114th General Assembly Highlights

Inclusion in this list doesn't constitute an endorsement; Senator Roberts did not vote for everything on this list.

Education Freedom

• Established statewide school choice through education freedom scholarships to put power in the hands of parents to choose the best education for their child

 

Strong Public Schools

• Increased investments in K-12 education by $439 million, including teacher pay raises and infrastructure improvements

 

Illegal Immigration

• Created the Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division within the Dept. of Safety to coordinate with federal and local governments to implement immigration policies
• Established the Immigration Enforcement Grant Program to aid local law enforcement
• Created a felony offense for smuggling and trafficking illegal immigrants
• Increased accountability for organizations housing criminal illegal immigrants

 

Agriculture

• Established $25 million Farmland Preservation Fund landowners to put property in conservation easement

 

Dismantled DEI and Restored Merit-Based Systems

• Prohibited public and private colleges in Tennessee from using race or national origin to make admissions or scholarship decisions
• Ended race-based selection for membership of state boards
• Prohibited state and local governments and public universities from having DEI departments or hiring practices

 

Caring for Communities and Infrastructure

• Added $1 Billion to road fund to help address $30 billion backlog
• Redirected tire sales tax revenues from General Fund to TDOT
• Provided $516 million for Hurricane Helene recovery to individuals and local governments

 

Public Safety

• Protected private property rights
• Cracked down on organized retail crime
• Raised penalty for exposing children to fentanyl
• Strengthened penalties for sexual abuse

 

Protecting Children and Families

• Strengthened several penalties related to child abuse
• Improved the adoption and foster care system
• Enhanced protections and rights for children in DCS custody
• Established a domestic violence registry
• Cracked down on AI-generated child pornography

 

Pro-Life

• Targeted illegal distribution of abortion pills
• Established pro-life protections for mothers facing serious pregnancy complications

 

Health

• Expanded prenatal screenings to protect mothers and babies
• Required medical examinations of deceased mass shooters to test for psychotropic drugs
• Removed insurance barriers for cancer patients to access recommended medications

2025 Budget Highlights

General Talking Points

• $59.8 billion balanced budget
  • 50% from state dollars - $29.7 billion
  • 35% from federal funds - $20.8 billion
  • 15% from other sources - $9.2 billion (bonds, tuition, fees from higher ed & state agencies)
• Recognizes a 2% growth rate
• Reaffirms the General Assembly’s commitment to conservative budgeting, while prioritizing the needs of Tennesseans across the state and keeping taxes low.
• The balanced budget advances the state’s efforts to improve public safety, invest in infrastructure, advance education, support rural healthcare, and increase disaster relief funding for Hurricane Helene recovery.

 

Continued Support for Education

• $145.9 million in Education Freedom Scholarships
• $198.4 million for $2,000 bonuses for every teacher in the state
• $164 million to strengthen education through the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) formula growth, including funding for teacher pay raises and inflationary growth
• $62.7 million for K-12 infrastructure and facilities funding
• $27.3 million for summer learning programs to support students between school years
• $25 million further investment in the Fast Growth Fund, to support fast-growing districts
• $17 million for Grade A School Grants
• $10 million to provide paid parental leave for Local Educational Agency employees
• $20 million for the Charter Schools Facilities Fund
• $5 million to establish the Equitable Facilities Fund for charter schools

 

Infrastructure

• $1 billion into the road fund to address the state’s transportation infrastructure needs

 

Public Safety

• $75 million to the Violent Crime Intervention Fund to support local law enforcement and local jurisdictions through grants to fund evidence-based strategies to improve public safety
• $100 million to establish Downtown Public Safety grants to increase public safety in downtown areas with businesses and commercial activity
• $38 million in funding for an additional 117 State Troopers and related support staff to improve public safety across the state
• $5 million to further expand the Statewide School Resource Officer (SRO) Program Grant, which places SROs in each K-12 public school and public charter school in Tennessee
• $3.7 million in funding for an additional 22 TBI positions to support victim services, intelligence analysis, aviation, security, Medicaid fraud enforcement, and administration
• $1.3 million in additional funding for Houses of Worship Security Grants
• $1 million to expand the school-based behavioral health liaison program, giving students across Tennessee schools important resources and mental health support
• $5.4 million nonrecurring to improve campus safety and security at the University of Memphis
• $500,000 nonrecurring to establish and operate the UT Law Enforcement Innovation Center
• $400,000 nonrecurring to support the East Tennessee Regional Forensic Facility and Training Program

 

Responsible Fiscal Management and Promoting Economic Growth

• $35.6 million investment into the Rainy Day Fund, bringing Tennessee’s reserves to nearly $2.2 billion, the largest in state history
• $45.8 million for Rural Development Grant Fund to enhance Tennessee’s rural and distressed communities through site development, community asset improvements, strategic planning and downtown revitalization
• $25 million for FastTrack grants to recruit new business to Tennessee and support workforce development
• $10 million for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Matching Funds to match federal funds assisting Tennessee startups in securing competitive research and development grants
• $25 million to expand the RevV Program to connect private companies with Tennessee’s research institutions to drive research and development and job creation
• $5 million to create TN Accelerates, a partnership between Tennessee Economic and Community Development and the Department of Labor and Workforce to create customized workforce training programs tailored to the specific needs of incoming and existing businesses

 

Rural Hospital Support and Healthcare Investments

• $78 million from TennCare Shared Savings to help hospitals with uncompensated care, particularly in rural areas
• $4 million to complete capital projects at county health departments
• $4 million recurring to increase pediatric dental rates
• $3 million nonrecurring to the Adult Healthcare Safety Net
• $500,000 nonrecurring to assist those living with epilepsy and their caregivers statewide
• $1.4 million recurring to provide scholarships for the joint public-private partnership in the Medical School Early Acceptance Program between MTSU and Meharry Medical College
• $1 million nonrecurring to Live Like Lou Foundation for ALS research
• $1 million nonrecurring for Volunteers in Medicine

 

Strong and Healthy Families

• $95.5 million utilizing Shared Savings to enhance long term care services and supports for older adults and people living with disabilities
• $41 million to support the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) with placement of children within the provider network
• $7.2 million to expand the WAGE$ Program and reduce turnover in Tennessee’s childcare workforce by increasing pay and rewarding greater education
• $5.9 million to cover childcare for more working families through an expansion of the Smart Steps Child Care Program and ease the benefits cliff
• $24 million to continue a Department of Health pilot program to address unmet dental service needs and increase the number of dentists in Tennessee
• $11.8 million to reduce waitlists in the OPTIONS and Senior Nutrition programs
• $10.9 million to expand programming at the Boys & Girls Club of Tennessee
• $5 million to increase bed capacity at the Middle Tennessee Regional Mental Health Institute
• $3 million for a partnership between Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) to provide additional support services for children in DCS care with intellectual and developmental disabilities

 

Taking Care of Tennessee Communities

• $516 million to help communities recover from Hurricane Helene and prepare for future emergencies:
  • $110 million to Hurricane Helene Interest Payment Fund
  • $100 million to the Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund
  • $240 million to TEMA to reduce political subdivisions’ cost share obligations of the non-federal portion of disaster recovery costs
  • $20 million for the reconstruction of Hampton High School in Carter County
  • Additionally, the General Assembly dedicated another $46 million in the regular session towards Hurricane Helene recovery:
    • $26 million nonrecurring for disaster relief for Helene victims
    • $20 million nonrecurring for local match funds for FEMA disaster relief.
  • $42.5 million to create a grant pool for important emergency and community services, including:
    • $20 million for Volunteer Fire Departments
    • $5 million for Rescue Squads
    • $5 million for Emergency Medical Services
    • $5 million for Senior Centers
    • $5 million for Local Museums for capital improvements
    • $2 million for Courthouse Restoration
    • $500,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank
  • $45.8 million for Rural Development Grant Fund to enhance Tennessee’s rural and distressed communities through site development, community asset improvements, strategic planning and downtown revitalization

 

Agriculture

• $25 million to create a Farmland Conservation Fund
• $20 million in additional funding for the Agricultural Enterprise Fund and Agricultural Enhancement Fund, both of which are utilized to aid Tennesseans in creating and expanding agricultural, food and forestry businesses and make long-term strategic investments in rural communities

 

Energy

• $50 million to create the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Grant Fund to support Tennessee Valley Authority’s Clinch River Nuclear SMR project to position Tennessee as a leader in next-generation nuclear energy
• $10 million further investment in the Nuclear Energy Fund to attract advanced nuclear technology companies
• $2.6 million to develop the nation’s first regulatory framework for commercial nuclear fusion power
• $10 million further investment in Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education (GIVE) to support nuclear workforce education, as recommended by the Nuclear Energy Advisory Council
• $20 million for the Federal Grant Matching Fund, to support proposals from Tennessee universities and businesses applying for research funding from federal agencies like the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy

 

Conservation

• $65 million to preserve the water supply of the Duck River, which spans much of Middle and West Tennessee
• $52 million to create five new Tennessee State Parks, with the goal of funding a total of eight new state parks by the time Gov. Lee leaves office, setting the Tennessee record for the most state parks created by one administration
• $6.2 million to address maintenance needs at Tennessee State Parks, preventing a backlog of deferred maintenance
• $40 million for environmental cleanup, including creation of a comprehensive water resource management plan in the Duck River region, state water revolving fund projects and electric grid enhancement
• $5 million to aid Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s capital outlay and maintenance needs

Illegal Immigration

General Talking Points

• Tennessee is leading the nation in fighting illegal immigration with our efforts to partner with President Trump and the federal government to enforce immigration laws and remove dangerous illegal immigrants from our communities.
• This year, lawmakers held a special session which included passage of comprehensive immigration enforcement legislation to strengthen cooperation between the state, local and federal government to address illegal immigration in Tennessee.
• Other legislation passed during the regular session to address illegal immigration includes measures to:
  • Create felony offenses to strongly penalize those who profit from smuggling illegal immigrants into the country
  • Implement penalties for organizations that house illegal immigrants who commit crimes
  • Invalidate out-of-state drivers licenses issued to illegal immigrants
• More details on these and other efforts below:

 

Dedicated resources to illegal immigration enforcement

• A new law passed during the special session builds on federal efforts of the Trump Administration to secure the nation’s borders and restore public safety.
• It strengthens cooperation between state, local, and federal authorities, increases support for law enforcement, and enforces accountability in immigration laws. Key provisions of the legislation include:
  • Creation of the Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division (CIED): Establishes a dedicated division within the Department of Safety, led by a Chief Immigration Enforcement Officer (CIEO), appointed by the governor. The CIEO will coordinate directly with the Trump administration to implement federal immigration policies efficiently.
  • Immigration Enforcement Grant Program: Provides grants to local governments participating in the federal 287(g) program, which assists in the enforcement, detention, and removal of illegal immigrants. These grants will help fund training, operational costs, and local law enforcement initiatives.
  • Enhanced State-Issued ID Standards: Prevents misuse of state-issued IDs for voting by incorporating distinct markers on state-issued IDs for non-U.S. citizens. The legislation restricts permanent state-issued IDs to U.S. citizens while allowing temporary IDs for legal residents. This change ensures that only individuals with permanent IDs are eligible to vote in Tennessee elections.
  • Strengthened Sanctuary City Ban Enforcement: Imposes a Class E felony charge on local officials who adopt or maintain sanctuary city policies in violation of state law. Additionally, the Tennessee Attorney General is empowered to initiate removal proceedings against officials found guilty of violating these provisions.

Senate Bill 6002 / Sponsored by Johnson, Watson, Yager, White, Bowling, Pody, Reeves, Rose, Stevens, Taylor/ Effective date: January 1, 2026  / Public Chapter 1

 

Targeting human smuggling of illegal immigrants

• The General Assembly passed a new law to strongly penalize and deter traffickers who smuggle illegal immigrants into our country.
• It establishes three new offenses to target human smuggling of illegal immigrants:
  • Class E felony offense of human smuggling, targeting traffickers who:
    • Knowingly transport and conceal an illegal immigrant from law enforcement for financial gain; or
    • Encourage or influence someone to enter or remain in the country illegally while shielding them from detection
  • Class A felony for aggravated human smuggling when the victim is under the age of 13
  • Class A misdemeanor to knowingly harbor or assist in harboring undocumented individuals in Tennessee, punishable by $1,000 fine per person harbored
• Expands human trafficking laws by adding promotion of minor prostitution as a trafficking offense.
• Human smuggling is a multi-billion-dollar criminal enterprise that violates the rule of law, endangers communities, and threatens the lives of victims, especially children.

Senate Bill 392 / Sponsored by Taylor, Johnson, White, Rose, Harshbarger, Lowe, Seal, Southerland, Hatcher, Bailey, Bowling, Hensley, Jackson, Stevens, Walley, Watson / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Accountability for organizations housing illegal aliens who commit crimes

• A new law increases accountability for organizations that provide long-term housing for illegal immigrants who go on to commit crimes.
• Under this law, non-profit organizations can now be held liable for damages if an illegal immigrant they are housing commits a criminal act.
• The law does not apply to temporary, overnight housing (Ex: storm shelters).

Senate Bill 227 / Sponsored by Taylor, Bowling, Stevens / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Invalidating out-of-state drivers licenses issued to illegal immigrants

• A new law prohibits out-of-state drivers licenses issued to illegal immigrants from being recognized as valid in the state of Tennessee.
• Under the measure, an illegal immigrant driving in Tennessee with an out-of-state license can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor for operating a vehicle without a valid license.
• At least 19 states allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses or driving privilege cards, which are often marked to distinguish them from standard state-issued licenses.
• The bill requires the Department of Safety to create a list of such invalid licenses.

Senate Bill 1086 / Sponsored by Johnson, Yager, Bowling, Rose, Stevens, Hatcher, Hensley, Jackson, Lowe, Seal, Taylor, White / Effective date: January 1, 2026  / Public Chapter 288

 

Strengthened process for voter verification

(also in ‘Election Integrity and Voting’)

• S. citizenship status and felony convictions will now be proactively verified before an individual can be registered to vote in Tennessee.
  • Previously, voter eligibility checks by the Coordinator of Elections were conducted after a person is registered allowing a window during which ineligible individuals may temporarily appear on the rolls
• The legislation requires the Coordinator of Elections, the Department of Safety, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to develop a secure electronic portal for real-time eligibility verification.

Senate Bill 133 / Sponsored by Johnson, Yager, Lowe, Stevens / Effective date: January 1, 2026 / Passed both chambers

 

Preventing non-citizens from voting in Tennessee

(also in ‘Election Integrity and Voting’)

• Tennessee strengthened its commitment to election integrity by requiring election coordinators to train local officials to recognize temporary IDs issued to non-U.S. citizens.
• This proactive step helps prevent any accidental allowance of non-citizens casting a ballot in our elections.
• The law complements Senate Bill 6002, passed during the special session, which created a clear system for issuing temporary licenses and permits to non-citizens living in Tennessee.
• These efforts ensure that only eligible U.S. citizens can vote, maintaining trust in our elections.
• Thanks to commonsense safeguards like this, Tennessee is ranked #1 in the nation for election integrity by the Secretary of State.

Senate Bill 1143 / Sponsored by Crowe, Bailey, Bowling / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Reports required on criminal threats from illegal aliens

• New legislation requires that the Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division compile a report on criminal enterprises and potential threats from illegal immigrants.
  • The Division was created during the Special Session in January
• This initiative aims to promote coordinated and effective responses to law enforcement agencies

Senate Bill 750 / Sponsored by Yager, Watson, Stevens, Bowling, Rose / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

Education Freedom

General Talking Points

• Education Freedom Scholarships are a needed piece of the education reform puzzle.
• These scholarships put power in the hands of parents to choose the best education for their child.
• Choice allows parents to choose a school for any reason. There is no one-size-fits-all in education. Each child learns differently. School choice allows parents to choose an education best suited to their child.
• For the vast majority of students, public schools will continue to be the best option.
• We can support both public education and school choice. We can do both -- and we have.
• These scholarships will not take money from the public schools. No school will lose money as a result of Education Freedom Scholarships. The new law ensures funding to school districts will never decrease due to disenrollment.

 

Education Freedom Act of 2025

• 20,000 scholarships for Tennessee students starting in the 2025-26 school year
• 10,000 reserved for students at or below 300% of income qualifying for free or reduced price lunch, have a disability, or are eligible for the existing ESA program
• Ensures state funding to school districts will never decrease due to disenrollment
  • It does this by basing the funding amount for schools on enrollment numbers from the prior year.
• Scholarship amounts equal to the per pupil base funds allocated to public school students each year - $7,075 as of the most recent school year
• Funds will be deposited into an account to be used for tuition, fees and other qualified education expenses
• 350+ private schools are eligible to voluntarily receive Education Freedom Scholarships as Category I-III schools
• Schools will maintain their independence and educational freedom, preventing unnecessary government overreach while expanding school choice for families.
• 5,000 additional scholarships with universal eligibility added each year after 75% of total scholarships are taken in the prior year to ensure controlled, fiscally responsible program growth
• The new law also provides significant investments in Tennessee’s public schools and teachers including:
  • $2,000 bonus for every teacher in the state
  • 80% of all sports wagering dollars dedicated to building and maintaining K-12 public school facilities

 

COMMITTED TO PUBLIC EDUCATION 2020-2025

• Our state has demonstrated its commitment to public education time and time again. Over the last decade, the state has invested more than $3.35 billion in public education. Including the largest pay increase for teachers in history in 2023 with the goal of making 50K the minimum starting salary for a teacher by 2026.
• In the Special Session, we allocated $198.4 million for teacher bonuses and $77.2 million for K-12 infrastructure.
• Additionally in the regular session we reinforced our commitment to public schools by adding $164 million to Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) formula, which includes funding for teacher pay raises and inflationary growth.

