Republicans roll back our right to bail; jail costs could soar
3:30 p.m. CT - Senate Floor Regular Calendar - Watch - SJR 0025 *Johnson
- The sponsor, without explanation, delayed a vote on this amendment last week.
- But the Senate is expected to vote today on this Republican-backed amendment to the state constitution that would eliminate every person’s right to bail for dozens of criminal charges.
- Their effort upends the presumption of innocence, a fundamental American principle underpinning every person’s right to a fair trial.
- Practically, the policy could cost local taxpayer’s millions more for incarceration as people who are denied bail are forced to await trial in understaffed county jails.
State will study new health coverage for stuttering under Akbari bill
3:30 p.m. CT - Senate Floor Regular Calendar - Watch - SB0231 by Sen. Raumesh Akbari
- Senate Bill 231, as amended, would have the state study the value of health coverage that provides new speech therapy benefits to people who stutter.
- Sen. Akbari’s initial bill would have required insurance companies to strengthen speech therapy coverage, but it faced resistance from the insurance industry and Republicans.
- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, a University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball champion and nine-year veteran of the NBA, urged lawmakers to take action during testimony in the Senate last week. Read the full release.
$38.5 Billion Highway Backlog: Bill highlights Republican’s highway funding crisis
3:30 p.m. CT - Senate Floor Regular Calendar - Watch - SB0703 by Massey
- Under Gov. Bill Lee and Republican Party control, Tennessee has amassed a $38 billion backlog of road and bridge projects across the state because they only commit $600 million to new construction each year.
- The basic problem here is that the Highway Fund, which provides for the repair and construction of state roads, is not keeping up with reality. And that’s been a problem for more than a decade.
- Yet, Republicans who control the state purse, have done nothing to fix the core funding issue and their neglect has resulted in record traffic congestion and deteriorating highway conditions.
- Today, rather than debating a funding solution, Republicans will likely pass this bill to “study” the problem and keep kicking the can down the road.
GOP bill raises state’s mortgage interest rate cap from 8.6% to 11.5%
3:30 p.m. CT - Senate Floor Regular Calendar - Watch - SB 0749 *Yager
- Senate Bill 749 would increase the maximum allowable interest rate on home loans by changing the marker used by the Department of Financial Institutions to set the rate.
- Under the bill, state mortgage regulators would set the maximum allowable mortgage interest rate at four points above the “average prime offer rate.”
- If the proposed law were in place today, the rate cap would be 11.5% — the highest allowable rate in 30 years.
- Under current law, the maximum interest rate on a home mortgage loan is 8.56%.
Lamar bill boosts maternal mental health
3:30 p.m. CT - Senate Floor Regular Calendar - Watch - *SB0849 by Sen. London Lamar
- Maternal mental health conditions are the most common pregnancy complication, affecting 800,000 families each year. It often manifests in self-harm, overdoses and even suicide.
- Senate Bill 849 seeks to address the mental health of new and expecting mothers by making sure health professionals in the state have access to training and information about new treatment options and research.
GOP bill would force cities, counties & schools to adopt state’s sex, gender definitions
Noon CT - Judiciary - Watch - *SB0936 by Rose
- More anti-trans discrimination and state overreach
Anti-Diversity Mandate: GOP takes aim at membership goals for state boards
Noon CT - Judiciary - Watch - SB1235 by Rose
- Senate Bill 1235 would prohibit state regulatory boards, including health-related ones, from considering race, ethnicity, or national origin when determining board members.
- Additionally, this legislation removes provisions from state law that encourage racial minority representation on boards and commissions.
Full Senate Schedule
Noon Judiciary Committee
21. SB0219 by Taylor. (*HB0038 by Gillespie.)
Juvenile Offenders - Amends TCA Title 37. As introduced, requires a juvenile court, upon finding a child has committed a third or subsequent delinquent act, to enter an order of restitution against the parent, legal custodian, or guardian who had custody of the child at the time of the act for the expenses incurred by any law enforcement agency in responding to and investigating the delinquent act.
22. *SB0227 by Taylor. (HB0811 by Grills.)
Tort Liability and Reform - Amends TCA Title 29, Chapter 34. As introduced, allows a charitable organization that provides housing to a person whom the charitable organization knows is unlawfully present in the United States to be held liable for a loss, damages, injury, or death resulting from a criminal offense committed by the person who is unlawfully present in the United States while the person is receiving housing services from the charitable organization if the charitable organization's conduct in providing housing constitutes negligence, gross negligence, or willful and wanton misconduct.
Anti-Catholic Church?
23. *SB0374 by Rose. (HB1358 by Littleton.)
