Proposed state board could force Memphis-Shelby Co. into adverse tax deals
8:30 a.m. - Government Operations - Watch - SB0220 by Taylor
- Republicans, especially a Shelby County senator, have set their crosshairs on Memphis with the goal of forcing their will onto the city.
- Memphis and Shelby County already operate a “payment in lieu of taxes” program for industrial development, but this bill would create a new state board that has the power to bypass local officials and force them to accept tax deals they may not want. Or already rejected.
G.O.P. pushing to ban fluoride in drinking water, ignoring public health experts
10:30 a.m. - Energy, Agriculture & Natural Resources - Watch - SB1141 by Crowe
- Senate Bill 1141, which seeks to ban the addition of fluoride to Tennessee’s drinking water by July 31, is a dangerous step backward for public health.
- The American Dental Association says fluoridation is one of the most effective and widely endorsed public health measures to prevent tooth decay, especially in children.
- Removing fluoride would disproportionately harm low-income and rural communities where dental care is already less accessible. It would also drive up long-term healthcare costs as more Tennesseans suffer from preventable dental diseases.
Republican bill guts wetland protections, ignoring economic and environmental harm
10:30 a.m. - Energy, Agriculture & Natural Resources - Watch - SB0670 by Taylor
- Senate Bill 670 prioritizes property developers over public safety, clean water and the state economy by rolling back state protections for wetlands.
- Removing protections for “isolated wetlands” will increase flooding and costs for taxpayers. Tennessee’s wetlands absorb billions of gallons of stormwater each year, reducing flood risks for families and businesses. More flooding leads to higher insurance rates and disaster recovery costs—which taxpayers will be forced to cover.
- Isolated wetlands also act as a natural filter, removing pollutants from urban and agricultural runoff. Eliminating protections means more contamination in drinking water sources, especially in West Tennessee, where millions of residents rely on groundwater.
Arrest the chemtrail-ers!
10:30 a.m. - Energy, Agriculture & Natural Resources - Watch - SB1033 by Bowling
- Senate Bill 1033 would create a class A misdemeanor for releasing chemicals into the atmosphere for the purpose of “affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight.”
- Republicans will push laws to criminalize conspiracy theories but they won’t lift a finger to help families that have been harmed by chemical companies or developors.
GOP bill allows developers to keep leaking sewage into suburbs
10:30 a.m. - Agriculture, Energy & Natural Resources - Watch - SB0564 by Pody
- Half of the 370 “alternative” drip-field sewage systems operating in Tennessee are out of compliance, with a quarter of them actively leaking raw sewage into neighborhoods and waterways.
- Despite clear evidence of failures, Senate Bill 564 allows developers to continue installing these failing systems. Environmental groups warn that half measures will leave homeowners and HOAs dealing with more sewage disasters while developers pocket the profits.
- NewsChannel 5’s Ben Hall found a luxury home in Wilson County, where sewage was flowing into a drain that leads right to Old Hickory Lake.
U.S. Chamber bill would block regulation of ‘forever chemicals’
10:30 a.m. - Agriculture, Energy & Natural Resources - Watch - SB 0880 *Reeves
- The U.S. Chamber – the national lobbying group for big businesses – is going state to state pressing politicians for new laws that prevent the regulation of “forever chemicals,” also called PFAs.
- PFAs – per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances – are a group of man-made chemicals that do not break down in the environment. These “forever chemicals,” which have been linked to disease, infertility and even death, have been found in 60% of the waters in Northeast Tennessee.
- The Republican-sponsored Senate Bill 880 would bar state agencies from even proposing public health and safety regulations on hazardous substances until officials prove that an exposure caused "manifest bodily harm" to people.
In Tennessee, church and state step closer together
3 p.m. - Education - Watch - *SB1041 by Bowling
- Senate Bill 1041 authorizes local school boards and public charter schools to “employ or accept as a volunteer” a chaplain to provide programs for students and staff and support the “free exercise of religion” at the school.