 

Other legislation passed this year to advance Education Freedom:

Improving fairness in approval process for Tennessee's public charter schools

• Under a new law, public colleges and universities can now directly apply to the Tennessee Charter School Commission to sponsor a public charter school, if they want to open a school in a district that's had three charter denials overturned in three years.
  • This change broadens opportunities for high-quality education partnerships and ensures charter school applications are reviewed on their merits, not subject to automatic denials by local school boards.
• Senate Bill 1310 also:
  • Permits charter school sponsors to reserve up to 25% of enrollment for children of college or university employees, helping attract and retain educators and staff.
  • Gives more flexibility in charter renewals, allowing renewals for 5 to 10 years instead of 10 years.
  • Provides an option for operators to replicate their school models.
  • Shifts some monitoring and reporting responsibilities from the Department of Education to the Charter Commission.

Senate Bill 1310 / Sponsored by Johnson, Lowe, Haile, Powers / Effective Date: July 1, 2025  / Public Chapter 275

 

Improving approval process for new charter schools

• A new law clarifies that when a charter school is authorized by a county’s local education agency (LEA) the school is permitted to locate anywhere within that county, regardless of geographic boundaries of a municipal LEA.
• This change is meant to bring clarity to existing law and ensure charter schools do not encounter unnecessary hurdles in selecting a location.

Senate Bill 1020 / Sponsored by White / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

 

Streamlining charter school funding process

• A new law ensures that charter schools receive their funding directly.
• The legislation requires the Department of Education to allocate the share of funds from TISA directly to the charter school.
• Previously, the funds had to pass through the local education agency and then were distributed to the charter school.

Senate Bill 1019 / Sponsored by White, Stevens / Effective Date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Learning Pod Protection Act

• Safeguards the rights of parents to form and operate learning pods free from government regulations to further support education freedom in Tennessee
  • Learning pods are voluntary groups of parents organizing K-12 educational activities for children
• Exempts learning pods from state and local education regulations including, but not limited to:
  • Class size restrictions
  • Teacher licensure requirements
  • Building and fire codes
• It also prohibits state and local officials from conducting inspections or imposing registration requirements on learning pods.
• The legislation ensures children participating in learning pods meet state attendance requirements for their respective school – whether that’s homeschool, public, private or church-affiliated.

Senate Bill 134 / Sponsored by Johnson, Bowling, Rose, Stevens, Walley, White, Yager / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

K-12 Education

New framework for turning around low-performing schools

• Local school districts will have greater authority to implement turnaround strategies for struggling schools under a new framework.
• Previously, Achievement Schools Districts (ASD) were responsible for school turnaround programs. This program has consistently not met the goal of turning around Tennessee’s lowest performing schools.
• Legislation passed this year to replace Achievement Schools Districts (ASD) with a new system that empowers local school districts while continuing a strong partnership with the state
• It divides Priority Schools into a 3-tiered intervention framework that gives local schools districts a better ability to implement strategies that best fit their schools’ needs:
  • Tier 1 allows LEAs to select an evidence-based intervention or partner with a turnaround expert, giving schools a chance to improve through district-led solutions.
  • Tier 2 includes more intensive options such as charter conversion, partnership with a higher education institution, or staffing and leadership reconstitution.
  • Tier 3 is the most rigorous, authorizing either school closure or a full reconstitution overseen by the department when other interventions have failed.
• Every school identified as a Priority School for the first time must begin in Tier 1, ensuring the least intrusive interventions are tried first.
• The Department of Education must review the performance of each school annually and may require a change in strategy or movement of tiers.

Senate Bill 1273 / Sponsored by Johnson, Haile, Gardenhire / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Expanding School Turnaround Program

• The School Turnaround Pilot Program was made permanent under a new law.
  • Originally established in 2021, it is an intervention program aimed at improving student achievement, student growth, and other relevant measures.
• To incentivize positive results, the vendor contracted to administer the program will receive higher pay for schools that successfully complete the program by meeting the exit criteria.
• Along with making the program permanent, the legislation increases the number of participating schools from 5 to 15, with 5 new schools being added each year on a 3-year cycle.
• It also expands each school’s turnaround committee to include a member from a local community group and a business leader for a more comprehensive perspective.

Senate Bill 901 / Sponsored by Haile / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

 

Preparing for deregulation of education at the federal level

• The General Assembly is taking measures to prepare Tennessee’s education system for potential changes to the U.S. Department of Education.
• A new law establishes the seven-member Federal Education Deregulation Cooperation Task Force, which will be responsible for:
  • Identifying all federal funding sources for K-12 education in Tennessee
  • Reviewing federal requirements tied to those funds
  • Assessing the state resources needed to access federal funds
  • Documenting positions funded through federal dollars
  • Evaluating which federally funded programs should be continued, modified, or replaced
• The task force’s findings will help guide the General Assembly as it considers education policy ahead of the 2026 legislative session.
• It will create a roadmap to help us ensure that Tennessee is well-positioned to take care of our students, support our teachers, and strengthen our entire education system with solutions that reflect our values and priorities.

Senate Bill 950 / Sponsored by Powers, Crowe, Walley, / Effective Date: Upon becoming law  / Transmitted to Governor

 

Strengthening communication between parents and schools

• Updates the 2024 Family Rights and Responsibilities Act and removes confusion about when parental consent is needed, so teachers and school staff can feel confident to provide basic, non-emergency care – like applying a bandage – without fear of legal consequences.
  • The 2024 law outlined 12 fundamental parental rights – such as the responsibilities to make education, healthcare, moral and religious decisions for their child.
  • Its aim is to strengthen the partnership between parents and schools while keeping students safe.
• Updates under this new 2025 law include:
  • Non-Emergency First Aid: Specifies that parental consent is not needed to administer non-emergency first aid—such as dressing minor wounds and applying ice—to minors in need.
  • Screenings for Abuse and Trafficking: Empowers healthcare providers to screen minors for trafficking or abuse, enhancing protections for vulnerable children.
  • Religious Absences: Requires parents to meet with the school if their child misses 20 or more days for religious purposes, reinforcing collaboration between families and educators.
  • Parental Consent for Recordings: Clarifies that parental consent is required before schools can publish recordings of students, ensuring the protection of children’s privacy.
  • Preventative Counseling: Clearly defines the role of licensed school counselors and psychologists, focusing on providing preventative counseling services to students.

Senate Bill 895 / Sponsored by Haile, Lowe / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Notifying parents of school threats 

• A new bill will make sure that parents are informed about a school threat at their children’s school.
• It requires the local school board to report credible threats directed to the school within 24 hours of notifying law enforcement.

Senate Bill 946 / Sponsored by Powers / Effective Date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 215

 

Updated student search policies

• New legislation requires that only school resource officers, security officers, or trained administrators can conduct searches of students or their property.
• If a student is under 18 years old, principals must notify and obtain parental consent.

Senate Bill 290 / Sponsored by Bailey, Hatcher, Yager / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 244

 

Increasing access to high-quality materials for online education

• A new law ensures school districts have access to high-quality instructional materials tailored for virtual learning.
• This legislation directs the state to establish a waiver application process for school districts to request approval for non-textbook virtual learning materials.
  • The waiver application would require LEAs to verify that the materials align with state academic standards.
• The state would publish approved waivers online and develop clear rules to guide the process.
• The bill maintains current law that requires that textbooks used in any school must be approved by the textbook commission.

Senate Bill 416 / Sponsored by Haile / Effective Date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Allowing virtual students to participate in school sports

• A new law allows virtual students to participate in TSSAA school sports.
• It requires schools that are members of TSSAA to allow virtual students to participate in school sports in accordance with the TSSAA policy governing virtual student participation.
• Additionally, for virtual students who attend a non-TSSAA schools, the student will be allowed to compete for their zoned school.
• Virtual students still must try out and make the team in order to participate.

Senate Bill 690 / Sponsored by White, Lowe, Stevens / Effective Date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 173

 

Improved flexibility for online private schools

• A new law allows online schools more flexibility by removing certain requirements.
• It prohibits the state board of education from requiring accredited fully-online, self-paced private schools to comply with class size restrictions, operating schedules and vaccination requirements.

Senate Bill 827 / Sponsored by Hensley, Yager / Effective Date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Merit-based pay for exceptional teachers

• A new law allows local school districts to award additional compensation to high-performing teachers through a merit-based pay structure.
• This compensation would be awarded through either a one time bonus or salary increase.
• It aims to incentivize teachers to excel in their work.
• A 2017 Vanderbilt University report found that merit-based pay structures in schools translated to a “statistically significant” effect on student test scores, equivalent to adding three extra weeks of instruction in a school year.

Senate Bill 729 / Sponsored by Lowe, Hatcher, Taylor / Effective Date: Upon becoming law  / Public Chapter 256

 

Expanding Future Teachers Scholarship

(also in ‘Higher Education’)

• Expands eligibility for the Tennessee Future Teacher Scholarship Act of 2023 to help address Tennessee’s teacher shortage
  • Sets a standard $3,500 scholarship
  • Expands eligibility to HOPE Scholarship recipients
  • Reduces from four years to two years the required time a recipient must agree to teach in a targeted area

Senate Bill 682 / Sponsored by White / Effective date: July 1,2025 / Passed both chambers

 

Equal compensation for teachers at Tennessee special schools

• A new law allows special school district teachers to receive compensation and benefits on par with public school teachers.
• The bill allows for teachers at special schools to accumulate and take leave, including paid family leave.
• The legislation ensures that any state funded raises or bonuses for public school staff is matched for special school staff by the Department of Education.

Senate Bill 705 / Sponsored by Massey, Briggs, Gardenhire, Harshbarger, Hatcher, Pody, Rose, Yager / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 284

 

Changes to teacher evaluations, standardized testing

• Legislation establishes a joint legislative advisory committee to analyze changes to various education requirements and policies to improve outcomes for students and educators.
• The committee will evaluate the following
  • Teacher and principal evaluations
  • Standardized testing for K-12 students
  • Screening requirements for response to intervention (RTI) in schools
  • Health coverage and compensation for educators
  • Expanding teaching permits
  • Allowing CTE courses to substitute for graduation requirements
• The committee will develop strategies and suggestions to be reported to the general assembly and TN Department of Education by the end of 2025.

Senate Bill 415 / Sponsored by Lowe, Bailey, Southerland, Walley, Watson / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Study to improve teacher evaluations

• A new law commissions a statewide and national study to identify and standardize best practices for evaluating teachers in the classroom.
• The bill underscores Tennessee’s continued commitment to supporting educators and improving student outcomes through fair, effective, and research-based evaluation methods.
• It requires the Tennessee Department of Education to form a committee with experienced teachers and other experts to:
  • Review current teacher evaluation systems in Tennessee and examine successful models from other states
  • Analyze what works best in improving instruction and student achievement
  • Report findings and recommendations to the Senate Education Committee by Jan. 31, 2026.

Senate Bill 870 / Sponsored by Hensley, Crowe / Effective Date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Making it easier for skilled industry professionals to teach CTE courses

• A new law expands access to high-quality career and technical education (CTE) by making it easier for experienced industry professionals to teach in Tennessee classrooms.
• The legislation creates a “limited occupational teaching license” that allows skilled professionals to teach CTE courses without going through a traditional educator preparation program (EPP).
• This initiative recognizes the value of real-world experience and opens the door for professionals in fields like construction, healthcare, IT, and advanced manufacturing to share their expertise with students.
• The legislation allows teachers with limited licenses to teach courses with an End-of-Course (EOC) assessment.

Senate Bill 1311 / Sponsored by Johnson, White, Massey / Effective Date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Extra recess time for elementary students

• A new law raises the minimum amount of physical activity required for elementary school students.
• The bill increases the daily requirement from 15 minutes to 40 minutes for K-5 students.
• The change will help promote healthier lifestyles among our youth, combat childhood obesity and improve students’ focus in the classroom.

Senate Bill 158 / Sponsored by Hensley, Bowling, Crowe, Walley, Watson / Effective Date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Limiting devices in classrooms

• To improve quality classroom instructional time, a new law requires local school districts to implement policies that prohibit the use of cell phones or other communication devices in classrooms, with certain exceptions.
• Under the measure, devices would still be allowed for educational purposes, students’ health management, and students with disabilities.
• Many school systems already have similar prohibitions in place and have seen tremendous benefits to student learning and focus.
• The bill requires the schools to establish a system to communicate with parents during an emergency.

Senate Bill 897 / Sponsored by Haile, Yager, Bailey, Bowling, Corwe, Hensley, Massey, Powers, Reeves, Rose, Stevens, Walley / Effective Date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 103

 

Teen Social Media and Internet Safety Act

• New legislation requires public and charter schools to provide social media and internet safety lessons for students in grades 6-12.
  • Lessons will be taught during the student’s health/gym class
• The curriculum must cover topics such as:
  • Time management
  • Mental health effects
  • Cyberbullying
  • Privacy
  • Online safety
  • AI + misinformation
• Parents can excuse their child from the lessons with a written request to the principal and students who opt out will be given an alternative assignment.
• It also prohibits students from accessing social media on the school’s internet unless it is authorized by a teacher for educational purposes beginning in the 2025-26 school year.
• In today’s digital world, it’s essential we prepare our students to navigate the internet safely and responsibly.

Senate Bill 811 / Sponsored by Powers, Crowe, Jackson, Reeves, Rose, Walley, Yager / Effective Date: Upon becoming law  / Public Chapter 195

 

Protected the right to use biological pronouns in school

• New legislation ensures that no student or contractor in school districts, charter schools, and public institutions of higher education is required to use preferred pronouns if it is not consistent with an individual’s biological sex.
• These protections will also extend to state employees and contractors for the state.
• This bill protects Tennesseans through civil liability immunity, safeguarding them from disciplinary action for refusing to use preferred pronouns.
• Currently, the law ensures local school district employees cannot be required to use a student’s preferred pronoun, and this legislation extends these protections to students and contractors.
• The new law also creates a private cause of action and a complaint process for Tennessee public K-12 students, teachers, employees and contractors subjected to adverse action or discipline for refusing to use a preferred pronoun.
• The common-sense bill ensures only 2 sexes are recognized in our public schools and universities.

Senate Bill 937 / Sponsored by Rose, Bowling, Hensley, Jackson, Pody / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted Governor

 

Protected gender-specific spaces in residential education facilities

(also in ‘Protecting Children’)

• Tennessee continues to lead the way in protecting children in gender-specific spaces.
• New legislation mandates that all residential educational programs allowing minors to participate or stay overnight must separate restrooms, changing areas, and showers based on sex.
  • This means that facilities must provide distinct spaces for males and females, ensuring privacy in these areas for all minors.

 

Senate Bill 472 / Sponsored by Bowling, Hensley, Stevens / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 134

 

Limited Red 40 food dye in schools to improve student health

• New legislation prohibits the sale or distribution of food and beverages containing Red 40 dye in Tennessee schools.
• Red 40 is a synthetic food dye that contains benzene, a compound linked to potential negative effects on children’s behavior and mental health—including hyperactivity, irritability, and depression, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
• The bill is aligned with national conversations about food safety, including efforts led by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has called for the removal of artificial dyes like Red 40 from American food products.
• By limiting access to this additive during the school day, the legislation aims to create a healthier learning environment and promote better focus and well-being among students.
• Exceptions are made for special events like school fundraisers, allowing flexibility while still prioritizing student health in daily meals and snacks.

Senate Bill 476 / Sponsored by Bowling, Pody, Jackson / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

 

Success Sequence Act adds evidence-based life plan to family life curriculum for improved personal and societal outcomes

• The legislation introduces students in family life classes to the “success sequence” – a proven series of life choices that are strongly correlated with avoiding poverty, achieving upward mobility and improved personal and societal outcomes.
• The success sequence emphasizes the importance of following this general order:

1. Obtaining a high school degree
2. Entering the workforce or pursuing a post-secondary degree or credential
3. Getting married before having children

• According to a study by the American Enterprise Institute, 97% of millennials who followed this sequence were not living in poverty.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also reports that students who complete the educational portion of this sequence earn, on average, 20% more than those who do not.
• The goal of the legislation is to equip Tennessee students with practical knowledge and data-driven guidance to help them make informed decisions that lead to stronger families, financial independence, and greater opportunity.

Senate Bill 471 / Sponsored by Bowling, Crowe, Lowe / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 224

 

Protected religious materials in schools

• A new bill prohibits local school boards from removing books from school libraries solely because it is religious.
• The legislation protects religious freedom provided by the First Amendment by requiring schools to maintain religious materials in their libraries.
• A 2021 survey by the Becket Fund found that 83% of people believe the freedom to express or share religious beliefs is an essential part of religious freedom.

Senate Bill 1112 / Sponsored by Lowe, Rose / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 270

 

Combating antisemitism in schools

(also in Higher Ed)

• Legislation passed this year to ensure public schools and universities are aligned on the definition of antisemitism and improve responses to anti-semitic events on these campuses.
• It requires all public institutions of education to integrate the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism into their student, faculty, and employee codes of conduct.
• Also encourages antisemitism awareness training for students, faculty, administrators, and campus law enforcement.
• Requires the Tennessee Department of Education to designate a Title VI coordinator to monitor and respond to antisemitic discrimination and harassment in public K–12 schools.

Senate Bill 1209 / Sponsored by Rose, Bowling, Crowe, Bailey, Gardenhire, Jackson, Walley / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 293

 

Increasing access to facilities for child care agencies

• To help child care agencies purchase or rent facilities, LEAs with child care agencies located in the district, are now required to submit a list of all underutilized or vacant property to the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
• The legislation allows child care agencies operating in a local schools district a first or second right of refusal to lease or purchase property listed by the LEA.
  • If the LEA has a public charter school located within the district, the charter school has the right of first refusal for the property, and the child care agencies have the second right of refusal.
  • If there is no public charter school in the district, then the child care agencies would have the first right of refusal for the property.

