Tennessee Senate Bills

Annexation - As introduced, requires a municipality to obtain approval of a proposed annexation from the county legislative body; requires the municipality to submit certain reports to the county legislative body regarding the proposed annexation. - Amends TCA Title 6, Chapter 51, Part 1.

Public Records - As introduced, specifies that certain information related to the carrying out of a sentence of death is not confidential and is open to public inspection. - Amends TCA Title 10, Chapter 7.

Real Property - As introduced, makes void and unenforceable any restrictions on the operation of a family child care home or group child care home that may be in a homeowners' association declaration that applies to a property where a family child care home or group child care home is or will be sited by the property owner; makes other changes relative to restrictions on the use of real property. - Amends TCA Title 66.

County Government - As introduced, increases from two to three days, the minimum notice period required for a county mayor to convene a special session of the county legislative body for emergency purposes. - Amends TCA Title 5 and Title 6.

County Government - As introduced, requires each county to create a county ethics commission. - Amends TCA Title 3, Chapter 6 and Title 5.

Planning, Public - As introduced, requires an establishment resolution adopted by the governing body of a municipality to form an infrastructure development district to include an itemization of the funded costs for infrastructure related to each utility service that will serve the development district. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13; Title 65 and Title 66.

State Government - As introduced, enacts the "DEI Compliance Certification Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8 and Title 49.

Public Contracts - As introduced, requires a tire manufacturer or supplier responding to a solicitation to bid with this state, or who has an existing contract with this state, to indicate each tire, by product, and material number, that is manufactured with 100 percent French process zinc oxide. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9 and Title 12.

Election Laws - As introduced, enacts the "Election Integrity Act of 2026"; creates a process by which a candidate in a local election may challenge the results of the election prior to certification of the election if the candidate has reason to believe errors were made in the adminstration of the election. - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 49.

Taxes, Real Property - As introduced, requires a written notice of the intended seizure of personal property given by the county trustee, deputy trustee, or delinquent tax attorney that is mailed to the taxpayer's last known address be provided by certified, registered, or first class mail. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 5.

Utilities, Utility Districts - As introduced, requires certain data centers to register with the department of revenue; requires fuel suppliers, and electric and water utilities that provide fuel and service respectively to registered data centers to report usage and rates to the department; requires the commissioner to compile and publish certain information based on reports received from utilities. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 10; Title 62; Title 65; Title 68 and Title 69.

Election Laws - As introduced, requires the secretary of state to direct each county election commission to place a ballot question on the ballot for the November general election in 2026 asking voters whether this state should legalize the sale, possession, and use of medical cannabis. - Amends TCA Title 2.

Natural Disasters - As introduced, requires TACIR to perform a comprehensive evaluation on the preparedness and response of local and state officials, departments, and agencies to the Hurricane Helene natural disaster. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4, Chapter 10 and Title 58.

Safety, Dept. of - As introduced, enacts the "One America Act," which requires every person who has resided in this state for a period of more than 30 days and who is not lawfully present in the United States to register and submit to an interview with the department at which time the department may issue the person a one-year visa for re-entry into the United States and to this state; if the person does not commit a criminal offense within such one-year period, the person is eligible to apply for permanent resident status upon completion of the one-year period. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8 and Title 39.

Taxes, Real Property - As introduced, limits the setting of the tax rate on property by a county, municipality, metropolitan government, or other taxing entity in any fiscal year at a rate that would render in total receipts from all levies an amount more than the receipts from that source from the immediately preceding fiscal year for the county, municipality, metropolitan government, or other taxing jurisdiction, plus an additional 2 percent, subject to certain exceptions; establishes a procedure by which the 2 percent increase may be exceeded by passage of a referendum. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 5.

Election Laws - As introduced, authorizes senators who have served for at least eight consecutive years and representatives who have served for at least 10 consecutive years to use signatures of registered voters outside of such senator's or representative's district for purposes of completing a nominating petition. - Amends TCA Title 2.

Prisons and Reformatory Institutions - As introduced, prohibits this state or a local government from entering into a new contract or renewing an existing contract for the provision of correctional services for an inmate under the custody and care of the department of correction or the local government. - Amends TCA Title 41, Chapter 24.

Immigration - As introduced, enacts the “Tennessee Freedom from Unlawful Immigration Detention Act.” - Amends TCA Title 7; Title 8; Title 38; Title 40 and Title 41.

Veterans - As introduced, enacts the “Tennessee Veteran Protection and Due Process Act.” - Amends TCA Title 7; Title 8; Title 38 and Title 58.

Notary Public - As introduced, requires the secretary of state to appoint notaries public to commissions in this state; prescribes additional requirements to be commissioned as a notary public in this state. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 16 and Title 23.

Holidays and Days of Special Observance - As introduced, designates September 10 of each year as "Charlie Kirk Day." - Amends TCA Title 15, Chapter 2.

Taxes, Real Property - As introduced, redefines "movable structure" for purposes of classification and assessment of property so that a mobile home or other movable structure that is used as a residence or apartment must be used permanently as such instead of temporarily or permanently. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 5.