- Even if well intentioned, the presence of a religious leader in public school strikes at the heart of the fundamental American value of separating church from state.
2nd G.O.P. bill would exclude undocumented children from public school
3 p.m. - Education - Watch - SB1044 by Bowling
- Every family in Tennessee would have to produce official documents that verify their family’s citizenship in order to enroll their child in a public school.
- The legislation requires local school districts to develop a de facto citizenship-verification process, which will be costly and time consuming.
GOP bill expands more costly voucher scam to Knox, Rutherford & Montgomery
3 p.m. - Education - Watch - SB0011 by Gardenhire
- Tennessee now has two private school vouchers scams on the books, but it started in 2019 with the “Education Savings Account” voucher scam that only applied to Nashville, Memphis and was later expanded to Hamilton County.
- Unlike the state-funded voucher program enacted by the legislature earlier this year, the 2019 law forces local taxpayers to pick up a significant share of the cost for sending students to private schools.
- For two years in a row, students enrolled in the ESA voucher scam have underperformed their peers statewide, according to The Tennessean.
- In addition to failing more children, expanding the ESA voucher scam will hit local taxpayers in the pocket. The fiscal memo says, “Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, the proposed legislation would decrease the local revenue for impacted (school districts). Under current law, these decreases would occur in Shelby, Davidson, and Hamilton counties; this legislation will shift some of that impact to Clarksville-Montgomery County, Knox County, and Rutherford County.”
State G.O.P. eyes takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools
3 p.m. - Education - Watch - SB0714 by Taylor
- Republican-backed legislation that would strip power from the locally elected Memphis-Shelby County Schools board and create a state-appointed panel to oversee the district is scheduled to get its first hearing in the state Senate.
- The state of Tennessee has a piss-poor record of managing school districts. The Achievement School District was marketed as a needed intervention to turnaround under-resourced schools, but the results never materialized.
- Now, the same Republican Party that oversaw the failing ASD is angling to takeover the state’s largest school district.God help us.
- Here’s a novel idea! Instead of taking over local schools, Republicans in the legislature could invest in public school students. Under Republican control, Tennessee ranks 45th in the nation for per student spending – behind all eight of our neighboring states.
Full Senate Schedule
8:30 a.m. Government Operations Committee
1. *SB0220 by Taylor. (HB0544 by Vaughan.)
Taxes, Ad Valorem - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 9; Title 13; Title 48 and Title 67. As introduced, creates the commercial development board; with respect to new commercial property developed by private entities in certain taxing jurisdictions, authorizes the private entities to enter into agreements for payments in lieu of ad valorem taxes and leases with the commercial development board.
Watch. Encroaches on local control over tax deals, called PILOTS
8:45 a.m. Transportation & Safety
1. SB0596 by Gardenhire. (*HB0615 by Travis.)
Traffic Safety - Amends TCA Title 55 and Title 65. As introduced, requires a motor vehicle exceeding 75 feet in length and hauling a load of poles, logs, or timber to haul the load on a trailer having an extendable and retractable rear impact protection or to be followed by an escort vehicle that is signed.
2. *SB0202 by Massey. (HB0213 by Howell.)
Highways, Roads and Bridges - Amends TCA Title 54. As introduced, requires the department of transportation to submit a report prior to January 1, 2026, to the chair of the transportation and safety committee of the senate and the chair of the transportation committee of the house of representatives on the status of projects to be funded under the high priority bridge replacement program.
Bridge and road renaming omnibus bill
3. *SB0203 by Massey. (HB0212 by Howell.)
Special License Plates - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 4. As introduced, authorizes a person who holds an official amateur radio station license issued by the federal communications commission to submit an application for issuance of a special purpose plate and proof of license to the county clerk electronically, by mail, or in person.
Specialty license plate omnibus bill
4. *SB0653 by Crowe. (HB0655 by Hicks T.)
Special License Plates - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 4. As introduced, exempts new specialty earmarked license plates for which the funds are allocated to, and used by, a nonprofit organization to support state historic sites from meeting the minimum initial issuance requirement of 1,000 plates and the minimum issuance requirement of 800 plates upon renewal.