Children - With amendment, requires the state to begin construction by January 1, 2026, on a facility in the western grand division of Tennessee to house children detained while awaiting adjudication for delinquency or unruliness.
Watch. New building alert!
24. *SB0455 by Rose. (HB0527 by Scarbrough.)
Probation and Parole - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 35, Part 5. As introduced, removes the limitations on the board of parole's authority to deny parole based solely on the seriousness of the offense for certain offenses to allow denial based on the seriousness of the offense for any offense.
Watch. Less parole. Longer incarceration. More tax dollars.
25. SB0600 by Rose. (*HB0575 by Doggett.)
Criminal Procedure - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 16; Title 18; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 55; Title 56; Title 62; Title 68 and Title 71. As introduced, specifies that the administrative office of the courts may distribute to the courts electronically the discharge from conditions of release form that is required to be sent to law enforcement agencies by the court when a defendant upon whom conditions of release have been imposed is discharged or released from those conditions.
Rolled
26. SB0601 by Rose. (*HB0580 by Doggett.)
Bail, Bail Bonds - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, Chapter 10. As introduced, makes various changes regarding global positioning monitoring and the pretrial release of certain defendants.
27. *SB0936 by Rose. (HB1271 by Cochran.)
State Government - With amendment, declares that by July 1, 2025, all local and state governmental entities revise their rules, policies, and procedures to define "sex" and "gender" based on anatomy and genetics at birth. It prohibits future adoption of any definitions that deviate from this biological definition. Residents can file complaints against local entities in chancery court, which may result in court-ordered compliance and loss of eligibility for state grants if violations persist. Complaints against state entities go to the comptroller, who can impose escalating financial penalties, including withholding up to 20% of general fund revenue for repeated noncompliance. Institutions of higher education face similar penalties, and repeated violations may result in mandatory appearances before legislative committees.
Watch. Anti-trans discrimination and state overreach forcing all local governments to adopt the supermajority’s definition of sex and gender.
28. SB1127 by Rose. (*HB0755 by Faison.)
Estates - Amends TCA Title 30 and Title 31. As introduced, removes the cap on the amount of wages or other compensation owed a deceased employee at the time of the employee's death that an employer shall pay directly to the surviving spouse of the decedent or, if there is no surviving spouse, to the surviving children of the decedent as tenants in common.
29. *SB1235 by Rose. (HB1237 by Zachary.)
Boards and Commissions - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 21; Title 9; Title 62; Title 63 and Title 68. As introduced, prohibits the exclusion of persons from membership on state regulatory and health-related boards on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, and national origin; prohibits such boards from establishing or operating under race-based policies pertaining to their composition; creates a private cause of action against a board and its officers, employees, and agents for such practices; removes requirement that appointing authorities strive to ensure certain boards and commissions are represented by members of racial minorities.
Watch. Anti-diversity mandate.
30. *SB0017 by Gardenhire. (HB1202 by Kumar.)
Law Enforcement - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 40 and Chapter 716 of the Public Acts of 2024. As introduced, requires law enforcement agencies and officials to communicate with federal officials regarding the immigration status only for an individual who has been arrested for a criminal offense; sets a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for a law enforcement agency that does not comply to be enforced by the attorney general and reporter.
Watch.
31. *SB0256 by Gardenhire. (HB0601 by Freeman.)
Appeal and Review - Amends TCA Title 40. As introduced, establishes a procedure through which a district attorney general or person convicted of a criminal offense may, at any time, request post-conviction relief by filing a verified petition alleging actual innocence based on new evidence that was not known by the judge or jury at the time of conviction, including scientific and non-scientific evidence.
32. SB0406 by Gardenhire. (*HB0361 by Parkinson.)
Orders of Protection - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 18 and Title 36. As introduced, expands the courts in Shelby County that can hear a petition for an order of protection to include a criminal court when the criminal court is hearing a criminal matter involving a domestic abuse victim, sexual assault victim, or stalking victim.
3:30 p.m. Senate Floor
1. *SJR 0025 by Johnson.
Constitutional Amendments- Proposes an amendment to Article I, Section 15 of the Constitution of Tennessee to remove the right to bail for the following offenses when the proof is evident or the presumption great: act of terrorism; second degree murder; aggravated rape of a child; aggravated rape; grave torture; and any other offense, as of November 3, 2026, for which a defendant, if convicted, could not be released prior to the expiration of at least 85 percent of the entire sentence imposed.
2. *SB0191 by Taylor. (HB1338 by Lamberth.)
Public Funds and Financing - Amends TCA Section 9-21-133 and Title 9, Chapter 21, Part 4. As introduced, redefines "local government" to include a water, wastewater, or energy authority for purposes of the present law applicable to bonds and notes issued by local governments; makes other related revisions.
