenses involving unlawful disposal of sewage if the person commits the offense while engaged in the business of removing accumulated wastes from subsurface sewage disposal systems. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 68, Chapter 221.

District Attorneys - As introduced, authorizes the district attorneys general conference to pay the licensing fees for software applications used by the office of the district attorney general within a judicial district. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 9; Title 16 and Title 40.

Real Property - As introduced, expands existing statutory authority of a masonic lodge to take real property by deed by extending the same authority to a masonic lodge-sponsored corporation or limited liability company that is created for such purpose; authorizes a masonic lodge-sponsored corporation or limited liability company to lease or rent real or personal property to a masonic lodge or other entity. - Amends TCA Title 48, Chapter 102.

Courts, Juvenile - As introduced, requires the department of children's services, and others, to provide certain information to court-appointed special advocates in order to provide judicial officers with the most comprehensive information to be used in the consideration of the placement and custody of a child. - Amends TCA Title 37, Chapter 1, Part 1.

Memorials, Government Officials - Urges the Secretary of State to include "The Old Men" by T.L. Jones in the Blue Book. -

Constitutional Amendments - Proposes an amendment to Article XI, Section 5 of the Constitution of Tennessee, to allow for bingo games conducted by 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) organizations to meet a charitable, nonprofit, or community service purpose. -

Food and Food Products - As introduced, prohibits the sale, delivery for sale, holding for sale, or offering for sale of food that contains forever chemicals, unless the food is labeled as containing forever chemicals and discloses the known or possible health effects of the chemical; defines forever chemicals as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). - Amends TCA Title 47, Chapter 18 and Title 53.

Healthcare Liability - As introduced, removes the three-year statute of repose for a healthcare liability action based on an injury that was not discovered when the negligent act or injury occurred so that the action may be brought within one year from the date of such discovery. - Amends TCA Title 28 and Title 29.

Safety, Dept. of - As introduced, directs the department to develop and design for a driver who has a developmental or intellectual disability a blue envelope that holds the driver's essential documents, including a driver license, vehicle registration, and contact card. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 52 and Title 55.

Election Laws - As introduced, restores a person's right of suffrage automatically upon the person's discharge from custody by reason of service or expiration of the maximum sentence imposed by the court for the infamous crime. - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 40.

Highways, Roads and Bridges - As introduced, requires the commissioner of transportation to establish rules governing reimbursement of relocation costs to a utility; requires reimbursement of at least $2.5 million for projects with utility relocation costs exceeding $2.5 million; requires the department to approve a utility owner's plan to accomplish the proposed new location of utility facilities in highway rights-of-way if the proposal would effectuate the relocation at the lowest cost to the utility's ratepayers; makes other related revisions. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 54.

Alcoholic Beverages - As introduced, requires each officer who takes possession of intoxicating liquor to file within 10 days, rather than five days, a written statement with the circuit or criminal court clerk identifying the kind and quantity of the liquor taken, and from whom the liquor was taken, if known. - Amends TCA Title 57 and Title 67.

Election Laws - As introduced, authorizes the county election commission to notify individuals filing a petition for recall, referendum, or initiative to notify the individuals of a defect in the petition that must be cured prior to certification for final approval. - Amends TCA Title 2.

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, removes the limitation on the penalty for illegally possessing a telecommunication device in a penal institution that required the Class E felony to be punished by a fine only. - Amends TCA Title 39.