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, adds as an affirmative defense to the offense of criminal exposure of another to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), proof by a preponderance of the evidence that a person infected with HIV was in compliance with a treatment regime prescribed by the person's healthcare provider to medically suppress the risk of HIV transmission. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13.

DUI Offenses - As introduced, allows a person convicted of driving under the influence of an intoxicant involving alcohol or opioids to agree to receive naltrexone injections at the person's own expense for a period of 12 continuous months in lieu of being required to operate only a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, Chapter 10.

Utilities, Utility Districts - As introduced, prohibits a utility that provides electric, water, wastewater, or natural gas services from increasing the rate charged to customers who are 65 years of age or older upon notice that the customer qualifies for such rate cap pursuant to an age verification process established by the Tennessee public utilities commission (TPUC) by rule; requires notification to customers of the rate cap program within 90 days of a final rule; authorizes TPUC to promulgate a rule to develop an age verification and notification process. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7; Title 47, Chapter 18; Title 64; Title 65; Title 67 and Title 68.

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class C felony the available sentence for an aggravated criminal trespass if, while in commission of the trespass, the trespasser encounters the owner using or displaying a firearm in self-defense; upgrades trespass offenses to Class C felonies. - Amends TCA Section 39-11-611; Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 10 and Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 4.

Tort Liability and Reform - As introduced, expands the definition of a person for whom a wrongful death action may be brought to include an unborn child beginning at fertilization, rather than in utero; extends the period of time from two to three years after which a spouse is rebuttably presumed to have abandoned a deceased spouse for purposes of bringing a wrongful death claim. - Amends TCA Title 20 and Section 63-6-1102.

Immigration - As introduced, prohibits the use of certain public properties, schools, and religious institutions for certain civil immigration enforcement activities; requires state departments and agencies to make available to the public certain information concerning person's rights with regard to federal agents. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7, Chapter 68; Title 12; Title 38; Title 49 and Title 50, Chapter 1.

Alcoholic Beverages - As introduced, authorizes the issuance of a retail package store license to an operator within the general services district of a metropolitan government that has approved the retail sale of liquor for off-premises consumption by local option election. - Amends TCA Title 7 and Title 57.

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, requires a gun dealer to ensure that three days have passed since the transaction was initiated by the purchaser before transferring a firearm to a purchaser if the purchaser is older than 17 but younger than 21. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, requires the administrative office of the courts to report by October 1, 2025, to the speaker of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives the number of persons found guilty of the Class A misdemeanor of, as an employer, dismissing from employment an employee because of jury service by that employee, from January 1, 1990, until January 1, 2025. - Amends TCA Title 39.

Search & Seizure - As introduced, requires officials who are employed or contracted by the federal government, the state government, or a local government within this state, or an agency or department thereof, to obtain a search warrant that identifies the person or property that is the subject of the search before entering private property, unless a judicially recognized exception to the warrant requirement exists. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 44.

Memorials, Recognition - Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) Awareness Day, May 17 -

Constitutional Amendments - Proposes an amendment to Article I, Section 26 of the Constitution of Tennessee to enshrine permitless carry in this state by clarifying that citizens have a right to keep and bear arms in public without a permit or license and to delete provision that authorizes the legislature to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime. -

Constitutional Amendments - Proposes an amendment to Article I of the Constitution of Tennessee to prohibit the state from compelling a person to undergo medical treatment, even in the case of a declared state emergency. -

Constitutional Amendments - Proposes constitutional amendment to Article XI, Section 5 of the Tennessee Constitution to allow the general assembly to authorize the entity operating the state lottery to develop lottery games to be used exclusively to fund veterans' services. -

Handgun Permits - As introduced, extends the time, from 30 days to 60 days, within which a person whose handgun carry permit has been suspended or revoked may petition the chancery court for judicial review of the department of safety's final determination. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 10; Title 29; Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49; Title 50 and Title 70.

Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires each law enforcement agency to develop and implement an alternative crisis response unit; requires the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission to establish uniform training standards for alternative crisis response units in all law enforcement agencies. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 38.

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, requires, subject to certain exemptions, that a sale or transfer of a firearm be done through a federally licensed gun dealer; creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for sales or transfers that are not conducted through a gun dealer. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 54; Title 38, Chapter 3, Part 1 and Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, removes the criminal offense of possession of a weapon in a building or on property that is properly posted; removes the requirement that the department of safety suspend or revoke a handgun carry permit for a violation of that offense by a handgun permit holder. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

Marriage - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Covenant Marriage Act" to create covenant marriage, which is entered into by one male and one female, who understand and agree that marriage is a lifelong relationship; permits a spouse in a covenant marriage to obtain a judgment of divorce under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 10; Title 16; Title 36; Title 39; Title 67 and Title 68.

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, extends from January 15 to February 15, the date by which, every five years, the fiscal review committee must report to the chief clerks of the senate and the house of representatives of the general assembly the percentage of change in the average consumer price index (all items-city average) as published by the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics and must inform the general assembly what the statutory minimum and maximum authorized fine for each offense classification would be if adjusted to reflect the compounded cost-of-living increases during the five-year period. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49; Title 55 and Title 65.