5. *SB1144 by Crowe. (HB1284 by Hill.)
Traffic Safety - Amends TCA Title 55. As introduced, requires the driver of a vehicle approaching a slow-moving or stationary farm tractor or implement of husbandry that displays an indicator that it is a slow-moving vehicle to reduce speed and move over, if possible to do so safely.
6. SB1148 by Crowe. (*HB0859 by Alexander.)
Traffic Safety - Amends TCA Title 55. As introduced, extends the deadline by which the advisory task force responsible for reviewing impaired driving and boating in this state is required to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any suggested legislation, to the general assembly and the governor from December 1, 2025, to February 1, 2026.
7. SB1192 by Akbari. (*HB0924 by Towns.)
Highways, Roads and Bridges - Amends TCA Title 54. As introduced, requires the department of transportation to study the development of a new bridge crossing the Mississippi River and connecting to Arkansas.
8. SB0265 by Hensley. (*HB0217 by Warner.)
Aircraft and Airports - Amends TCA Title 42, Chapter 3; Title 42, Chapter 4 and Title 55. As introduced, establishes a process for renaming an international airport governed by a metropolitan airport authority to Trump International Airport.
Watch. Trump brown nosing
9. *SB0660 by Hensley. (HB0737 by Vital.)
Motor Vehicles, Titling and Registration - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 4 and Section 55-6-101. As introduced, authorizes a county clerk, during a period when the clerk's office is closed due to an emergency, to request the assistance of a county clerk in a contiguous county for purposes of registering motor vehicles and related transactions.
10. SB1408 by Hensley. (*HB0559 by Capley.)
Traffic Safety - Amends TCA Section 55-8-199. As introduced, removes the prohibition on a person physically holding or supporting, with any part of the person's body, a wireless telecommunications device or stand-alone electronic device while operating a motor vehicle on a road or highway other than in a marked school zone or work zone; retains restrictions on activities such as texting on, reaching for, or watching or recording a video on such device while operating a motor vehicle on a road or highway.
Removes the texting prohibitions
11. SB0876 by Reeves. (*HB0624 by Keisling.)
Motor Vehicles, Titling and Registration - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 4, Part 1. As introduced, increases, from $5 to $7, the fee for the service of handling mail orders that renew a registration plate through the U.S. postal service; increases, from $2 to $3, the fee for the service of handling mail orders of decals.
12. SB0373 by Rose. (*HB0352 by Hurt.)
Highways, Roads and Bridges - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 54 and Title 55. As introduced, clarifies that the plans for an acquisition of a right-of-way by the state must be filed and recorded with the office of the register in each county where the project is located if the project is located in multiple counties.
13. SB0375 by Rose. (*HB0359 by Lamberth.)
Driver Licenses - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 55. As introduced, increases the penalty for driving upon a highway without a valid driver license for the vehicle being driven from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class A misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense committed within 10 years of a prior offense.
14. SB0498 by Kyle. (*HB0425 by Love.)
Driver Licenses - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 10, Part 7. As introduced, deletes requirement that certified copy of court order that withdraws order denying driving privileges for juvenile offender be submitted to the department of safety within 10 days of issuance.
15. SB0147 by Lowe. (*HB0060 by Raper.)
Highway Signs - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3; Title 12 and Title 54. As introduced, requires the department of transportation to install signs or markers displaying an appropriate symbol indicating to motorists that a rest area or welcome center has a family restroom; requires the department to post on its website rest areas and welcome centers that have family restrooms.
16. *SB0780 by Lowe. (HB0790 by Vital.)
Driver Licenses - Amends TCA Section 55-50-354. As introduced, authorizes an honorably discharged member of the national guard to receive "veteran" designation on driver license; specifies documentation that must be provided to receive such designation.