Senate Bill 1379 / Sponsored by Watson, Stevens, Haile, Taylor, Yager / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 276

Higher Education

Protected NIL opportunities for collegiate athletes

• A new bill updates the state's NIL law to create new opportunities for student-athletes to profit from their talents, further eliminating competitive disadvantages and standing up for athletes.
• The law:
  • Allows institutions to directly compensate athletes for NIL
  • Preserves the athlete’s right to engage in third-party NIL opportunities
  • Enhances and expands opportunities for student athletes
  • Provides a clearer legal framework to universities, helping them continue to recruit at the highest level
  • Protects the state and universities from antitrust claims
    • Liability will fall upon the athletic organization
  • Over the past few years, Tennessee has been at the forefront of advocating for student-athletes and challenging the NCAA's restrictions on NIL compensation.
  • In Jan. 2024, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti filed a landmark lawsuit against the NCAA, accusing it of violating antitrust laws by preventing athletes from earning fair compensation for their name, image, and likeness.
  • As a result of this lawsuit, schools now have the right to allow NIL opportunities to play a role in athlete recruitment.
  • In the ever-evolving collegiate sports landscape, this bill further positions Tennessee as a leader in supporting student athletes.

Senate Bill 536 / Sponsored by Stevens, Yager, Massey, Gardenhire, Lowe / Effective Date: Upon becoming law / Signed by Governor

 

Expanding Future Teachers Scholarship

(also in ‘K-12 Education’)

• Expands eligibility for the Tennessee Future Teacher Scholarship Act of 2023 to help address Tennessee’s teacher shortage
  • Sets a standard $3,500 scholarship
  • Expands eligibility to HOPE Scholarship recipients
  • Reduces from four years to two years the required time a recipient must agree to teach in a targeted area

Senate Bill 682 / Sponsored by White / Effective date: July 1,2025 / Passed both chambers

 

Expanded STRONG Act for increased tuition assistance for veterans

(also in ‘Veterans’)

• New legislation improves the tuition assistance program for National Guard members and veterans
• The bill increases tuition funding from 120 hours to 130 credit hours and extends the life of the program
• Known as the STRONG Act, the Tennessee Support, Training, and Renewing Opportunity for National Guardsmen (STRONG) Act, has been key in strengthening National Guard recruitment and retention.

Senate Bill 1291 / Sponsored by Johnson, Powers, Crowe, Stevens, Bailey, Bowling, Hatcher, Pody, Reeves, Rose, Walley, Watson / Effective Date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Protecting the right in schools to use pronouns consistent with biological sex 

(also in ‘K-12 Education’)

• New legislation ensures that no student or contractor in school districts, charter schools, and public institutions of higher education is required to use preferred pronouns if it is not consistent with an individual’s biological sex.
• These protections will also extend to state employees and contractors for the state.
• This bill protects Tennesseans through civil liability immunity, safeguarding them from disciplinary action for refusing to use preferred pronouns.
• Currently, the law ensures local school district employees cannot be required to use a student’s preferred pronoun, and this legislation extends these protections to students and contractors.
• The new law also creates a private cause of action and a complaint process for Tennessee public K-12 students, teachers, employees and contractors subjected to adverse action or discipline for refusing to use a preferred pronoun.
• The common-sense bill ensures only 2 sexes are recognized in our public schools and universities.

Senate Bill 937 / Sponsored by Rose, Bowling, Hensley, Jackson, Pody, Watson / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Combating antisemitism in schools

(also in ‘K-12 Education’)

• Legislation passed this year to ensure public schools and universities are aligned on the definition of antisemitism and improve responses to antisemitic events on these campuses.
• It requires all public institutions of education to integrate the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism into their student, faculty, and employee codes of conduct.
• Also encourages antisemitism awareness training for students, faculty, administrators, and campus law enforcement.
• Requires the Tennessee Department of Education to designate a Title VI coordinator to monitor and respond to antisemitic discrimination and harassment in public K–12 schools.

Senate Bill 1209 / Sponsored by Rose, Bowling, Crowe, Bailey, Gardenhire, Jackson, Walley / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 293

Replacing DEI with Merit-Based Systems

General Talking Points

• For years, conservatives have been fighting discriminatory Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which prioritize a person’s minority status over merit for college admissions, scholarships, job applications, etc.
• Under DEI initiatives, decisions that should be based on merit, became based on a person's membership to a certain group identity, discriminating against those who don’t belong to certain minority groups.
• In 2023 the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action for college admissions, ensuring that college admissions cannot be based on a person’s group identity or minority status.
• In Tennessee, we are actively fighting DEI and fully support President Trump’s efforts to dismantle discriminatory DEI policies.
• This year alone, the Tennessee Senate passed four pieces of legislation aimed at eliminating DEI from state and local governments as well as our public colleges and universities.
• These bills target DEI in hiring practices, board appointments, and in the awarding of admissions and scholarships—because we believe that all opportunities should be based on merit, not race or minority status.
• The legislation we’ve passed this year is just the beginning. We will continue working to root out DEI policies in every corner of government, education and healthcare to ensure Tennessee remains a place where merit, fairness, and individual achievement—not identity politics—guide public policy.

Ensured merit-based decisions for college admissions and scholarships

• A new law aligns Tennessee with the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down affirmative action in college admissions.
• Under the law, public and private colleges in Tennessee are now prohibited from making admissions, scholarship or financial aid decisions based on race, color, ethnicity or national origin.
• It ensures equal opportunity for all students, with decisions based solely on individual merit and achievement.
• Students denied opportunities due to their race will now have legal recourse.

Senate Bill 376 / sponsored by Rose, Bowling, Gardenhire, Hensley / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 245

 

Ended race-based selection for state boards

• A new law ensures that appointments to state regulatory and health-related boards are based on qualifications and merit—not race or ethnicity.
• It eliminates race-based selection requirements and bars state boards from using discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in membership decisions.
• The bill includes a private cause of action so individuals can take legal action if a board violates the new law.
• No one should be excluded from public service opportunities because of immutable characteristics like race or national origin.

Senate Bill 1235 / Sponsored by Rose, Bailey, Bowling, Hensley, and Stevens / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 294

 

Dismantling DEI

• Two new laws will dismantle DEI throughout Tennessee’s state and local governments:
  • Under the Dismantle DEI Act local governments and public universities are now prohibited from making hiring decisions based on race, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability status.
    • Local governments include county, municipal, and metropolitan entities
  • Under the Dismantling DEI Departments Act state and local governments and public higher education institutions are prohibited from maintaining offices or departments that promote or require discriminatory preferences to advance DEI.
• Tennessee joins several states, including Texas and Utah, in passing similar legislation shuttering DEI departments and initiatives.
• And Tennessee is the first state to successfully pass legislation prohibiting DEI hiring practices in local government and public universities.

Senate Bill 1083 - Dismantle DEI Act / Sponsored by Johnson, Hensley, Powers, Rose, Stevens, Watson, Bowling, Yager / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

 

Senate Bill 1084 - Dismantling DEI Departments Act / Sponsored by Johnson, Hensley, Rose, Stevens, Watson, Bowling, Bailey, Crowe, Gardenhire, Taylor / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

Government Efficiency / Operations

Consolidated responsibilities of anti-discrimination enforcement under AG

• In a move to increase government efficiency, under legislation passed this year, the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office will assume the responsibilities of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission.
• It dissolves the Tennessee Human Rights Commission and creates a new Civil Rights Enforcement division within the Attorney General’s office.
• It ensures that all current protections under the Tennessee Human Rights Act are maintained and expands those protections by:
  • Prohibiting discrimination in education and
  • Increasing penalties for malicious harassment
• Now the existing legal expertise in the Attorney General’s Office will be able to be used to protect Tennesseans’ civil rights.
• This move is another aspect of Tennessee’s historic legacy of civil rights leadership, from ratifying the 19th amendment to leading education access initiatives

Senate Bill 861 / Sponsored by Stevens, Walley, Jackson, Lowe, Rose, Watson / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Passed both chambers

 

Less is More Act

• As part of continued efforts to make government more efficient, The Less is More Act passed to make various changes to regulatory boards and groups.
• The legislation cuts red tape and limits government involvement.
• The law includes:
  • Eliminating licensure barriers
  • Amending provisions for board appointments
  • Allowing for electronic meetings
  • Introducing a variety of cost savings

 

Senate Bill 1316 / Sponsored by Johnson, Yager, Rose, Stevens / Effective date: July 1, 2025/ Passed both chambers

 

Checks and balances on executive branch’s authority to declare states of emergency

• A new law, ensures the General Assembly has a voice during a state of emergency declared by the governor
  • It allows them to terminate the state of emergency by passing a joint resolution.
• If the legislature is not in session, it would have to convene for a special session to pass the resolution to end a state of emergency.
  • This can be achieved without action from the governor through the written request of two-thirds of members.
• The change provides necessary checks and balances on the power of the executive branch by ensuring the legislature has a say in major government actions.
• Tennessee joins the majority of states which give their legislative branch this power.

Senate Bill 396 /  Sponsored by Rose, Lowe / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

 

Strengthened constitutional safeguards on governor’s emergency powers

• This new law ensures the emergency management powers granted to the governor are within the bounds of the Tennessee Constitution.
• It prohibits executive orders, proclamations, or rules declared under the governor's emergency powers from overriding, suspending or conflicting with the Tennessee Constitution.
• Additionally, it limits the governor’s ability to suspend laws, orders, rules, or regulations during an emergency to a 45-day period.

Senate Bill 27 / Sponsored by Pody , Bailey, White / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Eliminated faxes forever in Tennessee code

• A new law updates Tennessee law by requiring that all state departments and agencies accept electronic transmissions, in lieu of faxes.
• It replaces the term “fax” in Tennessee code with “electronic transmission”.
• Ensures effective and efficient government communication.

Senate Bill 329 / Sponsored by Powers, Stevens / Effective Date: January 1, 2026 / Public Chapter 94

 

Reduced reliance on international organizations

(also in ‘Protections from Foreign Influence’)

• Aligns Tennessee with the federal government’s efforts to reduce involvement and reliance on international organizations.
• Prohibits requirements or mandates from certain organizations being imposed contrary to state law or the state constitution
  • World Health Organization
  • United Nations
  • World Economic Forum

Senate Bill 263 / Sponsored by Hensley, Pody, Rose / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Removing references to World Health Organization

(also in ‘Protections from Foreign Influence’)

• A new law removes all references to the World Health Organization (WHO) from state law.
  • The WHO is an international organization that carries no authority in the U.S.
• The bill replaces WHO references with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding pandemic relations.
• Under this law, Tennessee would only recognize a pandemic if the CDC declared it and then was followed by a state of emergency by the Governor.

Senate Bill 669 / Sponsored by Taylor, Hensley, Bowling, Bailey, Jackson, Lowe, Reeves, Rose / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 69

 

Improved accountability for local government credit ratings

(also in ‘State and Local’)

• A new law increases government transparency by requiring local governments to report any credit rating downgrades or defaults to the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office.
  • The Comptroller’s Office is the state agency in charge of auditing state and local government entities, managing state finances, and investigating fraud, waste, and abuse.
• The legislation expands the disclosure requirements for both state and local government entities, ensuring that state oversight bodies and the public are promptly informed of financial issues in local governments before they become bigger problems.
• Early reporting of financial red flags helps prevent mismanagement and allows for quicker corrective action, ensuring responsible use of taxpayer dollars.

Senate Bill 114 / Sponsored by Harshbarger, Hatcher / Effective Date: Upon becoming law /  Public Chapter 17

Agriculture / Energy / Natural Resources

Established $25 million Farmland Preservation Fund

• This bill establishes a $25 million Farmland Preservation Fund to provide grants to property owners who voluntarily place their farm or forestry land into an agricultural easement with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• It compensates farmers for the difference between their land’s agricultural value and its highest market value.
• Participation is entirely voluntary, with no restrictions on farming operations or output.
• While property owners can already place their land in a conservation easement through various entities, rising land prices provide little incentive to do so.
• The Farmland Preservation Fund aims to provide this incentive, making it more financially viable for Tennessee farmers to preserve their land.
• Tennessee has lost over 1.5 million acres of farmland since 1997—equivalent to 9.8 acres lost per hour.
• Agriculture-related industries employ 324,000 Tennesseans and contributes $89 billion to the state’s economy making it Tennessee’s #1 industry.

Senate Bill 207 / Sponsored by Johnson, Yager, Seal, Reeves, Walley, Stevens, Haile, Massey, Bailey, Gardenhire, Rose / Effective Date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Tennessee Century Farms Act honors historic family farms

• The Tennessee Century Farms Act establishes a program to recognize and celebrate family farms that have been in operation for 100 years or more.
• The bill codifies the Tennessee Century Farms Program within the Department of Agriculture, ensuring its preservation and growth for generations to come.
• To qualify, farms must
  • Be at least 10 acres
  • Generate at least $1,000 in revenue per year
  • Have been continuously owned by the same family for at least 100 years
• The program provides commemorative signs to farms and will educate Tennesseans on the importance of century farms to the state.
• Nearly 2,100 farms have already been certified since the program began in 1975—this legislation ensures its continued success.

Senate Bill 874 / Sponsored by Reeves, Southerland, Walley, Hensley / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 200

 

Easing burdensome environmental regulations on wetlands

• A new law eases burdensome regulations on Tennessee’s wetlands, creating new opportunities for responsible development across the state while maintaining basic environmental safeguards.
• It divides isolated wetlands into four categories based on ecological function:
  • Artificial
  • Low-quality
  • Moderate-quality
  • High-quality
• Based on the quality and size of the wetland, it exempts certain isolated wetlands from mitigation and permitting requirements such as:
  • Low-quality isolated wetlands up to one acre in size
  • Moderate-quality isolated wetlands up to one-fourth acre in size
  • Artificial isolated wetlands of any size
• The measure also stipulates that
  • Existing stormwater measures must be considered when determining mitigation.
  • Isolated wetlands do not factor into cumulative project impact assessments under federal Clean Water Act regulations.
  • The state board must establish classification criteria and allow public input on wetland assessment tools.

Senate Bill 670 / Sponsored by Taylor, Hensley / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Science-based environmental regulations

• A new law sets a standard that environmental regulations adopted by state agencies cannot be more stringent than federal regulations and must be based on unbiased, high-quality scientific research.
  • Environmental regulations addressed by this legislation: drinking water, air quality, hazardous substances and waste management.
• If state agencies seek to adopt new environmental rules that are more stringent than federal regulations, they must meet a two-fold requirement:
  • The proposed regulation is based on the best available science, defined as research that is objective, well-supported, and conducted using sound scientific practices.
  • Exposure above the proposed safety limits has been scientifically shown to cause harm by using reliable research like animal and cell-based tests, since testing on humans is not allowed or needed.
• It does not prohibit environmental protections but ensures that state regulations evolve with scientific advancements, requiring sufficient evidence before implementing new restrictions.
• Existing regulations and those mandated by federal law remain unaffected.

Senate Bill 880 / Sponsored by Reeves, Lowe, Walley, Bowling/ Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 228

 

Strengthening oversight of agricultural land purchases by foreign entities

(Also in ‘Protections from Foreign Influence’)

• A new law increases transparency and oversight of foreign ownership of Tennessee farmland by requiring foreign individuals or entities to submit a copy of their federal land purchase disclosure to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Failure to comply with this reporting requirement could result in a civil penalty of up to 25% of the land’s fair market value.
• This enhanced reporting builds on a 2024 law that prohibits foreign adversaries from purchasing land in Tennessee unless specific exemptions apply.
• By ensuring the state is informed of these transactions, this law helps protect Tennessee’s agricultural resources, preserve food security, and uphold state sovereignty.

Senate Bill 519 / Sponsored by Roberts, Lowe, Bowling, Rose, Jackson, Walley, Stevens, Watson/ Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Transparency in cell-cultured food labels

• Prohibits cell-cultured food products from being labeled as meat
  • Defines cell-cultured food products as food for human consumption made by growing animal cells—without slaughter—in a controlled environment
• If a cell-cultured product is found to be mislabeled as meat, then the product is non-compliant and results in a $2,000 fine for each mid branded item
• The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is required to establish rules for a permit program for manufacturers selling cell-cultured food products in Tennessee.

Senate Bill 931 / Sponsored by Rose, Bowling, Crowe, Gardenhire, Pody, Reeves / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Food cottage law

• Legislation passed this year allows farmers and small producers to sell homemade goods from their poultry and dairy operations directly to consumers.
  • Adds the direct-to-consumers sale of eggs and pasteurized milk to the previously allowed items like bread, candies, honey, jams, and pastries
• Expands the Food Freedom Act of 2022

Senate Bill 484 / Sponsored by Bowling, Lowe / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Water safety transparency

• A new law requires utility systems to obtain a certificate of analysis (COA) for all fluoridated water sold by the system.
• The COA and the material safety data sheet for fluoride must be posted to the utility system’s website or to the Tennessee Board of Utility Regulation’s website.
  • Allows for easy access to important information regarding water safety
• The bill encourages regular, thorough testing by the systems of their fluoridated water to ensure alignment with state standards.