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Voluntary Do Not Sell Firearms Act," which permits a person to voluntarily waive their firearm rights through filing a waiver with the clerk of the circuit court in the county of the person's residence; specifies procedures the clerk, TBI, and department of safety must follow upon receipt of a waiver. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3; Section 10-7-504 and Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires a law enforcement officer initiating a traffic stop or pedestrian stop, on or after January 1, 2026, to inform the person stopped of the reason for the stop before engaging the person in questioning related to an investigation of a possible criminal offense or traffic violation; permits the officer to withhold such information if the officer believes that doing so is necessary to protect life or property from an imminent threat. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

Medical Occupations - As introduced, extends from 30 business days to 60 business days the period of time an individual, applicant, licensee, certificate holder, or registrant has to file a petition in Davidson County chancery court following receipt of a notice from a health-related licensing authority that the authority is denying an application for or refusing to renew a license, certificate, or registration on the basis of a prior criminal conviction. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40; Title 63 and Title 68.

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts the "Fair Background Check and Due Process Act." - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 47; Title 50; Title 62; Title 66 and Title 71.

Sentencing - As introduced, increases from one year to three years the amount of time a defendant receiving a split sentence of confinement and probation may be required to serve a portion of the sentence in continuous confinement in the local jail or workhouse; specifies that the state is responsible for all costs of incarceration after the first year. - Amends TCA Title 40 and Title 41.

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, deletes the offense of carrying a firearm or a club with the intent to go armed, prohibits the carrying of a firearm or weapon inside of a K-12 public or private school and on a school bus if the person's intent is to go armed and the school and the bus are posted in a certain manner; deletes the offense of carrying a firearm on the property of a university, college campus, and other public or private non-K-12 educational institutions or property; rewrites the offense of possessing a handgun while under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance or controlled substance analogue; rewrites the offense of carrying weapons during judicial proceedings; makes various other changes related to firearms. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49; Title 55 and Title 65.

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, repeals the criminal offenses of unlawfully carrying a firearm or club with the intent to go armed and carrying or possessing a weapon in or on public parks, playgrounds, civic centers, and other public recreational buildings and grounds; allows persons convicted of stalking or a misdemeanor domestic violence offense to possess a firearm after five years from the date of conviction. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 36; Title 37; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49 and Title 65.

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, changes from February 1 to February 15 the date by which the Tennessee bureau of investigation must report excess money collected pursuant to background check fees charged to gun dealers. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 10; Title 16; Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 45; Title 49; Title 50; Title 55; Title 62; Title 67 and Title 70.

Expunction - As introduced, extends the time period within which a court ordering the expunction of a person's public records of a criminal offense must send a copy of the expunction order to the Tennessee bureau of investigation from 30 days to 45 days. - Amends TCA Section 8-21-401 and Title 40.

Evidence - As introduced, adds a rebuttable presumption that the criteria for a child victim to testify by two-way closed circuit television in a criminal matter involving certain offenses are met if the child is under 13 years of age. - Amends TCA Title 24, Chapter 7 and Title 39.

Sentencing - As introduced, establishes parole criteria for certain persons convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life; specifies that if a person is convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life, then the sentence must automatically expire after the person has served 40 years. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 40, Chapter 35.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation - As introduced, enacts the "Federal Enforcement Accountability and Community Protection Act." - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 38 and Title 50.

Privacy, Confidentiality - As introduced, enacts the "Protecting Everyone from Excessive Police Surveillance (PEEPS) Act" for the purposes of protecting, maintaining, and accessing historical location data. - Amends TCA Title 10; Title 24 and Title 38.

Juvenile Offenders - As introduced, deletes an obsolete statute requiring the administrative office of the courts, department of children's services, and the commission on children and youth to jointly submit a report on juvenile justice data collection by January 1, 2019. - Amends TCA Title 36; Title 37 and Title 39.

Courts, Administrative Office of the - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Court Appearance Reminder Program Act." - Amends TCA Title 16 and Title 40.

Judicial Districts - As introduced, creates an additional criminal court in the thirtieth judicial district to be designated as part IX; requires the governor to appoint a criminal court judge to serve until the person's successor is elected at the August 2028 general election. - Amends TCA Title 16, Chapter 2.

Sheriffs - As introduced, prohibits the county legislative body of a county with a charter form of government from adopting a budget that reduces the budget for the sheriff below the budgeted amount for the previous fiscal year unless the reduction is approved in writing by the sheriff; authorizes a sheriff to approve or disapprove a budget amendment that would reduce personnel, operational, or capital expenditures below the level proposed by the sheriff; authorizes the county legislative body to override the sheriff's disapproval by a two-thirds vote. - Amends TCA Title 5, Chapter 1, Part 2; Title 5, Chapter 9, Part 4 and Title 8, Chapter 20, Part 1.

Landlord and Tenant - As introduced, states that unlawful detainer actions are confidential and shielded from public inspection if the action was filed on or after July 1, 2026, the case was dismissed by the court or a party, an appeal is not pending in the case, and three years have passed since the date the action was filed or the parties have agreed in writing to shield the records from public disclosure. - Amends TCA Title 10, Chapter 7, Part 5; Title 29, Chapter 18 and Title 66.