17. SB0620 by Harshbarger. (*HB0442 by Hulsey.)
Motor Vehicles, Titling and Registration - Amends TCA Section 39-16-301 and Title 55. As introduced, authorizes an antique emergency vehicle registered as an antique motor vehicle to be used for participation in, or transportation to and from, community or educational events, including displays at fairs, festivals, and schools, as well as during weekends and holidays; authorizes the installation and operation of emergency lights and sirens on a privately owned antique emergency vehicle under certain circumstances.
18. *SB0483 by Bowling. (HB1211 by Keisling.)
Aircraft and Airports - Amends TCA Title 42. As introduced, prohibits public airports that provide commercial services from entering into an agreement that authorizes a private third-party vendor that provides expedited security screening to use the standard security lane or the transportation security administration PreCheck security lane; exempts an agreement between a public airport and a private third-party vendor if the private third-party vendor has obtained dedicated transportation security administration security lanes solely for use by the private third-party vendor at that public airport.
Watch. Bill targeting Clear?
19. *SB0492 by Bowling. (HB1023 by Russell.)
Driver Licenses - Amends TCA Title 55 and Title 65, Chapter 15. As introduced, requires an enforcement officer to issue an out-of-service order to a driver issued a commercial driver license if the officer determines during a safety inspection that the driver is unable to read and speak the English language in violation of federal requirements for commercial driver license holders; applies penalties against employers of such drivers.
20. SB1042 by Bowling. (*HB0084 by Sparks.)
Driver Licenses - Amends TCA Section 5-8-102; Title 49 and Title 55. As introduced, lowers the minimum age, from 25 to 21, that is necessary to receive an initial school bus endorsement.
21. SB1086 by Johnson. (*HB0749 by Reeves.)
Driver Licenses - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 50. As introduced, creates the Class B misdemeanor offense of operating a motor vehicle in this state with an invalid driver license; designates out-of-state driver licenses issued exclusively to illegal aliens as invalid driver licenses in this state.
Watch. Law would invalidate out-of-state driver’s licenses issued to undocumented persons
22. SB1307 by Johnson. (*HB0127 by Lamberth.)
Highways, Roads and Bridges - Amends TCA Section 67-3-901 and Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 32. As introduced, extends the authority for local governments to levy a surcharge on local privilege taxes to fund a transportation improvement program to all cities instead of only Chattanooga, Clarksville, Knoxville, Nashville, and Memphis, and to all counties instead of only Wilson, Washington, Blount, Sullivan, Sumner, Montgomery, Williamson, Rutherford, Hamilton, Knox, Davidson, and Shelby counties; expands the use of such local surcharge revenue for highway and bridge projects, in addition to mass transit projects.
23. SB0641 by Campbell. (*HB0536 by Love.)
Motor Vehicles - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 17. As introduced, authorizes a dealer applicant without an established place of business to be issued a motor vehicle dealer license if the applicant is a nonprofit religious organization that is organized or incorporated in this state, has its certificate of incorporation or authority in good standing with the secretary of state, and has an established program of receiving donations of motor vehicles that it donates to individuals and providing free vehicle repair services to individuals with demonstrated need of a motor vehicle or repair services necessary to the individual's effort to become a self-sufficient member of the workforce.
25. SB1110 by Seal. (*HB0357 by Powers.)
Safety - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8 and Title 68. As introduced, enacts the "Rescue Squad Recognition Act."
27. *SB0915 by Bailey. (HB1129 by Farmer.)
Highways, Roads and Bridges - Amends TCA Title 54, Chapter 1. As introduced, lifts certain restrictions on temporary borrow pits used to source material for a road work construction project performed in a FEMA-certified county under a contract for construction work entered into with the state that is part of a state or local Hurricane Helene recovery effort.
Rivers be damned.
28. SB1373 by Watson. (*HB0556 by Capley.)
Driver Licenses - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 50, Part 3. As introduced, requires all written driver license examinations to be administered in English only; prohibits the use of a translation dictionary, electronic device, or interpreter to assist a person taking the examination.
Watch. Discriminatory BS
10:30 a.m. Energy, Agriculture & Natural Resources
1. *SB1264 by Johnson. (HB1303 by Lamberth.)