Senate Bill 1142 / Sponsored by Crowe, Bowling / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Passed Senate

 

New state natural areas protect Tennessee’s landscapes

• Added four new state natural areas to Tennessee’s existing 84 state natural areas to better protect Tennessee’s most treasured landscapes and native species and their habitats.
• It creates:
  • Clifty Creek Gorge in Morgan County, an 89-acre forested area that features a scenic gorge and protects the federally threatened Virginia spiraea.
  • Rocky Hill Road Glades in Rutherford County, home to limestone cedar glade habitat and the state-endangered running glade clover.
  • Union Grove in Hamblen County, a 59-acre area with oak and mixed forests, headwater streams and the state endangered Tennessee trillium, a species discovered in 2013.
  • Versailles Knob in Rutherford County, a 40-acre forest with large limestone outcrops that provides habitat for the federally endangered Braun’s Rockcress.
• In order for state-owned land to be protected by Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s (TDEC) Division of Natural Areas, the land must be designated as a ‘state natural area’.
• By creating these four natural areas, it allows TDEC to protect the areas by restricting development and enforcing penalties for damage or vandalism.
• The legislation also expanded 6 existing natural areas: Barnett’s Woods and Prairie, Cedars of Lebanon, Couchville Cedar Glade, Flat Rock Cedar Glades and Barrens, Ozone Falls and Radnor Lake. 

Senate Bill 1277 / Sponsored by Johnson, Reeves, Lowe / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 190

 

Supporting clean nuclear energy in Tennessee

• This new law ensures that nuclear energy production receives the same tax benefits as other clean energy sources in Tennessee.
• It recognizes nuclear energy as a clean and renewable energy source and adds nuclear facilities to the state’s definition of certified green energy production facilities.
• As a result, nuclear energy producers will now qualify for sales and use tax credits, just like solar, wind, and other renewable energy projects.
• This legislation helps solidify Tennessee’s role as a national leader in nuclear energy innovation, supporting high-paying jobs and energy independence.
• By leveling the playing field, the state is encouraging continued investment in safe, advanced nuclear technologies that contribute to a more reliable and cleaner energy future.

Senate Bill 885 / Sponsored by Reeves, Yager, Crowe, Southerland / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Passed both chambers

 

Ensured all agriculture cooperatives are tax exempt

• A new law updates Tennessee’s code to ensure all agriculture cooperatives – regardless of legal structure – are exempt from the franchise and excise tax.
• Previous language only referenced corporations, unintentionally excluding cooperatives organized as LLCs.
• This legislation corrects that oversight, ensuring LLC-structured co-ops receive the same tax exemption as traditional corporations.
• It’s a commonsense fix that supports Tennessee farmers and promotes fairness across the agriculture sector.

Senate Bill 1002 / Sponsored by Haile, Southerland, Yager, Reeves / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Protecting Greenbelt properties for Tennessee landowners

• The General Assembly passed a new law this year to protect the Greenbelt status of jointly owned properties during major life events like death or divorce.
• Under the new law, a property’s Greenbelt classification will not be affected if one of the joint owners passes away or the ownership changes due to divorce.
• This change helps prevent unintended disruptions to property rights and ensures families and landowners can maintain the benefits of Greenbelt status during difficult times.
• Tennessee’s Greenbelt Law, originally passed in 1976, helps preserve agricultural, forest, and open space land by taxing it based on its current use—not its potential for development.
• Without Greenbelt protections, landowners could face higher property taxes that make it harder to keep land in agriculture or conservation, leading to increased pressure to sell or develop.
• This new legislation strengthens the original intent of the Greenbelt Law by offering greater stability and peace of mind to Tennessee families who work hard to preserve open land across the state.

Senate Bill 247 / Sponsored by Haile, Lowe, Stevens / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 138

 

Easing deer baiting restrictions

• Hunters will now be allowed to hunt whitetail deer with bait on private land with a bait privilege license.
  • The new law sets the initial fee for a deer bait privilege license at $50.00 for a resident and $100 for a non-resident.
• This change aligns Tennessee hunting regulations with those in other states.

Senate Bill 869 / Sponsored by Hensley, Lowe, Stevens / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Blaze pink becomes official hunter safety color

• Allows hunters to wear daylight fluorescent pink, “blaze pink”, as a substitute for the traditional fluorescent orange when hunting big game.
• This change aligns Tennessee’s hunter safety standard with 12 other states.
• This is more than a safety effort, it also recognizes female hunters across the state.

Senate Bill 206 / Sponsored by Massey, Reeves / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 220

 

Online boating license testing

• A new law allows citizens to take an online test to receive a boating license.

Senate Bill 561 / Sponsored by Hatcher, Gardenhire, Bowling / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 214

 Business and Commerce

Vape regulations and consumer protections

• New regulations aim to protect consumers, especially minors, from harmful, unregulated vape products flooding the market, many of which originate from China.
• Raises the age for ID checks.
  • PREVIOUS: Vape retailers could opt out of ID checks for consumers who appear over the age of 30
  • NEW: Raises that threshold to 50 years old to prevent underage sales
• Establishes a centralized database of vapor products with FDA approval or pending approval that may be sold in Tennessee
  • Allows law enforcement to track and prohibit the sale and distribution of unauthorized products
  • Begins January 1, 2026

Senate Bill 763 / Sponsored by Yager, Watson, Haile, and Powers / Effective date: January 1, 2026 / Transmitted to Governor

 

New guardrails for hemp industry

• The General Assembly approved stricter regulations on the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products (HDCP) in Tennessee to protect consumers and children from the harmful substances.
• The new law includes restrictions on product potency, who can sell these products, and oversight responsibilities.
• The measure transfers compliance and enforcement of hemp products from the Department of Agriculture to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) and establishes new rules for their sale, manufacture, and distribution.
• It prohibits the sale of THCa and THCp, which cause impairment similar to marijuana
  • While marijuana is not legal in Tennessee, loopholes in previous regulations have allowed the sale of hemp products - like THCa and THCp - that are converted into marijuana when heated up through smoking, vaping or cooking.
• Other key provisions of Senate Bill 1413 include:
• Bans direct shipping of hemp products to consumers
• Requires a hemp wholesale license for distributors
• Implements licensing fees for wholesalers and increases existing fees for suppliers and retailers
• Restricts sales to 21 and older establishments, licensed manufacturers, and businesses with wine and spirit or liquor-by-the-drink licenses
• Adds a wholesale tax of $0.02 per milligram on cannabinoid products, a tax on flower at a rate of $50 per ounce, and a tax on the sale of liquid HDCPs at wholesale of $4.40 per gallon of liquid HDCP
  • The new tax structure is expected to generate $126 million in revenue for the state per year, starting in 2027, with 80% of the new revenues going to the general fund, 10% to the ABC, and 10% to the department of revenue.
• Caps single-serving size at 15 milligrams and container size at 300mg
• Increases oversight of suppliers, wholesalers, and retailers to ensure compliance

Senate Bill 1413 / Sponsored by Briggs, Gardenhire / Effective date: January 1, 2026 / Passed both chambers

 

Supporting Tennessee’s Independent Workforce: The Voluntary Portable Benefit Act

• The Voluntary Portable Benefit Act is designed to support benefits for the growing number of independent workers in Tennessee—such as gig workers, freelancers, consultants, and musicians—without changing how they are classified for employment.
• Tennessee is home to over 510,000 independent contractors, many of whom do not have access to traditional benefits like healthcare, retirement savings, or paid time off.
• This legislation removes barriers that previously prevented businesses from offering benefits to independent workers, while keeping participation completely voluntary for both companies and workers.
• Companies can choose to contribute to benefit accounts that are owned and controlled by the worker, giving independent workers greater financial security and flexibility.
• Workers can also authorize voluntary contributions from their compensation to build savings for things like:
  • Paid family or medical leave
  • Health and dental coverage
  • Retirement savings
  • Paid time off
• The benefit accounts are managed by trusted third-party organizations, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• This forward-looking policy reflects the realities of Tennessee’s evolving workforce—empowering independent workers with access to benefits while preserving their independence and flexibility.

Senate Bill 1377 / Sponsored by Watson, Yager, Stevens, Bailey, Massey, Lowe, Reeves, Taylor / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 131

 

Tennessee Genomic Security and End Organ Harvesting Act protects genetic information

(also in ‘Protections from Foreign Influence’)

• Safeguards Tennesseans’ DNA from foreign adversaries, particularly from China’s illegal organ harvesting practices
• Advancements in genetic sequencing have significantly improved medicine and research, but some companies, particularly from China, are using this technology to collect data from the U.S. for nefarious purposes.
• The legislation bans the use of genetic sequencers or bioinformatics software from nations identified as foreign adversaries by the federal government.
• Prohibits health insurers from knowingly covering organ transplants in China or any transplants involving organs sold or donated by Chinese sources.
• Ensures Tennessee health coverage does not indirectly support human rights violations, balances medical advancements with security and ethical standards.

Senate Bill 318 / Sponsored by Lowe, Rose, Stevens / Effective date: January 1, 2026 / Public Chapter 96

 

Protecting Tennessee from fraudulent business and foreign adversaries

(Also in ‘Protections from Foreign Influence’)

• A new law aims to prevent foreign adversaries from using Tennessee's business filing systems for illicit purposes.
  • In 2023, the FBI and Department of Justice found that North Korea had created three businesses in Wyoming to generate revenue used to promote North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction program
  • This legislation ensures Tennessee can take necessary action to prevent the same from happening here.
• “Foreign adversary” is defined by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce as a threat to national security
  • Currently includes 6 countries (China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela)
• The legislation updates the Secretary of State’s dissolution authority and procedure so that it can quickly dissolve an entity owned or controlled by foreign adversaries.
• Ensures swift action against threats to national security and economic stability.

Senate Bill 306 / Sponsored by Briggs, Lowe, Jackson, Powers, Taylor, Yager / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 113

 

Combatted unfair subscription billing practices

• A new law ensures that when consumers cancel a subscription early, they cannot be charged for the current month and the next month subscription fees.
• It prohibits providers from billing an extra cycle when a consumer cancels within the first half of a billing period.
• The measure ensures more fair billing practices and prevents unnecessary charges.

Senate Bill 41 / Sponsored by Haile / Effective Date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 154

 

Protecting firearm manufacturers from civil liability

• A new law protects Tennessee’s firearm and weapons manufacturers and sellers from foreign civil lawsuits stemming and bars state courts from recognizing foreign judgments related to the criminal misuse of firearms.
• Under the measure, lawsuits can proceed only if harm was directly caused by:
  • Defective products
  • Criminal misconduct by the manufacturer or seller
• The legislation also narrows the authority of local governments to regulate firearms.
• Previously, local governments could enforce both state and federal firearm laws. Under the new bill, they would be restricted to regulating only the enforcement of state firearm laws.
• The legislation reinforces and expands existing state-level protections modeled after the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA).
• Tennessee ranks #1 in the U.S. for firearm industry employment
  • Nearly 8,000 jobs
  • $1.1 billion economic impact

Senate Bill 1360 / Sponsored by Hensley, Bailey, Bowling, Lowe, Stevens, Watson / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Ensuring consistent business regulations across Tennessee

(also in ‘State and Local’)

• A new law prevents local governments from imposing their own labor or employment regulations, ensuring businesses across Tennessee operate under one clear, statewide standard.
• This approach protects small businesses from having to navigate a confusing patchwork of local rules that may conflict with state or federal law.
• The law establishes that only the Tennessee General Assembly will have the authority to set labor and employment policy, providing consistency and predictability for employers and workers.
• In the past, the General Assembly had to step in to reverse harmful local regulations—like attempts to raise the minimum wage or restrict independent contracting—that threatened job growth and business flexibility.
• This law takes a proactive approach by preventing those burdensome regulations before they can take effect, helping protect small businesses, preserve jobs, and support economic opportunity statewide.

Senate Bill 674 / Sponsored by Taylor, Bowling / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed Senate

 

Prohibited community benefits agreements for state incentive recipients

• Businesses receiving state incentives from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD) now have new, consistent standards under legislation passed this year.
• The legislation prohibits employers receiving ECD incentives from entering community benefits agreements that:
  • Impose extra employment conditions,
  • Require union participation, or
  • Mandate specific services for select nongovernmental entities.
• The new standards reinforce Tennessee’s economic development policies by preventing outside mandates that could interfere with job growth, flexibility, and economic efficiency.
• Businesses may still invest in their communities voluntarily, but state-supported incentives will remain focused on job creation and economic growth.
• Promotes a fair, transparent process which:
  • Protects taxpayer investments
  • Strengthens accountability
  • Supports fair competition
  • Keeps incentives aligned with Tennessee’s long-term goals

Senate Bill 1074 / Sponsored by Johnson, Powers / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 151

 

Updates to digital and print foreclosure notice requirements

• A new law reduces the number of print foreclosure notices that must appear in newspapers from three to two.
• To expand the number of people who view the notices, it also requires posting the listing online through a website for public notices for at least 20 continuous days, free of charge.

Senate Bill 727 / Sponsored by Lowe / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

Crime and Public Safety

Cracked down on organized retail crime to protect businesses and consumers

• A new law is designed to strengthen law enforcement’s ability to dismantle criminal networks and protect both retailers and consumers by closing loopholes in the law and enhancing criminal penalties.
• It ensures that criminals who exploit retailers, defraud businesses, and threaten public safety face appropriate consequences.
• The measure builds upon the Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Prevention Act of 2017.
• It adds new offenses to the definition of organized retail crime – including the use of anti-theft device removers, fraudulent returns of counterfeit merchandise, sale of stolen goods through online marketplaces, and possession of devices used to steal electronic payment information.
• Under the bill, offenders who engage in property destruction, use weapons, or commit organized retail crime while out on bond or pretrial release will face increased penalties.
• It extends the time period for stolen goods can be counted toward felony charges, from 90 to 180 days, making it harder for criminals to avoid prosecution by spreading out their thefts.
• Organized retail crime is not just a petty theft problem—it is a sophisticated, large-scale operation that hurts businesses, raises prices for consumers, and funds other criminal activities.
• Tennessee retailers lose an estimated $500 million annually to theft and the state loses $117 million in tax revenue each year.

Senate Bill 240 / Sponsored by Taylor, Gardenhire, Lowe, Rose, Walley / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 89

 

Strengthened penalties for aggravated sexual battery

• A new law increases penalties for aggravated sexual battery in cases involving Tennessee’s most vulnerable citizens.
• It elevates the offense from a Class B felony to a Class A felony when the victim is under 18 years old, or is mentally defective, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.

Senate Bill 678 / sponsored by White, Jackson, Lowe, Powers, Rose / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Passed both chambers

 

Extending statute of limitations for child sexual offenses

(also in ‘Protecting Children’)

• Increases the timeframe for bringing criminal charges for certain child sexual offenses from 25 years to 30 years after the victims 18th birthday
• Extends the statute of limitations for civil charges from 15 to 30 years
• Applies to many charges including, but not limited to:
  • Rape of a child
  • Sexual exploitation of a minor
  • Continuous sexual abuse of a minor
• Provides more flexibility for victims to come forward on their own terms

Senate Bill 1070 / Sponsored by Johnson, Jackson, Lowe, Massey, Rose, Taylor, Yager / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 291

 

Cracking down on AI-generated child pornography

(also in ‘Protecting Children’)

• A new law makes it a crime to possess, distribute, or produce any technology or software specifically designed to create AI-generated child pornography.
• The classification for each offense is:
  • Possession: Class E felony
  • Distribution: Class C felony
  • Production: Class B felony
• As AI technology advances, bad actors have begun using it to generate disturbing and exploitative images of minors.
• This legislation gives law enforcement the tools they need to go after those who engage with or profit from this abuse.
• The bill does not ban technology or software, but bans the tools and software designed with the intent to create child sexual abuse material.

Senate Bill 741 / Sponsored by Yager, Watson, Stevens, Haile, Hatcher, Hensley, Massey, Reeves, Rose, White / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 257

 

The Ink of Hope Act

• A law passed which requires tattoo artists to receive training on recognizing and reporting signs of human trafficking as part of their licensing requirements.
• As a means of control, traffickers often brand their victims with tattoos of symbols, names or phrases to mark their ownership.
• By nature of their profession, tattoo artists may come in contact with human trafficking victims without knowing.
• This legislation will help tattoo artists recognize victims and know how to report it safely to authorities.

Senate Bill 171 / Sponsored by Massey, Reeves, Yager, Briggs, Jackson, White / Effective Date: January 1, 2026 / Public Chapter 19

 

Established a domestic violence registry / Savanna’s Law

• Tennessee will now have a domestic violence registry, under a new law, to provide public access to offender information.
  • The registry will include an offender’s name, birthdate, conviction date, and photograph.
• Offenders will be required to register with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation following their second and subsequent domestic violence offenses
  • A fee will be collected at that time and used for violence prevention efforts
• It’s named after Robertson County Sheriff’s Deputy Savanna Puckett who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend who had a history of domestic violence prior to their meeting. Puckett was unaware of these charges.

Senate Bill 324 / Sponsored by Massey, Haile, Hatcher, Jackson, Reeves, Roberts, Rose / Effective date: January 1, 2026 / Passed both chambers

 

Protecting domestic violence victims through stronger GPS monitoring standards

• Tennessee strengthened protections for domestic violence victims by establishing clear and enforceable standards for GPS monitoring companies that track suspects released on bond.
• This legislation builds on the Debbie and Marie Domestic Violence Protection Act, passed in 2024, which required certain aggravated assault suspects in domestic violence cases to wear GPS monitors when released pretrial.
• The new law requires 24/7 monitoring and immediate notification to law enforcement if a violation occurs.
• It mandates that counties and municipalities contract only with qualified GPS providers while limiting their liability and making clear they are not responsible for directly notifying victims.
• The law requires the court to be promptly notified if a defendant misses payments for monitoring services. This triggers a hearing where the court can revoke bond, require payment, or explore alternative funding options to maintain continuous monitoring.
• These updates make the original law more enforceable and responsive—helping to protect victims and ensure dangerous individuals are monitored with the urgency and reliability these cases demand.