3. *SB0196 by Walley. (HB0392 by Butler.)
Education - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, requires the school grading system to apply to all high schools with 20 or more students in the most recent graduating cohort.
4. SB0224 by Taylor. (*HB0062 by Cepicky.)
Athletic Trainers - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 63. As introduced, authorizes athletic trainers to use dry needling to carry out the practice of prevention, recognition, evaluation, management, disposition, treatment, or rehabilitation of athletic injuries; requires the board of athletic trainers to establish minimum competency requirements for an athletic trainer to demonstrate in order to practice dry needling.
5. *SB0231 by Akbari. (HB0296 by Love.)
Insurance Companies, Agents, Brokers, Policies - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71. As introduced, requires health benefit plans to provide coverage for habilitative or rehabilitative speech therapy services; prohibits such coverage from being subject to any maximum annual benefit, limited based on the type of medical condition, or utilization review or management; requires such coverage to cover speech therapy in person or via telehealth.
6. *SB0233 by Akbari. (HB0634 by Clemmons.)
State Government - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 34 and Title 71, Chapter 2. As introduced, creates the conservatorship management task force.
7. SB0239 by Taylor. (*HB0040 by Reedy.)
General Assembly, Directed Studies - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39 and Title 40. As introduced, requires TACIR to study the availability of housing and other treatment facilities for juvenile offenders who have been adjudicated delinquent and committed to the department of children's services, and the availability of local juvenile detention centers and other facilities for the housing and treatment of juvenile offenders who have been detained by the juvenile court prior to an adjudicatory hearing; requires TACIR to report to the General Assembly by January 1, 2026.
8. SB0240 by Taylor. (*HB0207 by Zachary.)
Criminal Offenses - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 14. As introduced, expands the offense of organized retail crime to include certain acts, including knowingly using an online marketplace or social media platform to coordinate a meeting with one or more persons to sell, barter, or trade stolen merchandise for monetary or other gain; increases the punishment for the offense under certain circumstances.
9. *SB0298 by Roberts. (HB1197 by Kumar.)
Education, Curriculum - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6. As introduced, makes various changes to the approval process and notice requirements for nonsectarian, nonreligious Bible courses; clarifies that public charter schools are authorized to provide nonsectarian, nonreligious Bible courses in the same manner as local education agencies.
10. *SB0305 by Briggs. (HB0744 by Littleton.)
Human Rights - Amends TCA Title 4. As introduced, prohibits an organization or entity receiving financial assistance from this state for programs or activities from denying benefits to, excluding from participation in, or discriminating against a person otherwise eligible for the program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin.
11. SB0384 by Taylor. (*HB0405 by Leatherwood.)
Taxes, Hotel Motel - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 14. As introduced, requires a hotel operator to remit the hotel tax to the municipality when a person has maintained occupancy for 30 continuous days and to cease collecting the tax from the person for the remainder of their stay in the operator's hotel.
12. SB0416 by Haile. (*HB0380 by Slater.)
Education, Curriculum - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, removes authorization for the state board of education to waive the requirement that curriculum and instructional materials used by virtual schools meet or exceed the state board's standards; authorizes state residents to appeal to the textbook commission for a determination of whether such curriculum and materials meet the state board's standard.
13. *SB0421 by Reeves. (HB1239 by Helton-Haynes.)
Opioids - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 41; Title 53 and Title 63. As introduced, authorizes certain prescribing physician assistants and nurse practitioners to prescribe buprenorphine products for the treatment of opioid use disorder when the physician assistant or nurse practitioner is employed by or contracts with a state correctional facility or county or municipal jail, and certain other conditions are met.
14. *SB0440 by Walley. (HB0927 by Hawk.)
Insurance, Health, Accident - Amends TCA Title 56. As introduced, clarifies that excepted benefits are not part of a requirement to provide coverage for a specific person, provider, treatment, service, condition, or disease, unless coverage of such excepted benefits is expressly required by law.
15. *SB0449 by Massey. (HB0533 by Rudder.)
Health Care - Amends TCA Title 63 and Title 68. As introduced, enacts the "Fertility Treatment and Contraceptive Protection Act."
16. SB0517 by Akbari. (*HB0485 by Hardaway.)
Education - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, authorizes local education agencies and public charter schools to provide up to four days of the required 180 days of classroom instruction via hybrid learning in the event of dangerous or extreme weather conditions, or an emergency, as determined by the director of schools or the director of public charter schools.
17. *SB0541 by Stevens. (HB0906 by Garrett.)
Probate Law - Amends TCA Title 30 and Title 32. As introduced, requires the personal representative to notify beneficiaries or intestate heirs of their right to file exceptions to claims of creditors filed against an estate; makes various other changes regarding wills and claims of creditors against an estate.