Agriculture, Dept. of - Amends TCA Title 43, Chapter 1, Part 1; Section 43-10-118; Section 43-11-405; Section 43-8-104; Section 44-10-203; Section 44-11-105; Section 44-6-104; Section 47-26-1010; Section 53-1-204; Section 53-3-105; Section 53-3-106; Section 53-7-216 and Section 53-8-106. As introduced, establishes June 30 as the expiration date for certain licenses issued by the department.
2. *SB1265 by Johnson. (HB1302 by Lamberth.)
Agriculture, Dept. of - Amends TCA Title 53, Chapter 7 and Chapter 380 of the Public Acts of 2023. As introduced, revises the Tennessee Meat Inspection Act to facilitate the implementation of a state meat inspection program.
3. SB1274 by Johnson. (*HB0124 by Lamberth.)
Environment and Conservation, Department of - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 203, Part 1 and Title 68, Chapter 211, Part 1. As introduced, makes various changes related to fees set by the department for environmental regulatory programs; makes changes to the regulation of coal combustion residuals disposal units.
4. SB1275 by Johnson. (*HB0123 by Lamberth.)
Mining and Quarrying - Amends TCA Title 59, Chapter 8, Part 3. As introduced, revises certain requirements to file liens for the reclamation of abandoned coal mining lands.
5. SB1276 by Johnson. (*HB0125 by Lamberth.)
Parks, Natural Areas Preservation - Amends TCA Section 67-4-409. As introduced, requires a county or municipal government that receives a grant from the local parks land acquisition fund for a project located within a county designated as distressed or at-risk by the Appalachian Regional Commission at the time of the grant application to match the grant with an amount of money equal to 25 percent of the project, instead of requiring a match with an amount of money equal to the grant.
6. SB1277 by Johnson. (*HB0126 by Lamberth.)
Parks, Natural Areas Preservation - Amends TCA Title 11, Chapter 14, Part 1. As introduced, revises the descriptions of existing state natural areas and designates new natural areas.
7. *SB1306 by Johnson. (HB1321 by Lamberth.)
Tourist Development, Dept. of - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 22. As introduced, creates a marketing division within the department to replace the tourism division; authorizes the department to enter into agreements with the department of transportation to assist with maintenance of welcome center facilities; creates a welcome centers division within the department to oversee such centers throughout the state; directs the commissioner of finance and administration to transfer from highway user taxes allocated to the highway fund an amount sufficient to support the annual appropriation for implementation and administration of all welcome centers in the state.
8. *SB1316 by Johnson. (HB1330 by Lamberth.)
Boards and Commissions - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 20; Title 33; Title 38; Title 40; Title 52; Title 55; Title 62; Title 63; Title 68; Title 70 and Title 76. As introduced, enacts the "Less is More Act of 2025."
9. SB0278 by Roberts. (*HB0205 by Barrett.)
Parks, Natural Areas Preservation - Amends TCA Title 11, Chapter 13. As introduced, designates certain portions of the Duck River and certain portions of various creeks as Class II pastoral river areas.
10. SB0519 by Roberts. (*HB0219 by Reedy.)
Real Property - Amends TCA Title 66, Chapter 2, Part 3. As introduced, requires foreign persons who purchase land in this state and who file a report of such purchase to the United States department of agriculture under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act to also file the report with the commissioner of agriculture.
11. SB0520 by Roberts. (*HB0220 by Reedy.)
Water Authorities - Amends TCA Title 64, Chapter 1, Part 11. As introduced, expands the areas served by the West Tennessee River Basin Authority to include Perry, Stewart, Houston, and Humphreys counties.
12. SB0968 by Southerland. (*HB0747 by Fritts.)
Energy - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 204. As introduced, changes the administrative, reporting, oversight, and accountability of the state energy policy council from the state energy policy council to the department of economic and community development and the department of environment and conservation.