Senate Bill 601 / Sponsored by Rose, Haile, Jackson, McNally, Hatcher / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 253

 

Support for Constitutional Carry Reciprocity Act

• To support firearm owners’ right to conceal carry in other states, the General Assembly passed a resolution in support of the federal Constitutional Carry Reciprocity Act introduced in Congress.
  • The federal measure, House Resolution 38, seeks to provide nationwide reciprocity for concealed carry license holders and for residents of Constitutional Carry states.
• Tennessee’s concealed carry permit is not accepted in 14 states, including nearby Illinois.

Senate Joint Resolution 28 / Sponsored by Lowe, Bailey, Bowling, Gardenhire, Hensely, Johnson, Pody, Rose, Southerland, Stevens, Watson / Passed Senate

 

Strengthened penalties for unlawful photography

• A new law increases the penalty for knowingly photographing an individual without consent in a manner considered offensive or embarrassing from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony.
  • Punishable by 1 to 6 years in prison and a fine up to $3,000.
• If the photograph is shared with others or the victim is under the age of 13, the offense is upgraded to a Class D felony
  • Punishable by 2 to 12 years in prison and a fine up to $5,000.
  • Also criminalizes the use of a child under 13 to facilitate the offense.
• In cases where the victim is under 13 or where the offender held a position of trust or authority over the victim the offense is upgraded to a Class C felony
  • Punishable by 3 to 15 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
• Requires judges to order individuals convicted of unlawful photography to register as sexual offender.

Senate Bill 685 / Sponsored by White / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Passed both chambers

 

Criminalized doxxing, increase penalty for threats of mass violence

• Legislation passed this year that elevates threats of mass violence from a Class E felony to a Class D felony if:
  • The target is a school, government building, church, or public event; or
  • The offender is a repeat violator or takes substantial steps to carry out the threat
• Courts may also order restitution for costs and damages caused by threats.
• A threat must be:
  • Knowingly made by any form of communication and
  • Reasonably perceived by another person as a legitimate threat capable of causing death or injury to four or more individuals
• This legislation also creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for doxxing.
  • Doxxing is defined as publicly posting someone’s phone number, home address, or other personal information online with ill intent
  • It is elevated to a Class A misdemeanor if someone is harmed as a result of the offense
• These changes aim to deter intimidation, harassment, and endangerment via threats and online exposure.

Senate Bill 1296 / Sponsored by Johnson, Haile, Stevens / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Passed both chambers

 

Targeting rideshare driver impersonation to enhance passenger safety

(also in ‘Transportation’)

• A new law addresses the growing concern of rideshare impersonation.
• The bill makes it a criminal offense for one to falsely present themselves as a rideshare driver.
• Individuals that are caught impersonating a rideshare driver will face a Class B misdemeanor charge.
• If impersonation occurs with another felony, the charge can be upgraded to a Class E felony.

Senate Bill 704 / Sponsored by Massey / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 117

 

Protecting law and order during protests

• A new law strengthens enforcement of civil rights and enhances public safety by creating new misdemeanor offenses for unlawful protests:
  • Class B misdemeanor for putting unauthorized signs on highways
  • Class A misdemeanor for civil rights intimidation through littering or trespassing
  • Class C misdemeanor for giving false identification to police
  • Class B misdemeanor for approaching an officer within 25 feet after being told to stop
  • Class B misdemeanor for transporting someone in a box truck’s cargo area

Senate Bill 30 / Sponsored by Pody, Bailey, Rose, Taylor / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Increasing penalties for blocking traffic

• A new bill creates a Class C misdemeanor for parking, stopping, or leaving a vehicle that impedes traffic.
• The penalty increases to a Class B misdemeanor if the action contributes to an accident.

Senate Bill 248 / Sponsored by Watson / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 158

 

Prohibited license plate flippers

• A new law authorizes law enforcement officers to seize license plate flippers and impound vehicles found with the device when necessary.
• If the owner or operator of the vehicle is present at the time of discovery, officers must give them an opportunity to remove the device, so the officer can confiscate the device instead of impound the car.

Senate Bill 296 / Sponsored by Gardenhire, Rose / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 55

 

Cracked down on illegal distribution of hemp products to minors

(also in ‘Protecting Children’)

• A new law raises the minimum punishment for those convicted of selling or distributing hemp-derived cannabinoid products, such as THC gummies, to people under age 21.
• Under the legislation, those convicted of the offense must serve a minimum sentence of 48 consecutive hours in jail and be fined no less than $500.
• It also prohibits retailers from knowingly allowing an employee younger than 21 to access, handle, or sell hemp-derived cannabinoid products.

Senate Bill 215 / Sponsored by Gardenhire, Hensley, Rose / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 77

 

Increased penalty for exposing children to fentanyl

(also in ‘Protecting Children’)

• A new law enhances penalties for knowingly placing a child in danger by possessing fentanyl in the presence of a child.
• The legislation establishes a Class E felony for anyone who exposes a child to fentanyl
  • This elevates to a Class B felony if the child is under eight years old
• Poison centers in the United States managed 539 cases of children under six years old being exposed to fentanyl in 2023, an increase from 10 cases in 2016,  according to America’s Poison Centers.

 Senate Bill 1415 / Sponsored by Briggs, Bowling, Lowe, Sutherland, Taylor, Yager / Effective date: July 1, 2025  / Passed both chambers

 

Mandatory sentencing for fentanyl charges

• A new law establishes a mandatory minimum sentence for those in possession of fentanyl and its analogs of 30 days and requires an offender to serve 100% of the sentence before participating in drug or recovery court.
• Allows the use of a certified drug or recovery court
• Also enhances protections for stalking victims by allowing a victim to petition the court for a lifetime protective order before a conviction for qualifying offenses.

Senate Bill 1233 / Sponsored by Johnson / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Cognitive behavioral training courses for offenders

• A new law requires individuals convicted of a Class A misdemeanor in general sessions court to complete a cognitive behavioral training course which must meet certain criteria:
  • Include human intervention
  • Be accessible online
  • Cost no more than $100
  • Meet other standards of effectiveness
• Offenders must provide proof of course completion to the court.
• Judges have the ability to waive the training requirement when deemed inappropriate.

Senate Bill 300 / Sponsored by Roberts / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Passed both chambers

 

Expanding legal protections for alcohol overdose medical assistance

• Expands Tennessee’s Good Samaritan Overdose Law to include alcohol-related overdoses, not just drug overdoses
• Encourages underage individuals to call 911 in alcohol overdose situations without fear of legal consequences.
• Individuals seeking emergency help in good faith will be granted immunity from arrest and prosecution.
• With an estimated 2,200 alcohol overdose deaths annually in the U.S., the law aims to improve emergency response and save lives, especially for teens and underage adults, by removing legal deterrents.

Senate Bill 940 / Sponsored by Briggs, Gardenhire, Bowling, Crowe, Walley / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 231

Courts and Corrections

Improving safety in private prisons

• A new law requires ten percent of a private prison’s population to be transferred to a Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) prison if the death rate at the private prison is double that of an equivalent state-operated facility.

Senate Bill 1115 / Sponsored by Pody, Rose, Bailey, Bowling, Gardenhire, Hatcher, Jackson / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

New public safety fund for district attorneys

• Legislation passed this year to create a new public safety fund for the District Attorney General’s Conference to provide an additional revenue stream for district attorneys to carry out their work to prosecute criminals.
• The revenue for the fund would come from a $12.50 charge on felony and misdemeanor court cost bills.

Senate Bill 547 / Sponsored by Stevens, Rose / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Addressing overwhelming caseloads for public defenders

• Many judicial districts have seen an increase in caseload without a staff increase.
• New legislation allows public defenders to self-fund five additional assistant public defender positions using money from their reserves.
• These new roles will work to manage the increased caseload in underserved areas.

Senate Bill 445 / Sponsored by Gardenhire / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Passed both chambers

 

More informed decisions on setting bail for juvenile offenders

• Judges will now have access to a more complete criminal history when determining bail for young adult offenders under a new law.
• The measure grants judges the ability to review a defendant’s juvenile record from the past five years when setting bail for a new offense.
• Previously, if an 18-year-old arrested for carjacking has a long history of similar offenses as a juvenile, the judge has no way of knowing.
• This legislation ensures judges can make fully informed decisions in the best interest of public safety when setting bail for such defendants.

Senate Bill 221 / Sponsored by Taylor, Rose / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Established the Tennessee Juvenile Justice Review Commission

• A new law establishes a commission to study cases and critical incidents involving adjudicated juveniles such as escape, self-harm or abuse by staff.
• The 21-member group will be required to issue an annual report and recommendations on potential legislative or policy changes needed to improve the juvenile justice system.
• The commission would mirror the Tennessee Second Look Commission (SLC) which meets bimonthly to review severe child abuse and neglect.

Senate Bill 444 / Sponsored by Jackson, Hatcher, Walley / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 281

 

Improving case management of juvenile court records

• New legislation mandates that the administrative office of the courts (AOC) develop and maintain a centralized, statewide juvenile case management system.
• The system must comply with criminal justice information services standards.
• All juvenile court clerks will be required to transition to the new system.

Senate Bill 992 / Sponsored by Haile, Johnson, McNally, Stevens, Gardenhire, Reeves, Rose, Watson, White / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 179

 

Bond fee structure

• A new law clarifies Tennessee’s bail bond fee structure.
• Under the new structure, the bill requires professional bondsmen and insurance agents to charge a premium of no less than 5% and no more than 10% of the bond’s face value.
• Tennessee residents must pay exactly 10%, while non-residents pay between 10% and 15%.
• It also allows bondsmen to collect at least 50% of the premium upfront.
• This legislation provides a much needed bracket and additional structure to the current system.

Senate Bill 464 / Sponsored by Gardenhire, Haile, Jackson / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Strengthening rights of property owners for seized property

• A new law removes the $350 bond payment required to reclaim seized property even when no conviction of a crime has occured.
• This ensures that claimants no longer have to pay a cash bond or file additional pleadings to assert ownership of seized property.

Senate Bill 481 / Sponsored by Lowe, Hensley, and Watson / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Strengthening justice for victims of child sexual abuse

(also in Protecting Children)

• It will now be easier for courts to admit video-recorded forensic interviews as evidence in child sexual abuse cases
  • The aim is to reduce pressure on the child and ensure critical evidence is not dismissed in court.
• Previously, video-recorded interviews could be excluded from evidence in court if a child victim didn’t repeat their exact words in court—creating unnecessary hurdles and weakening cases against abusers.
• The new law allows forensic interviews to be admitted if a qualified interviewer affirms their accuracy and the child is available for cross-examination.
  • This change reduces the emotional burden on child victims while ensuring vital evidence isn't dismissed over technicalities.
• It ensures child abusers are held fully accountable using every credible tool available in the courtroom.

Senate Bill 304 / Sponsored by Haile, Reeves, Rose, White / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 162

 

Tightening release rules for armed defendants

• Defendants charged with violent crimes should not be released without bail while awaiting trial.
• A new law aims to ensure that doesn’t happen.
• It establishes a presumption that defendants charged with displaying a firearm or an offense which resulted in bodily harm should not be released on their own recognizance – meaning without bail.
  • This changes current law which says judges must decide bail for those crimes under the presumption that the defendant should be released on their own recognizance.
• Under the legislation, if a judge determines that a defendant should be released without bail, they must justify their decision in writing.

Senate Bill 218 / Sponsored by Taylor, Jackson, Rose / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Passed Senate

 

Increasing state reimbursements for prisoners

(also in State and Local)

• Counties will now be reimbursed by the state for the costs to house prisoners awaiting probation revocation hearings.
  • Previously, counties were only reimbursed for prisoners awaiting parole revocation hearings
• The new law also changes the reimbursement rate for state prisoners in local jails to start at the date of conviction instead of the date of sentencing

Senate Bill 186 / Sponsored by Jackson, Haile, Yager, Walley / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

Protecting Children / Adoption and Foster Care

Cracked down on AI-generated child pornography

(also in ‘Crime’)

• New legislation makes it a criminal offense to possess, distribute, or produce any technology or software specifically designed to create or facilitate the creation of AI-generated child pornography.
• The classification for each offense is:
  • Possession: Class E felony
  • Distribution: Class C felony
  • Production: Class B felony
• As AI technology advances, bad actors have begun using it to generate disturbing and exploitative images of minors.
• This legislation gives law enforcement the tools they need to go after those who engage with or profit from this abuse.
• The bill does not ban technology or software, but bans the tools and software designed with the intent to create child sexual abuse material.

Senate Bill 741 / Sponsored by Yager, Watson, Stevens, Haile, Hatcher, Hensley, Massey, Reeves, Rose, White / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 257

 

Increased funding for Tennessee Child Advocacy Centers

• The Savannah Grace Copeland Act passed to increase funding for child advocacy centers in Tennessee.
• It sets new base funding levels:
  • $85,000 for each contracted forensic child interviewer
  • $127,855 for child advocacy centers
    • Requires a 3% base increase for contracts of child advocacy centers in each judicial district, if the General Fund revenue growth is at least 1%.
  • It also ensures no funds will be spent unless specifically approved by the general appropriations act.

Senate Bill 450 / Sponsored by Massey, Crowe, Walley, Seal, Rose, Harshbarger, Hatcher, Reeves, White, Roberts, Haile, Jackson, Stevens, Pody, McNally, Southerland, Yager, Bailey, Briggs / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Passed both chambers

 

Increasing penalty for child abuse

• A new law raises the penalty for knowingly harming a child between the ages of 9 and 17 from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony.
• Knowingly harming a child under the age of 9 is already a Class D felony.

Senate Bill 693 / Sponsored by Johnson, Haile / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Passed both chambers

 

Protecting children who witness domestic abuse

• Lawmakers passed a new law which extends the definition of child abuse to include cases where a person under 18 witnesses:
  • Abuse of another child
  • Domestic abuse of a family or household member
• It also establishes that in cases when a child has been removed from the home due to abuse, reunification with the parent cannot occur unless the:
  • Parent has fulfilled the requirements outlined in the permanency plan and
  • Child received mental health counseling if necessary.
• This ensures children are reunited with their parents only when it is safe to do so.

Senate Bill 1241 / Sponsored by Jackson, Rose / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Extending statute of limitations for child sexual offenses

(also in ‘Crime and Public Safety’)

• Increases the timeframe for bringing criminal charges for certain child sexual offenses from 25 years to 30 years after the victims 18th birthday
• Extends the statute of limitations for civil charges from 15 to 30 years
• Applies to many charges including, but not limited to:
  • Rape of a child
  • Sexual exploitation of a minor
  • Continuous sexual abuse of a minor
• Provides more flexibility for victims to come forward on their own terms

Senate Bill 1070 / Sponsored by Johnson, Jackson, Lowe, Massey, Rose, Taylor, Yager / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 291

 

Strengthening justice for victims of child sexual abuse

(also in ‘Courts and Corrections’)

• It will now be easier for courts to admit video-recorded forensic interviews as evidence in child sexual abuse cases
  • The aim is to reduce pressure on the child and ensure critical evidence is not dismissed in court.
• Previously, video-recorded interviews could be excluded from evidence in court if a child victim didn’t repeat their exact words in court—creating unnecessary hurdles and weakening cases against abusers.
• The new law allows forensic interviews to be admitted if a qualified interviewer affirms their accuracy and the child is available for cross-examination.
  • This change reduces the emotional burden on child victims while ensuring vital evidence isn't dismissed over technicalities.
• It ensures child abusers are held fully accountable using every credible tool available in the courtroom.

Senate Bill 304 / Sponsored by Haile, Reeves, Rose, White / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 162

 

Removing driving privileges for bullies with harassment offenses

• Minors can now lose driving privileges as a consequence for serious harassment offenses.
• A new law requires a one-year suspension of a minor’s driving privileges or ability to obtain a driver license if they are adjudicated delinquent for harassment, including bullying and cyberbullying.
• In limited circumstances, a restricted license may be issued to allow travel to essential locations like school, work, or church.
• The punishment serves as a deterrent and ensures children are held accountable for bullying and harassment charges.

Senate Bill 170 / Sponsored by Lowe / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 292

 

Cracked down on illegal distribution of hemp products to minors

(also in ‘Crime and Public Safety’)

• A new law raises the minimum punishment for those convicted of selling or distributing hemp-derived cannabinoid products, such as THC gummies, to people under age 21.
• Under the legislation, those convicted of the offense must serve a minimum sentence of 48 consecutive hours in jail and be fined no less than $500.
• It also prohibits retailers from knowingly allowing an employee younger than 21 to access, handle, or sell hemp-derived cannabinoid products.

Senate Bill 215 / Sponsored by Gardenhire, Hensley, Rose / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 77

 

Increased penalty for exposing children to fentanyl

(also in ‘Crime and Public Safety’)

• A new law enhances penalties for knowingly placing a child in danger by possessing fentanyl in the presence of a child.
• The legislation establishes a Class E felony for anyone who exposes a child to fentanyl
  • This elevates to a Class B felony if the child is under eight years old
• Poison centers in the United States managed 539 cases of children under six years old being exposed to fentanyl in 2023, an increase from 10 cases in 2016,  according to America’s Poison Centers.

Senate Bill 1415 / Sponsored by Briggs, Bowling, Lowe, Sutherland, Taylor, Yager / Effective date: July 1, 2025  / Passed both chambers

 

Protected gender-specific spaces in residential education facilities

(also in ‘K-12 Education’)

• Tennessee continues to lead the way in protecting children in gender-specific spaces.
• New legislation mandates that all residential educational programs allowing minors to participate or stay overnight must separate restrooms, changing areas, and showers based on sex.
  • This means that facilities must provide distinct spaces for males and females, ensuring privacy in these areas for all minors.