18. SB0547 by Stevens. (*HB0547 by Cochran.)
Criminal Procedure - Amends TCA Title 40. As introduced, requires the clerk of every court having jurisdiction of criminal offenses to include a $12.50 charge in every cost bill, to be remitted to the county government to provide support services for the purpose of promoting public safety at the sole discretion of the district attorney general; takes effect upon two-thirds vote of the county legislative body; requires a district attorney general receiving funding to submit an annual report.
Doubles a court fee
19. *SB0582 by Akbari. (HB0623 by McCalmon.)
Education - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, requires the department to establish enrollment deadlines for voluntary pre-kindergarten programs so that at-risk students who will be four years old by August 15 must be enrolled by the beginning of the school year and students who are four-year-olds who do not have a disability or who meet the qualifications for enrollment at three years of age must be enrolled by August 30.
20. SB0689 by White. (*HB0408 by White.)
Education - completes the merger of TSAC with THEC and deletes scholarship programs no longer in use.
21. *SB0703 by Massey. (HB0736 by Vital.)
Highways, Roads and Bridges - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 54 and Title 55. As introduced, requires TACIR to study sustainable funding sources that meet this state's future transportation infrastructure needs and submit its recommendations to the chair of the committee in the house of representatives with jurisdiction over transportation matters, the chair of the transportation and safety committee of the senate, and the legislative librarian on or before January 15, 2026.
Tennessee has a $39B road backlog.
22. *SB0718 by Taylor. (HB0797 by Vaughan.)
Courts, Juvenile - Amends TCA Title 37. As introduced, requires a juvenile court conducting a child custody, detention, or adjudicatory proceeding to conduct the proceeding in a dedicated courtroom provided by the county that is closest in proximity to an approved detention center.
23. SB0747 by Yager. (*HB0171 by Reedy.)
TennCare - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5, Part 15. As introduced, extends the ground ambulance service annual assessment to June 30, 2026; makes other revisions to the Ground Ambulance Service Provider Assessment Act.
24. *SB0749 by Yager. (HB0908 by Garrett.)
Interest Rates - Amends TCA Title 45 and Title 47. As introduced, removes the weighted average yield of the accepted offers of the Federal National Mortgage Association's current free market system auction and the 30-year treasury yield as the two bases upon which the maximum effective rate of interest on home loans may be set by the commissioner of financial institutions, and replaces them with the average prime offer rate.
Watch. Raises the maximum allowable mortgage interest rate under state law.
25. *SB0790 by Bailey. (HB1095 by Sexton.)
Law Enforcement Training Academy - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 38 and Title 49. As introduced, states that the peace officer standards and training commission must issue a certificate of compliance to a person appointed as a special deputy if the person meets the qualifications for employment as a police officer and satisfactorily completes an approved recruit training program; states that in order to retain the certification, the special deputy must successfully complete an annual in-service training session appropriate for the special deputy's responsibilities.
26. *SB0816 by Lowe. (HB0922 by Bricken.)
Consumer Protection - As amended, makes SB 816 makes it a violation of the Consumer Protect Act of 1977 to falsely imply to a consumer that they are involved in a civil lawsuit or criminal prosecution in order to pressure them into paying for related services
27. *SB0849 by Lamar. (HB0960 by Love.)
Medical Occupations - Amends TCA Title 63. As introduced, requires the board of medical examiners, the board of osteopathic examination, and the board of examiners in psychology to each develop and offer an optional course in maternal mental health when establishing continuing medical educational requirements for persons licensed to practice medicine, osteopathic medicine, or psychology, respectively.
28. SB1140 by Crowe. (*HB0918 by Slater.)
Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission - Amends TCA Title 58 and Title 70. As introduced, requires issuance of temporary hunting licenses, of up to seven-days duration and at no cost, to disabled veterans participating in hunting experiences sponsored and paid for by not-for-profit organizations.
29. *SB0734 by Pody. (HB0824 by Freeman.)
Taxes, Hotel Motel - Amends TCA Section 7-4-202. As introduced, extends by six years the period in which Davidson County may charge an additional $0.50 privilege tax on the occupancy of a hotel room and in which such county may allocate the tax revenue for the purposes of direct promotion of tourism; extends by six years the terms of the committee members that oversee the fund in which the additional tax is deposited.
Bill at Nashville’s request
30. *SB1031 by Bowling. (HB1157 by Lynn.)
Drugs, Prescription - Amends TCA Title 53 and Title 68. As introduced, enacts the "Restore Trust in Public Health Messaging Act."
Watch. Anti-vaxx. Creates a state government prohibition on promoting some FDA-regulated vaccines, masks or emergency use authorizations products.