13. SB0970 by Southerland. (*HB0660 by Jones R.)
Water Authorities - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 68. As introduced, permits authorities formed and certified by municipalities under the Municipal Energy Authority Act to have certain water and wastewater treatment powers to the extent that the authority’s exercise of such powers does not conflict with any ordinances or rules adopted by another local government having jurisdiction over such matters.
14. *SB0825 by Hensley. (HB1072 by Warner.)
Water Pollution - Amends TCA Title 11, Chapter 14, Part 4 and Title 69. As introduced, prohibits the department of environment and conservation from applying criteria that will result in the classification of real property as a wetland if the property is prior converted cropland that is exempt from classification as a wetland under federal law.
15. SB0869 by Hensley. (*HB0938 by Capley.)
Licenses - Amends TCA Title 70. As introduced, creates a bait privilege license to allow hunting or taking of whitetail deer and wild-appearing swine using bait on privately owned or privately leased land.
16. *SB1352 by Akbari. (HB1397 by Pearson.)
Environment and Conservation, Department of - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 59; Title 60; Title 68 and Title 69. As introduced, requires the department to create and maintain an informational tool on the department's website that provides data related to the presence of facilities that are required to submit toxic release inventory data to the environmental protection agency.
17. *SB0283 by Watson. (HB0881 by Travis.)
Water Pollution - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 221. As introduced, removes requirement that installers of subsurface sewage disposal systems pay a renewal fee as a condition to renewing a septic system installer license; maintains initial permit and fee requirement for such installers.
18. SB0528 by Stevens. (*HB0309 by Gillespie.)
Veterans - Amends TCA Title 58, Chapter 3. As introduced, requires the bureau of parks and conservation to designate at least one day per year, instead of just one day per year, during which access to and use of all state parks, including campgrounds and golf courses, must be free of charge for all veterans.
19. SB0863 by Stevens. (*HB0799 by Grills.)
Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission - Amends TCA Title 11, Chapter 14, Part 1 and Title 70. As introduced, directs the commission to promulgate rules to create and issue guide licenses for persons who work as guides at Reelfoot Lake.
20. *SB0759 by Yager. (HB0771 by Powers.)
Boats, Boating - Amends TCA Title 69, Chapter 9. As introduced, requires a person to purchase a permit in order to operate a vessel on the intrastate waters of this state that is exempt from being numbered for identification in this state due only to the vessel having a valid number awarded to it pursuant to a federally approved numbering system of another state.
Watch. New fee.
21. *SB0743 by Yager. (HB0834 by Keisling.)
Environment and Conservation, Department of - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 221, Part 9. As introduced, prohibits the board of water and wastewater operator certification from delegating, by contract or other agreement, to a third-party its authority to determine minimum operator competency or to prepare examinations administered to applicants seeking operator certification; establishes requirements for such examinations and minimum scores required for issuance of a certificate.
22. SB0755 by Yager. (*HB0589 by Jones R.)
Agriculture, Dept. of - Amends TCA Title 43, Chapter 1, Part 6. As introduced, extends from five to six years the amount of time after which a nominee to the Tennessee agricultural hall of fame is deceased that the nominee is eligible for induction.
Watch. Caption?
23. SB1141 by Crowe. (*HB0897 by Todd.)
Water - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 221, Part 7. As introduced, decreases from 1.5 milligrams per liter to 0.4 milligrams per liter the threshold for the presence of fluoride in a public water system that requires an increase in the frequency of fluoride-level testing from quarterly to monthly; requires public water systems to cease adding fluoride to drinking water supplies by July 31, 2025, and provide written notice of cessation of fluoridation to customers.
Watch. Anti-fluoride
24. SB1142 by Crowe. (*HB0898 by Todd.)
Utilities, Utility Districts - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 36; Title 7, Chapter 82 and Title 68, Chapter 221. As introduced, requires each utility system to obtain a certificate of analysis for any water sold by the utility system that contains fluoride, and post the certificate and the material safety data sheet for fluoride online.