Senate Bill 472 / Sponsored by Bowling, Hensley, Stevens / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 134

 

Prioritizing child safety in custody rulings

• A new law prioritizes safety of a child when courts make custody decisions.
• Requires courts to consider all available information when deciding a custody agreement and provide written findings when deciding schedules if standard rules don’t apply.
• It changes custody evaluation criteria, focusing on past custody issues and unpaid child support.
• Gives courts the tools to make more transparent, well-informed rulings

Senate Bill 943 / Sponsored by Massey, Hatcher / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 265

 

Enhancing kinship placement options

• To prioritize sibling placements, a new law allows the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) to access closed adoption records to identify biological siblings of children entering foster care.
• This change helps DCS locate siblings who were previously adopted, so they can explore potential placements that keep families connected.
• It’s a thoughtful step toward strengthening kinship placement and giving more children the opportunity to grow up with family.

Senate Bill 1116 / Sponsored by Haile, Lowe / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Streamlining adoption process for siblings, lowering court costs

• A new law allows prospective adoptive parents to file a single adoption petition for multiple siblings instead of filing separate petitions for each child.
• It also lowers legal costs for adoptive families by only requiring one filing fee to be paid.
• The court can still require separate petitions if it’s in the children’s best interest.

Senate Bill 1005 / Sponsored by Haile, Bailey, Hatcher, Lowe, Pody, Rose, Stevens, Walley / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Ensuring rights for children in foster care

• A new law establishes rights for children in the Department of Children Services’ (DCS) custody.
• These rights include:
  • Access to education
  • Appropriate care in the least restrictive setting
  • A safe and healthy environment
  • The ability to report violations without retaliation
  • Access to healthcare
  • Freedom from punitive restrictions on communication with legal representatives
• The legislation requires DCS to train all employees who interact with foster children on these rights.

Senate Bill 1015 / Sponsored by Haile, Rose / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

 

Protecting parents from financial hardship penalties

• A new law ensures children are not separated from their parents solely due to financial issues and shields parents from criminal liability.
• It ensures financial hardship isn’t used against parents in custody decisions unless they reject offered assistance.

Senate Bill 560 / Sponsored by Jackson, Bowling, Crowe, Hatcher, Lowe, Seal, Walley / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Expanding voluntary foster care to help young adults transition out of foster care

• A new law expands the age limit for young adults to qualify for voluntary, extended foster care from 21 to 23 years old
• To qualify the young adult must have either been
  • Enrolled in Tennessee’s foster care system on their 18th birthday
  • Adopted or placed under subsidized permanent guardianship between ages 16 and 18
• Eligible individuals between 18 and 23 years of age can receive services if they meet one of the following:
  • Enrolled in secondary, postsecondary, or vocational education
  • Participating in employment preparation programs
  • Employed at least 80 hours per month
  • Unable to participate due to a verified medical or developmental condition who are on a documented treatment plan when necessary
• Foster youth and those in extended care or juvenile justice programs are exempt from driver’s license and ID fees, expanding the current fee waiver which was previously limited to those under 18 in custody.
• Voluntary foster care aims to help young adults overcome barriers to education, employment, and stability, improving outcomes for foster youth aging out of care, providing more time and resources for a stable transition into adulthood.

Senate Bill 1266 / Sponsored by Johnson, Rose, Bowling / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Increasing ability for adopted children to access their records

• Lowers the age a person can access their own adoption records from 21 to 18 years old.
• Supports greater transparency, providing adoptees with the opportunity to learn more about their background as they transition into adulthood.

Senate Bill 1267 / Sponsored by Johnson, Haile / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 79

 

End Childhood Hunger Act

• A new law establishes the End Childhood Hunger Task Force to tackle the challenges of affordability and access to high-quality nutrition for children in Tennessee.
• The Task Force will evaluate how to better leverage public programs like TANF, SNAP, and the Summer Food Service Program to meet the needs of families.
• It will promote collaboration between state agencies and nonprofit organizations, encouraging innovative partnerships to expand food access and reduce child hunger.
• The 14-member Task Force will include key state leaders – such as commissioners of human services, health, and children’s services – lawmakers, and nonprofit experts focused on food insecurity.
• Their mission is to deliver actionable recommendations to the General Assembly that close service gaps and strengthen food access across all Tennessee communities.
• This effort is an important step toward ensuring that every child in our state has the nutrition they need to learn, grow, and succeed.

Senate Bill 1239 / Sponsored by Jackson, Rose / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

Pro-Life

Cracking down on illegal distribution of abortion pills

• A new law allows for a wrongful death claim for the death of an unborn child at any stage of gestation if an abortion-inducing drug is sent directly to a patient by a defendant in violation of existing state law.
• It defines abortion-inducing drugs to mean mifepristone or misoprostol.
• This reinforces the state’s pro-life laws, which outlaw abortions at any stage.
• The measure does not prohibit the legal use of these drugs.

Senate Bill 419 / Sponsored by Hensley, Bowling, Pody, Gardenhire, Rose, Seal, Stevens / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Passed Senate

 

Pro-life protections for mothers facing serious pregnancy complications

• The General Assembly passed legislation to provide further clarity for physicians handling medical emergencies during pregnancy, so providers can act quickly and confidently in an emergency without fear of legal violations.
• It ensures elective abortions remain illegal in Tennessee, while clarifying circumstances a life-saving abortion may be considered necessary—specifically in cases where the mother faces a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function.
• The bill defines that risk as a medically diagnosed condition that severely complicates pregnancy, such as:
  • Preterm membrane rupture,
  • Severe preeclampsia,
  • Mirror syndrome, and
  • Infections that could lead to uterine rupture or permanent infertility.
• It specifically excludes mental health conditions.
• The legislation maintains that physicians must use reasonable medical judgement to determine if a life-saving abortion is necessary, while aiming to preserve the life of the child.
• It reaffirms our commitment to prohibiting abortion on demand while ensuring compassionate care for mothers facing life-threatening pregnancy complications.

Senate Bill 1004 / Sponsored by Briggs, Hensley, Gardenhire / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 217

 

Teaching Safe Haven Law to high schoolers

• Lawmakers passed legislation requiring Tennessee public and charter high schools to teach students about the Tennessee Safe Haven Law as a life-saving resource.
• It aims to ensure young people are aware of the legal protections for parents surrendering newborns safely under the Safe Haven Law.

Senate Bill 319 / Sponsored by Massey, Hatcher, Bailey, Yager / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 164

 

Expanding Tennessee’s Safe Haven Law

• This legislation increases the time allowed for a mother to drop off her newborn child at a designated facility from 14 to 45 days.
• The goal is to reduce the number of unsafe abandonments of babies in Tennessee.
• More than 130 newborns have been safely surrendered since the Safe Haven Law first took effect in 2001.

Senate Bill 262 / Sponsored by Haile, Yager / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

Health and Insurance

Caring for Caregivers Act

• A new pilot grant fund will help with lost wages and expenses for caregivers of family members with Alzheimer’s or related dementia.
• It establishes a three-year pilot program with the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging to provide $6,000 grants to caregivers of family members diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
• This pilot program is similar to programs in other states like Georgia, Missouri, and South Carolina.

Senate Bill 654 / Sponsored by Crowe, Walley, Jackson, Yager / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

 

TennCare PACE program expanded to improve care for elderly

• TennCare is now authorized to add a Program of All-Inclusive Care for Elderly Persons (PACE) as a pilot in one of the two Grand Divisions where a PACE program did not exist in 2024.
  • Must also expand the program in Hamilton County
• A PACE program is a:
  • Comprehensive, integrated care program for elderly individuals who need nursing facility-level care and meet eligibility criteria set by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• The director of TennCare must ensure that PACE applicants meet federal eligibility criteria and certify that they qualify to be PACE providers in the proposed service area.

Senate Bill 1390 / Sponsored by Watson / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

 

Expanding Opportunities Through ABLE Accounts for Tennesseans with Disabilities

• New legislation passed this year expands eligibility for Tennessee’s Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts, which are tax-advantaged savings tools that help individuals with disabilities cover a wide range of qualifying expenses.
• The law raises the age of disability onset from 26 to 46, allowing more Tennesseans to qualify and benefit from these accounts.
• This change aligns Tennessee law with recent updates to federal guidelines, ensuring the state’s ABLE program remains tax-compliant and can continue to offer important financial benefits.
  • Without this change, Tennessee ABLE accounts would lose its federal tax advantaged status.
• ABLE accounts allow families to contribute up to $100,000 for tax-free financial assistance to eligible individuals for approved disability-related expenses like housing, education, transportation and health care.
• These updates expand access, promote independence, and improve long-term financial security for individuals with disabilities across the state.

Senate Bill 452 / Sponsored by Massey, Hatcher / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Medical Ethics Defense Act

• The Medical Ethics Defense Act protects healthcare providers from being forced to participate in a healthcare procedure, treatment, or service that goes against their morals or conscience
• It ensures doctors, nurses, and medical students are free to practice medicine in alignment with their moral, ethical, and religious beliefs.
• Works to combat the healthcare worker shortage by ensuring no one is forced to do work that they do not agree with.
  • For example: a doctor will be legally protected if he or she refuses to participate in assisted suicides because of their ethical beliefs

Senate Bill 955 / Sponsored by Haile, Johnson, Hensley, Jackson, Reeves, Rose, Stevens, Walley, White, Yager, Hatcher / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 266

 

Expanding TennCare coverage for pediatric neuro disorders

• A new law authorizes TennCare managed care organizations to cover physician-prescribed treatments for two new pediatric disorders:
  • Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS)
  • Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome

Senate Bill 1426 / Sponsored by Watson, Bailey, Jackson, Lowe, Pody, Reeves / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

 

TennCare coverage for Kleefstra syndrome

• A new law requires TennCare to provide treatment for Kleefstra syndrome similar to how autism or down syndrome is covered.
• Kleefstra syndrome is a rare, genetic disorder with less than 1,000 U.S. cases
• The coverage could also include early intervention services.

Senate Bill 522 / Sponsored by Roberts / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 145

 

Expanding prenatal screenings to protect mothers and babies

• New legislation was passed to strengthen prenatal care by expanding critical health screenings for pregnant women.
• The bill:
  • Add Hepatitis C to the list of routine screenings conducted during a pregnant woman’s first medical examination.
  • Expands syphilis testing by requiring a second syphilis screening between weeks 28-32 of pregnancy and a third syphilis screening at the time of delivery.
• The new law enhances early detection and treatment of infections to reduce adverse birth outcomes and improve infant health.
• This comes after recent data shows that 50% of babies diagnosed with congenital syphilis from 2022-2023 could have been protected with timely screenings.
• If left untreated, this condition can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or lifelong developmental issues.

Senate Bill 1283 / Sponsored by Johnson, Massey, Jackson, Reeves, Rose / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 46

 

The Fertility Treatment and Contraceptive Protection Act

• New legislation clarifies and strengthens protection for access to fertility treatments, like IVF, and contraceptives.
• The bill establishes that individuals have the right to access fertility treatments and contraception.
• This new law further clarifies that Tennessee does not prohibit this and that healthcare providers have the right to offer them.
• Tennessee ranks among the most pro-life states in the nation, and Republicans continue to protect life and encourage strong

Senate Bill 449 / Sponsored by Massey, Reeves, Haile, Briggs, Hatcher / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 247

 

Removed insurance barriers for cancer patients to access recommended medications

• A new bill exempts certain cancer patients from step therapy requirements imposed by insurance providers.
  • Step therapy protocols typically require patients to try insurer-preferred medications—which can be less effective or potentially harmful—before gaining access to the treatments prescribed by their physicians.
• The legislation prohibits health benefit plans from enforcing step therapy for patients with stage 4 advanced cancer, metastatic blood cancer, and related conditions.
  • Allows these patients to access federally approved prescriptions immediately.
• The law ensures timely access to the most effective treatments for cancer patients.

Senate Bill 1382 / Sponsored by Watson, Reeves, Bailey, Hensley, Massey, Pody, Sutherland, Walley / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

 

Encouraging alternatives to opioid prescriptions

• This legislation ensures that non-opioid drugs with FDA approval are not disadvantaged compared to opioid drugs on the state preferred drug list.
• It encourages providers to prescribe safe alternatives to the traditional opioid painkillers in an effort to combat the drug addiction crisis.

Senate Bill 428 / Sponsored by Reeves, Haile, Jackson / Effective date: January 1, 2026 / Public Chapter 278

 

Encouraging funding for overdose reversal initiatives

• The General Assembly is encouraging the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council to allocate at least 25% of their funds to overdose reversal initiatives
  • It is recommended that this allocation remain in place until the the rate of overdose deaths in Tennessee has reduced 25%
• The resolution follows a study which found the only age group which saw an increase in overdose deaths was those under 18
  • 54% increase
  • Driven by an increase in deaths in children under 5 years old
• It aims to stop these tragedies by increasing awareness and access to overdose reversal medications

House Joint Resolution 100 / Sponsored by Haile / Transmitted to Governor

 

Expanding mental health coverage

• A new law aims to combat the ongoing mental health crisis by expanding coverage options
• The bill requires health benefit plans that cover mental health and substance abuse to reimburse those services through a Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (PCCM).

Senate Bill 437 / Sponsored by Reeves, Crowe, Walley / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 168

 

Restore Trust in Public Health Messaging Act

• New legislation ensures accurate, science based health messaging to restore public trust.
• The bill requires local and state health departments to ensure all messaging about FDA- regulated products is consistent with FDA-approved or authorized labels.
• The law mandates the implementation of an internal review process.
• Additionally, the bill establishes penalties for non-compliance.

Senate Bill 1031 / Sponsored by Bowling, Crowe, Hensley / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 108

 

Limited Red 40 food dye in schools to improve student health

(also in Education)

• New legislation prohibits the sale or distribution of food and beverages containing Red 40 dye in Tennessee schools.
• Red 40 is a synthetic food dye that contains benzene, a compound linked to potential negative effects on children’s behavior and mental health—including hyperactivity, irritability, and depression, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
• The bill is aligned with national conversations about food safety, including efforts led by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has called for the removal of artificial dyes like Red 40 from American food products.
• By limiting access to this additive during the school day, the legislation aims to create a healthier learning environment and promote better focus and well-being among students.
• Exceptions are made for special events like school fundraisers, allowing flexibility while still prioritizing student health in daily meals and snacks.

Senate Bill 476 / Sponsored by Bowling, Pody, Jackson / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

 

Investigating mass shooting suspects for public health insights

• A new bill requires medical examiners to consult doctors of deceased mass shooters and test for psychotropic drugs during autopsies
• Findings will be shared with the University of Tennessee’s Health Science Center and Department of Health for research purposes, with quarterly reports sent to state legislators.

Senate Bill 1146 / Sponsored by Crowe, Hatcher, Bowling, Rose, Stevens, Bailey, Jackson, Taylor / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 272

 

Removing references to World Health Organization

• A new law removes all references to the World Health Organization (WHO) from state law.
  • The WHO is an international organization that carries no authority in the U.S.
• The bill replaces WHO references with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding pandemic relations.
• Under this law, Tennessee would only recognize a pandemic if the CDC declared it and then was followed by a state of emergency by the Governor.

Senate Bill 669 / Sponsored by Taylor, Hensley, Bowling, Bailey, Jackson, Lowe, Reeves, Rose / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 69

 

Individualized Investigational Treatment Act

• The Individualized Investigational Treatment Act, allows doctors to provide personalized treatments for terminally ill patients.
• The bill allows for the inclusion of individualized treatments such as gene therapies and custom made vaccines.
• Tennessee joins several other states that have broadened access to personalized treatments for terminal patients.

Senate Bill 282 / Sponsored by Watson , Hensley, Massey, Bowling, Reeves, Crowe, Rose, Stevens, Walley, Yager / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 45

 

Transportation

Redirected tire sales tax to TDOT Highway Fund

• To create a new sustainable source of funding for transportation projects, sales tax revenues from new and used tire sales will be redirected to the TDOT Highway Fund.
  • Formerly, these revenues went into the state’s General Fund.
• This change will provide an estimated $80 to $85 million annually to road funding.
• Roadway issues are a large concern for Tennesseans and this is one way to provide recurring funds dedicated to roads.
• This funding is in addition to another $1 billion one-time investment to jumpstart transportation projects statewide.

Senate Bill 144 / Sponsored by Walley, Pody, Yager / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Passed both chambers

 

More options for counties to increase road funding

(also in ‘State and Local’)

• For the sole purpose of increasing local road funding, a new law gives counties the ability to raise the mineral severance tax rate by $0.05 every five years until 2035, with a maximum rate of $0.30 per ton starting in 2035.
  • Counties are required to submit an annual report detailing tax revenue and how funds are spent.
• The legislation extends the time for the Department of Revenue to begin collecting the new mineral tax from 30 to 60 days.

Senate Bill 889 / Sponsored by Reeves / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 285

 

Electronic driver’s licenses as a valid form of ID

• A new bill permits Digital Driver’s Licenses (DDLs) as a valid form of identification
• They will be valid wherever IDs are required except for voting
  • Physical licenses will still be required to vote to align with the state’s strict voter ID requirements.
• The legislation:
  • Establishes strict privacy protections
  • Bans geolocation tracking
  • Prohibits the sale or misuse of user data by private companies
• Users can download the digital license to their phone via their Apple Wallet or other online wallets.
• The use of DDLs would be completely voluntary, and no public or private entity could require individuals to use a digital license instead of a physical one.
• The legislation also maintains the current use of physical driver's licenses.
• The Department of Safety aims to implement the program by the end of 2025.

Senate Bill 1297 / Sponsored by Johnson, Reeves, Massey / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 297

 

Law Enforcement’s Safer Tennessee Electronic Registration (LESTER) Act

• A new law ensures that drivers can present digital copies of vehicle registration as proof of registration during a traffic stop.
• The LESTER Act requires that law enforcement accept these documents as proof of registration.
• This legislation mirrors current law that permits digital proof of auto insurance be accepted by law enforcement.
• This change aims to protect victims of car theft by preventing car thieves from getting the home addresses of their crime victims from auto registrations typically kept in glove compartments of cars.