Watch. Anti-fluoride
25. SB1138 by Taylor. (*HB0543 by Vaughan.)
Sewage - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 35; Title 7, Chapter 82 and Title 68, Chapter 221. As introduced, prohibits a municipal sewer system or utility district that has operated a sewerage system outside of the corporate boundaries of the city or town for 25 years or more from ceasing operation of the sewerage system outside the corporate boundaries so long as the sewerage system maintains sufficient capacity, as determined by a study conducted by TACIR.
Watch. Targeting Memphis…
26. SB0664 by Taylor. (*HB0612 by Vaughan.)
Water Pollution - Amends TCA Title 69, Chapter 3. As introduced, expands from wetlands to all areas that an aquatic resource alteration permit may apply to the areas for which the department of environment and conservation is required to exempt from compensatory mitigation an amount of area equal in size to the area for which mitigation would not be required if the permit applicant qualified for coverage under a general permit, if the only factor that disqualifies an applicant for an aquatic resource alteration permit from having the activities for which a permit is sought covered under a general permit is the size of the area that the permit will apply to.
Watch.
27. SB0670 by Taylor. (*HB0541 by Vaughan.)
Water Pollution - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 11, Chapter 14, Part 4; Title 66; Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 4 and Title 69. As introduced, prohibits the department of environment and conservation from applying criteria that will result in the classification of real property as a wetland, or otherwise regulating real property as a wetland, unless the property is classified as a wetland under federal law.
Watch. Wetland destruction bill. Homebuilder’s bill.
28. *SB0720 by Hatcher. (HB0894 by Todd.)
Boards and Commissions - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 69. As introduced, increases, from two to three, the number of full consecutive terms that an appointive member of the board of ground water management may serve.
29. *SB0128 by Bailey. (HB0164 by Marsh.)
Professions and Occupations - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 63. As introduced, decreases, from 60 days to 50 days, the amount of time from the date the board of veterinary medical examiners receives a completed application for initial licensure to practice veterinary medicine from an applicant that the board must either render a decision on the application or inform the applicant of the need to appear before the board.
30. SB0918 by Campbell. (*HB0940 by Camper.)
Boats, Boating - Amends TCA Title 69, Chapter 9. As introduced, increases from 12 to 16, the minimum age for operating a personal watercraft without direct adult supervision; requires persons operating personal watercraft to maintain financial responsibility in the same amounts applicable to motor vehicles.
31. SB1263 by Bowling. (*HB1122 by Bricken.)
Solid Waste Disposal - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 68, Chapter 211; Title 68, Chapter 221 and Title 69. As introduced, creates exception to the state regulation of biosolids by authorizing the legislative body of Grundy County to regulate such activities.
32. *SB1033 by Bowling. (HB1112 by Fritts.)
Air Pollution - Amends TCA Title 58, Chapter 2 and Title 68, Chapter 201. As introduced, designates the intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight, or supplying or otherwise providing the chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus required for the conduct, as a Class A misdemeanor; makes other changes related to investigations and enforcement related to weather modification.
Criminalize the chemtrails!
33. *SB1038 by Bowling. (HB1060 by Howell.)
Game and Fish Laws - Amends TCA Section 70-2-106. As introduced, increases the fee that county clerks and other agents are authorized to collect from purchases of hunting and fishing licenses from $1.00 to $3.00 for annual licenses and $.50 to $3.00 for temporary licenses.
34. SB0843 by Walley. (*HB0842 by Crawford.)
Taxes, Real Property - Amends TCA Section 67-4-409. As introduced, requires half the revenue collected from recordation taxes be returned to the county in which the real property is located on a recurring basis; applies to transfers of real property on or after July 1, 2025.
Watch. Robs the Wetland Acquisition Fund to pay TWRA officers…
35. *SB0381 by Walley. (HB0513 by Hurt.)
Environment and Conservation, Department of - Amends TCA Title 1, Chapter 3; Title 43; Title 44; Title 68 and Title 69. As introduced, changes, from January 31 to February 15, the date by which the commissioner must submit reports related to the administration of the Water Quality Control Act of 1977 to legislative committees with jurisdiction over environmental matters.