Senate Bill 228 / Sponsored by Taylor, Powers, Rose / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 157

 

Improving process to regain drivers license

• New legislation removes the burdensome 8-point penalty for driving on a suspended license.
• This change prevents excessive penalties that can make it nearly impossible for individuals to regain their driving privileges.
• The law still holds drivers accountable for the offense, but does so without creating long-term barriers to having their license reinstated.
• It’s a balanced approach that supports accountability while helping Tennesseans get back on the road legally.

Senate Bill 778 / Sponsored by Lowe / Effective date: July 1, 2025/ Passed both chambers

 

Committee established to study driver license reinstatement

• Legislation establishes the Distance to Drive Study Committee to evaluate the feasibility of a program to reinstate suspended and revoked driver licenses for certain criminal defendants.
• The Committee will analyze best practices from drug and mental health courts and report findings with recommendations by 2026.

Senate Bill 932 / Sponsored by Rose, Hatcher, Jackson / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

New statewide framework for driving UTVs on public roads

• New legislation creates a statewide framework for when utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), such as four-wheelers, can be driven on public roads.
• It allows UTVs to operate on state highways and county roads with a speed limit of 45 miles per hour or lower.
• To qualify to drive on state roads, UTVs would have to be registered with the state and carry liability insurance. They would also be limited to traveling at no more than 35 mph.
• Previously a patchwork of county-specific state laws governed off-road vehicle operations on public roads. This legislation creates statewide uniformity in the law.

Senate Bill 728 / Sponsored by Lowe, Jackson, Rose / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 255

 

Transportation Financing Authority

• A new bill creates the Tennessee Transportation Financing Authority to provide financing for transportation projects, such as the upcoming Tennessee Choice Lanes project.
• The Authority will issue private activity bonds on behalf of the developer, keeping debt off the state books.
• The bonds will be paid for by project revenue, not taxpayers.

Senate Bill 6006 / Sponsored by Haile, Reeves, Rose, Stevens / Effective date:  July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 5

 

Expediting completion of Tennessee road projects in emergencies

• A new law will improve the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT)'s use of alternative delivery methods which have successfully delivered complex projects in a timely manner.
• This builds off the Transportation Modernization Act of 2023, which expanded the use of these methods for complex projects.
• It grants TDOT the ability to use these alternative delivery contracts in emergency situations, such as rebuilding bridges after Hurricane Helene.

Senate Bill 1308 / Sponsored by Johnson, Massey / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 110

 

Targeting rideshare driver impersonation to enhance passenger safety

(also in ‘Crime and Public Safety’)

• A new law addresses the growing concern of rideshare impersonation.
• The bill makes it a criminal offense for one to falsely present themselves as a rideshare driver.
• Individuals that are caught impersonating a rideshare driver will face a Class B misdemeanor charge.
• If impersonation occurs with another felony, the charge can be upgraded to a Class E felony.

Senate Bill 704 / Sponsored by Massey / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 117

 

Increased accountability for impaired drivers by expanding aggravated DUI laws

• A new law lowers the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) threshold for aggravated vehicular assault and aggravated vehicular homicide from 0.20 percent to 0.15 percent.
• Aggravated vehicular assault constitutes a Class C felony in Tennessee, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
• Aggravated vehicular homicide is a Class A felony, punishable by up to 60 years in prison.
• The change enhances accountability for impaired drivers and reinforces the state’s commitment to public safety.

Senate Bill 457 / Sponsored by Rose, Hatcher / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Empowering collaboration between state and local governments to remove homeless encampments from public property

• The General Assembly passed a new law empowering the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to work with local communities to develop strategies for addressing homeless encampments near highways, bridges, and other designated areas.
• Local governments will sign memoranda of understanding (MOU) with the state government to clearly define responsibilities for outreach, cleanup, and law enforcement involvement
• Under the measure, TDOT must:
  • Issue a 10-day notice to vacate
  • Coordinate with homeless shelters and other non-profit organizations to provide necessary assistance
  • Immediately dispose of hazardous items including trash, perishable food, and abandoned items

Senate Bill 217 / Sponsored by Taylor, Jackson, Rose / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

Hurricane Helene / Disasters

Disaster relief for Hurricane Helene victims addressed in Special Session

• In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024—which claimed 18 lives, destroyed or damaged over 1,000 homes, and displaced thousands—the General Assembly took swift action and passed important legislation in a special session to support recovery and prepare for future emergencies.
• These efforts reflect Tennessee’s commitment to standing with disaster victims and ensuring the state is better prepared to respond quickly and effectively when future emergencies strike.
• Over 13,000 Tennesseans registered for assistance, and major community structures like Unicoi County Hospital and Hampton High School were severely damaged.
• Legislative action in the special and regular sessions include:

 

$470 Million in Recovery Funding / Senate Bill 6005

• In the special session, lawmakers approved $470 million in total funding to aid recovery and strengthen future disaster preparedness, including:
  
  
  • $110 million to assist with interest payments on local recovery loan
  • $100 million for a new Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund
  • $240 million to reduce local governments’ share of disaster recovery costs
  • $20 million to rebuild Hampton High School in Carter County

 

New Disaster Relief Funds Created

• We created two disaster relief funds to support long-term recovery and future emergencies.
  • The Hurricane Helene Interest Payment Fund allocates $110 million to help local governments manage recovery loan interest costs.
    • It covers interest costs at 5% per year for three years on loans for recovery expenses.
  • The Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund provides $100 million for a new program to provide flexible aid for emergencies, including agricultural recovery, unemployment support, and business relief.

Senate Bill 6003 / Sponsored by Johnson, Crowe, Harshbarger, Seal, Southerland, White, Bailey, Bowling, Reeves, Rose, Stevens, Walley / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 2

 

Unemployment Assistance in Emergencies

• To ease burdens on displaced workers, we passed legislation which allows the Department of Labor to waive certain unemployment requirements during declared emergencies.
• The legislation also reinforces TEMA’s authority to assist with disaster recovery on public property at the request of local officials.

Senate Bill 6004 / Sponsored by Johnson, White, Bowling, Reeves, Rose, Stevens, Walley / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 3

 

Property tax relief for Hurricane Helene victims

• Hurricane Helene victims in Northeast Tennessee are receiving property tax relief through new legislation passed this year.
• The law provides relief to owners of residential and most business properties if the following conditions are met:
  • The property is located in a county included in the FEMA disaster declaration for Hurricane Helene: Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties.
  • The property was verified by the local property assessor as damaged by Hurricane Helene on or before April 15, 2025.
    • (Note: SB 6007 originally set Jan. 28, 2025 as the deadline for properties to be assessed, but since its passage, more properties affected were identified, so the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 782 in the regular session to extend the deadline to April 15, 2025.)
  • To receive the property tax relief, the necessary documentation must be submitted to the Comptroller’s office by June 30, 2025.
  • The relief payments will cover the amount of property tax levied, plus an additional 30%.
  • The legislation also shifts the authority to approve mutual aid from the full governmental entity to the chief executive officer
    • This allows for a faster, more efficient response in times of crisis

Senate Bill 6007 / Sponsored by Crowe, Bailey, Bowling, Hatcher, Reeves, Rose, Southerland, Stevens, Walley/ Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 6

First Responders / Law Enforcement / Veterans

Expanding the Barry Brady Act to better protect Tennessee firefighters

• Lawmakers expanded the Barry Brady Act to include additional cancer diagnoses eligible for workers’ compensation coverage for firefighters.
• Originally enacted in 2019, the Act recognizes the heightened health risks firefighters face by presuming certain cancers are job-related and therefore covered under workers’ compensation.
  • The law previously covered Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, colon cancer, skin cancer, multiple myeloma, leukemia, and testicular cancer.
• This year’s expansion adds prostate cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer to the list of eligible diagnoses, ensuring more firefighters have access to the care and support they need.
• The Act is named in honor of Captain Barry Brady of the Sparta Fire Department, who dedicated more than 31 years to fire service before passing away from cancer in 2019.
• This legislation is a continued commitment to stand with our first responders and ensure they receive the benefits they’ve earned through their service and sacrifice.

Senate Bill 288 / Sponsored by Bailey, Haile, Hatcher, Powers, Seal, Yager, McNally, Johnson, Rose, Southerland, Harshbarger, Walley, Reeves, Roberts, Stevens, White, Bowling, Lowe, Massey, Hensley, Watson, Jackson, Crowe, Briggs, Pody, Taylor, Gardenhire / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Supporting retired canines

• Establishes an $85 per month payment to care for the health of retired canines
• This payment will be made to the employee who cares for the dog

Senate Bill 652 / Sponsored by Crowe / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Enhance medical readiness of TN National Guard

• Creates the Tennessee National Guard Service Member’s Medical Readiness Act
  • A premium reimbursement grant program within the TN Department of Military to help National Guard members with health care costs
• Premium reimbursement grants are now authorized for guardsmen eligible for medical or dental coverage through TRICARE, the U.S. military’s health insurance program
• The Tennessee Adjutant General will establish requirement criteria that service members must meet to qualify
• This helps to prevent members of the National Guard with certain medical or dental issues from being deemed non deployable for federal and state missions, which can include floods, fires and tornadoes.

Senate Bill 530 / Sponsored by Stevens / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Passed both chambers

 

Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment (SAVE) Act

• Lawmakers established the SAVE Act to protect veterans and veterans’ service providers from being exploited by private consultants and advisors.
• This legislation regulates the practice of an individual or legal entity seeking to receive compensation for advising, assisting, or consulting an individual with a veterans' benefits matter.
• Under the SAVE Act, compensation for advisory services can only be received if it results in an increase in benefits.
• It mandates that anyone providing advisory services must issue a written disclosure stating that they are not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services, or any other federally chartered veterans’ service organization.
• Violations of the SAVE Act would be classified as prohibited practices under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, ensuring stricter enforcement against predatory practices targeting veterans.

Senate Bill 362 / Sponsored by Briggs, Hatcher, Johnson, Gardenhire, Jackson, Massey, Watson, Bowling / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 223

 

Established an enhanced armed guard certification

• A new enhanced armed guard certification will be available for private protective services in Tennessee, allowing certified individuals to carry rifle-caliber weapons
  • It is intended for highly trained professionals like former law enforcement officers and military personnel to bring their skills into the private sector
• Eligibility requirements include:
  • 5+ years of law enforcement OR 4 years of full-time U.S. Armed Forces service,
  • Honorable discharge or good standing upon separation,
  • Registration with the TN Department of Commerce and Insurance,
  • Pass a criminal background check and psychological evaluation,
  • Successfully complete a 16-hour training course and pass a written examination.
• It enables private-sector security businesses to hire better-equipped, experienced guards.
• Intended to deter crime and enhance protection for people and property enhancing overall safety measures in Tennessee.

Senate Bill 1384 / Sponsored by Watson / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Expanded STRONG Act for increased tuition assistance for veterans

(also in Higher Ed)

• New legislation improves the tuition assistance program for National Guard members and veterans
• The bill increases tuition funding from 120 hours to 130 credit hours and extends the life of the program
• Known as the STRONG Act, the Tennessee Support, Training, and Renewing Opportunity for National Guardsmen (STRONG) Act, has been key in strengthening National Guard recruitment and retention.

Senate Bill 1291 / Sponsored by Johnson, Powers, Crowe, Stevens, Bailey, Bowling, Hatcher, Pody, Reeves, Rose, Walley, Watson / Effective Date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Expanding access to Montgomery County Veterans Treatment Court

• Allows defendants with veteran status in certain criminal cases to file a motion to transfer their case to the Montgomery County Veterans Treatment Court program
  • Applicable to defendants in Stewart, Houston, Dickson, Cheatham, or Robertson counties
• The voluntary program promotes recovery from substance abuse and mental health challenges.
• Enrollment includes 5 phases over 12 months each of which includes:
  • Regular drug and alcohol testing; court appearances; Group meetings; Counseling, Work or community service hours
• Funding for this comes from the TN Department of Mental Health Substance Abuse.
• The district attorney general for Montgomery County agrees to accept transfer of the case.

Senate Bill 505 / Sponsored by Powers / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

 

Incentivizing non-profit affordable housing services for homeless veterans through property tax relief

(also in ‘State and Local’)

• Local legislative bodies can now choose to provide property tax relief to nonprofit organizations providing housing assistance to low-income households, if at least 30% of the housing units for veterans experiencing homelessness.
• This will lower financial burdens for these organizations and incentivize services for veterans in need.

Senate Bill 948 / Sponsored by Powers, Jackson, Reeves, Rose / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Expanding veteran hunting access

• This legislation creates temporary hunting permits for disabled veterans participating in hunting experiences sponsored by not-for-profit organizations.

Senate Bill 1140 / Sponsored by Crowe, Southerland, Bowling, Lowe, Rose / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 216

 

Increased parking access for disabled veterans

• New legislation creates a disabled veteran parking placard to be displayed when using handicap parking spaces.
• It allows qualifying veterans to choose between a distinguishing license plate or placard at no cost.
• Provides flexibility for veterans as placards are easy to display and can be transferred from car to car with ease.

Senate Bill 1017 / Sponsored by White, Gardenhire, Jackson, Powers, Rose, Taylor, Southerland / Effective date: July 1, 2026 / Public Chapter 73

 

Four Chaplains Day

• The first Sunday in February will now be known as Four Chaplains Day with passage of a new resolution.
• The day recognizes and honors the sacrifice of four U.S. Army chaplains who died while saving others during World War II.

Senate Joint Resolution 7 / Sponsored by Johnson, Powers, Reeves / Passed both chambers

 

 

Urging Congress to expand the PACT Act, allowing investigations into vaccine injuries for service men and women

• The Tennessee General Assembly passed a resolution urging Congress to expand the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act by:
  • Including COVID-19 treatments conducted under the emergency use authorization and before FDA approval was gained
  • Include the anthrax vaccine
• If these additions are included in the PACT Act, it would allow for the investigation of instances where service men and women were forced to receive the above treatments and later develop health issues as a result.

House Joint Resolution 98 / Sponsored by Bowling, Lowe, Pody, Southerland / Transmitted to Governor

Protections from Foreign Influence

Protecting against foreign contributions to state constitutional amendments

• To protect against foreign influence in Tennessee’s constitution, a new law prohibits foreign contributions in the constitutional amendment process in Tennessee.
• It requires political campaign committees (PCCs) to file a certification with the Tennessee Registry of Elections guaranteeing that no polling, language drafting, focus groups, phone calls, or travel for ballot measures were funded indirectly or directly by foreign nationals.
• Also requires a PCC treasurer to get confirmation from donors that they are not foreign nationals and have not accepted more than $100,000 form foreign national within the previous four years.

Senate Bill 1060 / Sponsored by Lowe / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

 

Reduced reliance on international organizations

(also in ‘Government Efficiency / Operations’)

• Aligns Tennessee with the federal government’s efforts to reduce involvement and reliance on international organizations.
• Prohibits requirements or mandates from certain organizations being imposed contrary to state law or the state constitution
  • World Health Organization
  • United Nations
  • World Economic Forum

Senate Bill 263 / Sponsored by Hensley, Pody, Rose / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

Removing references to World Health Organization

(also in ‘Government Efficiency / Operations’)

• A new law removes all references to the World Health Organization (WHO) from state law.
  • The WHO is an international organization that carries no authority in the U.S.
• The bill replaces WHO references with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding pandemic relations.
• Under this law, Tennessee would only recognize a pandemic if the CDC declared it and then was followed by a state of emergency by the Governor.

Senate Bill 669 / Sponsored by Taylor, Hensley, Bowling, Bailey, Jackson, Lowe, Reeves, Rose / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 69

 

Protecting Tennessee investments from foreign adversaries

• A new law strengthens Tennessee’s financial security by requiring state and local pension systems to divest from entities owned or controlled by foreign adversaries—specifically targeting those linked to the Chinese Communist Party.
• The law directs the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) and local pension plans to annually review their investments and identify any "restricted investments," defined as those majority-owned by China.
• If such investments are identified, the state treasurer and local pension leaders must divest by December 31 of the prior calendar year, or submit a formal divestment plan by July 1 outlining how and when they will exit those holdings.
• The legislation also provides legal protections for officials carrying out the divestment process in good faith.
• This proactive measure ensures Tennessee tax dollars and retirement funds are not used to support foreign adversaries, reinforcing our commitment to national security and economic independence.

Senate Bill 542 / Sponsored by Stevens, Bowling, Hatcher, Hensley, Lowe, Taylor, Yager / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 289

 

Strengthening oversight of agricultural land purchases by foreign entities

(Also in ‘Agriculture’)

• A new law increases transparency and oversight of foreign ownership of Tennessee farmland by requiring foreign individuals or entities to submit a copy of their federal land purchase disclosure to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Failure to comply with this reporting requirement could result in a civil penalty of up to 25% of the land’s fair market value.
• This enhanced reporting builds on a 2024 law that prohibits foreign adversaries from purchasing land in Tennessee unless specific exemptions apply.
• By ensuring the state is informed of these transactions, this law helps protect Tennessee’s agricultural resources, preserve food security, and uphold state sovereignty.

Senate Bill 519 / Sponsored by Roberts, Lowe, Bowling, Rose, Jackson, Walley, Stevens, Watson/ Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Protecting Tennessee from fraudulent business and foreign adversaries

(Also in ‘Business and Commerce’)

• A new law aims to prevent foreign adversaries from using Tennessee's business filing systems for illicit purposes.
  • In 2023, the FBI and Department of Justice found that North Korea had created three businesses in Wyoming to generate revenue used to promote North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction program
  • This legislation ensures Tennessee can take necessary action to prevent the same from happening here.
• “Foreign adversary” is defined by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce as a threat to national security
  • Currently includes 6 countries (China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela)
• The legislation updates the Secretary of State’s dissolution authority and procedure so that it can quickly dissolve an entity owned or controlled by foreign adversaries.
• It won’t affect legitimate foreign investments in Tennessee.
• Ensures swift action against threats to national security and economic stability.

Senate Bill 306 / Sponsored by Briggs, Lowe, Jackson, Powers, Taylor, Yager / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 113

 

Tennessee Genomic Security and End Organ Harvesting Act protects genetic information

(also in ‘Business and Commerce’)

• Safeguards Tennesseans’ DNA from foreign adversaries, particularly from China’s illegal organ harvesting practices
• Advancements in genetic sequencing have significantly improved medicine and research, but some companies, particularly from China, are using this technology to collect data from the U.S. for nefarious purposes.
• The legislation bans the use of genetic sequencers or bioinformatics software from nations identified as foreign adversaries by the federal government.
• Prohibits health insurers from knowingly covering organ transplants in China or any transplants involving organs sold or donated by Chinese sources.
• Ensures TN health coverage doesn’t indirectly support human rights violations.

Senate Bill 318 / Sponsored by Lowe, Rose, Stevens / Effective date: January 1, 2026 / Public Chapter 96

Election Integrity / Voting

Protecting primary voter participation in local elections

• A new law requires primary elections to remain the standard method for parties to nominate candidates in local races.
• It aligns local election procedures with state and federal standards and maintains each county’s existing practice for local election party nominations.
• Under the measure, the small counties that currently use caucuses can continue doing so, while requiring those counties that currently hold primary elections to continue using primaries.
• This legislation aims to preserve a transparent nomination process.
• Primary elections are the most fair and transparent way to nominate candidates, and they already work well in the vast majority of Tennessee counties.
• Caucuses and conventions shut out thousands of voters—especially in larger counties—by limiting the decision-making to just a handful of people.
• If a political party wants its candidates on a public ballot, those candidates should be chosen through a public process.
• The 2025-26 budget includes $8 million to fund the cost of local elections for the 2026 primaries.

Senate Bill 799  / Sponsored by Johnson, Gardenhire, Hatcher / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 259

 

Preventing non-citizens from voting in Tennessee

(also in ‘Illegal Immigration’)

• Tennessee strengthened its commitment to election integrity by requiring election coordinators to train local officials to recognize temporary IDs issued to non-U.S. citizens.
• This proactive step helps prevent any accidental allowance of non-citizens casting a ballot in our elections.
• The law complements Senate Bill 6002, passed during the special session, which created a clear system for issuing temporary licenses and permits to non-citizens living in Tennessee.
• These efforts ensure that only eligible U.S. citizens can vote, maintaining trust in our elections.
• Thanks to commonsense safeguards like this, Tennessee is ranked #1 in the nation for election integrity by the Secretary of State.

Senate Bill 1143 / Sponsored by Crowe, Bailey, Bowling / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Strengthened process for voter verification

(also in ‘Illegal Immigration’)

• S. citizenship status and felony convictions will now be proactively verified before an individual can be registered to vote in Tennessee.
  • Previously, voter eligibility checks by the Coordinator of Elections were conducted after a person is registered allowing a window during which ineligible individuals may temporarily appear on the rolls
• The legislation requires the Coordinator of Elections, the Department of Safety, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to develop a secure electronic portal for real-time eligibility verification.
  • If the data indicates the applicant is not a U.S. citizen or has a disqualifying felony conviction without rights restoration, the registration would be halted

Senate Bill 133 / Sponsored by Johnson, Yager, Lowe, Stevens / Effective date: January 1, 2026 / Passed both chambers

 

Aligning election cycles of school board with other county elections

• Mandates that county school board elections align with the county legislative body elections and adopt the same staggered terms and term limits as county commissioners.

Senate Bill 1336 / Sponsored by Taylor / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

 

Reforms to voting rights restoration

• New legislation passed this year to ease the process of restoring a person’s right to vote after a felony conviction.
• The law doesn’t change the eligibility requirements for felons seeking to regain their voting rights, but it allows for them to regain suffrage without receiving full restoration of rights or a pardon.
• The legislation doesn’t change Tennessee’s eligibility requirements for voting rights restoration but allows for felons to regain suffrage without full restoration of rights and would still prohibit them from possessing firearms.
• For a felon to receive voting rights restoration they must meet eligibility requirements including paying restitution, court costs and child support.
• Under this bill, individuals convicted of felony offenses will need to complete the restoration process separately for each conviction.
• Certain crimes such as murder, aggravated rape, treason, and voter fraud will result in permanent disqualification from regaining voting rights.
• Committing serious crimes has consequences, and we remain steadfast in holding offenders accountable.
• This legislation supports those who have paid their debt to society and desire to leave misdeeds in the past by leading productive lives.

Senate Bill 407 / Sponsored by Gardenhire, Yager, Jackson / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

State and Local

Accountability for local governments violating state law

 

• A new law enables the state to withhold state funding from local governments found to have enacted unconstitutional ordinances, in violation of state law.
• The measure allows a member of the General Assembly to request the Attorney General’s office to investigate a local government suspected of violating state law.
• If the local government does not correct the violation within 30 days, the state can withhold funding.
• State funding would be restored if a local government corrects its violation and begins following state law.
• Arizona has a similar process to hold local governments accountable.
• If local governments refuse to follow state law or circumvent state laws, they should not expect to benefit from state resources.
• This legislation makes it clear that political stunts will not be tolerated at the expense of law-abiding Tennesseans.

Senate Bill 845 / Sponsored by Lowe, Jackson, Taylor / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

 

Ensuring consistent business regulations across Tennessee

(also in ‘Business and Commerce’)

• A new law prevents local governments from imposing their own labor or employment regulations, ensuring businesses across Tennessee operate under one clear, statewide standard.
• This approach protects small businesses from having to navigate a confusing patchwork of local rules that may conflict with state or federal law.
• The law establishes that only the Tennessee General Assembly will have the authority to set labor and employment policy, providing consistency and predictability for employers and workers.
• In the past, the General Assembly had to step in to reverse harmful local regulations—like attempts to raise the minimum wage or restrict independent contracting—that threatened job growth and business flexibility.

Senate Bill 674 / Sponsored by Taylor, Bowling / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed Senate

 

Strengthening oversight of charter amendments

• Legislation passed to enhance judicial oversight of proposed charter amendments.
• The legislation requires that a three-judge panel hear any legal challenges to the constitutionality or legality of a proposed charter amendment ordinance.
• If the panel determines the proposal would violate state laws or constitution, then it prohibits municipalities from placing the charter amendments on the ballot.
• The bill promotes consistency between state and local regulations.

Senate Bill 525 / Sponsored by Rose, Bowling  / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 249

 

Financial savings for local governments

• Local governments will see a 33% reduction in administrative fee costs under a new law.
• The measure reduces the Department of Revenue’s administrative fees on the local option sales tax, local occupancy tax, business tax, coal severance tax, and local tax surcharge from 1.125% to 0.75%.
• This change will save local governments across the state $18.9 million annually.

Senate Bill 1315 / Sponsored by Johnson, Yager, Lowe, Hensley / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Increasing state reimbursements for prisoners

(also in Courts and Corrections)

• Counties will now be reimbursed by the state for the costs to house prisoners awaiting probation revocation hearings.
  • Previously, counties were only reimbursed for prisoners awaiting parole revocation hearings
• The new law also changes the reimbursement rate for state prisoners in local jails to start at the date of conviction instead of the date of sentencing

Senate Bill 186 / Sponsored by Jackson, Haile, Yager, Walley / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

 

Real Estate Infrastructure Development Act of 2025

• New legislation allows local governments to establish Infrastructure Development Districts (IDDs) to fund capital projects using special assessments and bonds with 30 year maximum terms.
• The bill permits commercial developments to participate and reduces the required capital cost for creating an IDD from $5 million to $1 million.

Senate Bill 26 / Sponsored by Pody, Johnson / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Extending Tennessee Heritage Protection Act to government seals

• Under a new law, any official government seal that honors a historic conflict, figure, event or entity is designated as a memorial, granting it protection under the Tennessee Heritage Protection Act.
• The measure aims to ensure that Tennessee’s rich history is recognized and safeguarded.

Senate Bill 1034 / Sponsored by Bowling, Hensley / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

More options for counties to increase road funding

(also in ‘Transportation’)

• For the sole purpose of increasing local road funding, a new law gives counties the ability to raise the mineral severance tax rate by $0.05 every five years until 2035, with a maximum rate of $0.30 per ton starting in 2035.
  • Counties are required to submit an annual report detailing tax revenue and how funds are spent.
• The legislation extends the time for the Department of Revenue to begin collecting the new mineral tax from 30 to 60 days.

Senate Bill 889 / Sponsored by Reeves / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 285

 

Improved accountability for local government credit ratings

(also in ‘Government Efficiency / Operations’)

• A new law increases government transparency by requiring local governments to report any credit rating downgrades or defaults to the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office.
  • The Comptroller’s Office is the state agency in charge of auditing state and local government entities, managing state finances, and investigating fraud, waste, and abuse.
• The legislation expands the disclosure requirements for both state and local government entities, ensuring that state oversight bodies and the public are promptly informed of financial issues in local governments before they become bigger problems.
• Early reporting of financial red flags helps prevent mismanagement and allows for quicker corrective action, ensuring responsible use of taxpayer dollars.

Senate Bill 114 / Sponsored by Harshbarger, Hatcher / Effective Date: Upon becoming law /  Public Chapter 17

 

Emergency borrowing for utilities

• A new law allows utilities to borrow money and issue notes for emergency cash flow with approval from the governing body and the comptroller.
• The comptroller will create a corrective action plan for the utility.
  • This will remain in effect until the notes are paid off.
• The Board of Utility Regulation can review utilities and remove board members.
  • They cannot remove elected officials.
• The legislation removes the requirement for utility districts to request proposals from five firms before considering bond sales over $50 million.

Senate Bill 518 / Sponsored by Reeves / Effective date: July 1, 2025/ Public Chapter 170

 

Incentivizing non-profit affordable housing services for homeless veterans through property tax relief

(also in ‘Veterans’)

• Local legislative bodies can now choose to provide property tax relief to nonprofit organizations providing housing assistance to low-income households, if at least 30% of the housing units for veterans experiencing homelessness.
• This will lower financial burdens for these organizations and incentivize services for veterans in need.

Senate Bill 948 / Sponsored by Powers, Jackson, Reeves, Rose / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Paid leave for care of family members

• State employees who are taking care of family members can now take up to 6 weeks of paid leave to care for a parent, child, grandchild, or spouse with a serious illness involving hospice.
• This aims to increase employee retention, lowering turnover costs for the state government, by ensuring that employees have the flexibility to care for their family.

Senate Bill 322 / Sponsored by Massey, Reeves, Jackson, Rose / Effective date: January 1, 2026 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Expanding tax relief for religious fundraisers

• A new law increases the number of times per year a religious organization can hold a fundraiser without collecting sales tax from 2 to 4 times.
• This applies to any event where the organization is selling goods or services they do not usually provide.

Senate Bill 659 / Sponsored by Hensley / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Passed both chambers

Honoring America’s Founding Principles: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

• In recognition of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the General Assembly passed a resolution designating three commemorative months to celebrate the nation’s core founding principles.
• These observances are designed to inspire reflection, civic pride, and renewed appreciation for the values that shaped our country:
  • June – "Celebration of Life" Month
    Honors the sanctity of life and recognizes the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which returned the authority to regulate abortion to the states and reaffirmed the right to protect life.
  • July – "Celebration of Liberty" Month
    Commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and celebrates the enduring freedoms that define the American spirit.
  • August – "Pursuit of Happiness" Month
    Marks the return of students to school, symbolizing the pursuit of education, opportunity, and a brighter future for all Tennesseans.
• These designations serve as a meaningful tribute to our shared American heritage and a reminder of the principles that continue to guide our state and nation.

Senate Bill 503 / Sponsored by Rose, Bowling, Gardenhire, Jackson, Johnson, Lowe, Massey, Reeves, Yager / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

Property Rights

Strengthening rights of property owners with seized property

• A new law removes the $350 bond payment required to reclaim seized property even when no conviction of a crime has occured.
• This ensures that claimants no longer have to pay a cash bond or file additional pleadings to assert ownership of seized property.

Senate Bill 481 / Sponsored by Lowe, Hensley, and Watson / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Tennessee Property Rights Protection Act

• The Tennessee Property Rights Protection Act protects private property rights and tightens the rules surrounding eminent domain in redevelopment projects.
• “Blighted properties” are redefined, including only buildings with serious, unaddressed safety violations, to raise the bar for government intervention.
• It sets clear limits on the use of eminent domain by prohibiting non-blighted properties from being acquired through eminent domain.
  • can be bought solely without eminent domain and above market value.
• Cities can still access grants and tools for urban renewal providing local governments with much needed flexibility.
• The Act strikes a fair balance between revitalizing distressed areas and protecting property rights by putting necessary limits on the use of eminent domain while ensuring local governments still have access to important tools.

Senate Bill 480 / Sponsored by Bowling, Seal, Stevens / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Public Chapter 114

 

Protecting rights of property not on Register of Historic Places

• The Historical Commission is now prohibited from regulating the renovation, alteration, or demolition of public or private property not on the Register of Historic Places.
• The new law ensures properties that have been denied benefits by the State Historic Commission are not bound by the Commission’s rules and regulations.

Senate Bill 7 / Sponsored by Lowe / Effective date: Upon becoming law / Transmitted to Governor

 

Required property rights training for zoning boards

• A new law ensures members of local zoning boards are properly informed about citizens’ legal property rights and constitutional rights.
• The legislation requires mandatory board member training to include property and constitutional rights and removes the ability for local governments to opt out of board member training.
• The bill also requires the board of zoning appeals to maintain a record of proceedings and provide written notice of an individual’s right to appeal to the board.

Senate Bill 365 / Sponsored by Briggs, Powers, Stevens / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Transmitted to Governor

 

Expedited removal of squatters on commercial property

• A new law provides sheriffs and courts the streamlined ability to restore possession of commercial property to its lawful owner when it is unlawfully occupied.
• It allows a property owner to file a complaint with the county sheriff to quickly remove an unlawful occupant from their commercial property.
• Upon receiving a complaint, local sheriffs can serve a notice to vacate and arrest squatters for trespassing, outstanding warrants, or other legal causes.
• This law builds on legislative action from 2024, that provided a similar streamlined eviction process for residential properties unlawfully occupied by squatters.

Senate Bill 292 / Sponsored by Bailey / Effective date: July 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 90

Constitutional Amendments

How constitutional amendments work in Tennessee

 

In order to ratify the constitution, a constitutional amendment must pass the General Assembly twice. The first time it must pass with a simple majority voting in favor. The second time it must pass the next General Assembly by a two-thirds majority. Lastly, voters have the final say in adopting a constitutional amendment. The amendment would become part of the state constitution if the number of yes votes are equal to a majority of the total votes in the following gubernatorial election.

 

The following proposals to amend the constitution have passed the General Assembly twice and will be decided by voters on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

 

Constitutional amendment to prohibit a state property tax

• A new proposed constitutional amendment is headed to voters seeking to ensure a state property tax can never be implemented by a future General Assembly.
• Tennessee has not had a state property tax since 1949.
• This constitutional amendment would protect Tennessee tax payers by entirely eliminating the option for a state property tax to ever be imposed on Tennesseans again.
• This constitutional amendment has passed in two General Assemblies, once with a simple majority, and a second time by two-thirds majority.
• The amendment will appear on the ballot for the next general election in November, 2026.

Senate Joint Resolution 1 / Sponsored by Haile, Lowe, Walley, Bailey, Johnson, Briggs, White, Hensley, Pody, Stevens, Massey, Roberts, Rose, Harshbarger, Seal, Yager, Gardenhire, Powers, Bowling, Reeves, Crowe, Southerland, Taylor, Hatcher, Jackson, McNally, Watson / Passed both chambers

 

Marsy’s Law - Expanding Victims’ Rights

• Tennessee crime victims are not given the same amount of protection as convicted criminals.
• Marsy’s Law seeks to ensure that victims have equal access to justice.
• This proposed constitutional amendment would establish clear and enforceable constitutional rights for victims of crime, including the rights to be heard; informed; and treated with fairness, dignity, and respect through the judicial process.
• Named after Marsalee Nicholas, it is part of a nationwide effort to support crime victims and prevent further trauma.
• Marsy was murdered in 1983 by her ex-boyfriend, who stalked and killed her while she was a student at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
• Marsy’s family ran into the man who murdered Marsy a week after her death at the grocery store on the way back from her funeral, unaware that he was released on bail.
• Marsy’s Law seeks to ensure devastating and traumatic experiences like this never happen to victims in Tennessee.

Senate Joint Resolution 9 / Sponsored by Stevens , McNally, Jackson, Powers, Taylor, Gardenhire, Hensley, Rose, Walley, Watson / Passed both chambers

 

Denying bail for violent crimes

• This amendment would expand judges’ ability to deny bail for certain violent crimes when it is in the best interest of public safety.
• Current law limits judges’ ability to deny bail only for first-degree murder charges.
• If ratified by voters, the measure would add the following criminal charges that can be denied bail:
  • Violent offenses of terrorism
  • Second-degree murder
  • Aggravated rape
  • Grave torture
• It also would allow judges to deny bail for violent offenses that would require the defendant, if convicted, to serve at least 85 percent of their entire sentence under the state’s Truth in Sentencing law.
• Under the measure, judges could only deny bail when the proof is evident or the presumption of guilt is great.
• The reasoning for denying bail must also be put into the record.

Senate Joint Resolution 25 / Sponsored by Johnson, Rose, Stevens, Powers, Reeves / Passed both chambers