Caption?
36. *SB0930 by Walley. (HB1062 by Vital.)
Environment and Conservation, Department of - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 11; Title 66; Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 4; Title 68 and Title 69. As introduced, increases, from three to five days after receipt, the maximum time that the department has to publish on the department's website a notice of intent to appeal a final order by the board of water quality, oil and gas or an administrative judge.
37. *SB0564 by Pody. (HB0803 by Grills.)
Water - as amended, creates a right of first refusal for local public utilities (water systems of counties, metro governments, or incorporated cities) once an initial application for a treatment works, which meets department standards, has been submitted by developers of subdivisions for approval by the utility.
Lagoons of shit! TDEC: Half of the state’s sewage drip systems are out of compliance and a quarter are actively leaking raw sewage into adjacent properties
38. *SB0258 by Pody. (HB1139 by Boyd.)
Water - Amends TCA Title 68. As introduced, excludes a water treatment facility that treats solely for the purpose of softening hard water from the definition of a public water system under the Tennessee Safe Drinking Water Act.
Watch. Jeopardizes federal funding.
39. *SB1058 by Pody. (HB1086 by Hulsey.)
Livestock - Amends TCA Title 44 and Title 58. As introduced, requires the commissioner of agriculture and the state veterinarian to receive prior approval from the joint government operations committee of the house of representatives and the senate to order vaccinations and tests for animals in this state; removes the requirement that an owner of a dead animal be liable for the sanitary disposition of the animal; clarifies indemnity procedures for a destroyed animal.
40. *SB0779 by Lowe. (HB0798 by Grills.)
Environment and Conservation, Department of - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 68, Chapter 211. As introduced, requires the department to make the catalog of materials on source reduction and recycling created by the department available on the department's website.
Caption?
41. *SB0558 by Reeves. (HB0921 by Cepicky.)
Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission - Amends TCA Title 70. As introduced, authorizes the commission to regulate the operation of sport shooting ranges rather than firing ranges; authorizes the Tennessee wildlife resources agency to establish fees for the use of such ranges in operation prior to July 1, 1998.
42. *SB0884 by Reeves. (HB1143 by Boyd.)
Energy - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13; Title 64; Title 65; Title 67 and Title 68. As introduced, clarifies that a political subdivision that imposes requirements or expectations related to the type of clean or green, or renewable, energy used by a public utility in an ordinance, resolution, or other regulation must include certain sources of energy as permissible sources of clean or green, or renewable, energy, regardless of whether the political subdivision classifies the requirements or expectations as relating to clean or green, or renewable, energy.
43. *SB0885 by Reeves. (HB1133 by Boyd.)
Taxes - Amends TCA Title 67. As introduced, allows nuclear energy production facilities to seek pollution control tax credits for certain machinery and equipment.
Watch. Interesting details in the fiscal note: There is one small modular reactor (SMR) planned to begin operations by 2033. It is assumed that the proposed exemption will apply to machinery and equipment purchased with regards to the construction of the SMR, if such purchases are not made directly by TVA. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) January 2024 report entitled Capital Cost and Performance Characteristics for Utility-Scale Electric Power Generating Technologies, capital costs for an SMR range between $1,000,000,000 and $5,000,000,000. According to the Tennessee Nuclear Energy Advisory Council’s Final Report and Recommendations released in October 2024, the construction costs of an SMR in Tennessee is estimated to be approximately $1,400,000,000.
44. *SB0438 by Reeves. (HB0667 by Terry.)
Environment and Conservation, Department of - With amendment, creates an advisory task force on solid waste to examine and review issues related to solid waste.
45. SB0874 by Reeves. (*HB0901 by Todd.)
Agriculture - Amends TCA Title 43. As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Century Farms Act" for the purpose of recognizing the historical significance of family farms that have been in continuous operation in this state for over 100 years and to highlight their contribution to agriculture in and the economy of this state.
46. *SB0883 by Reeves. (HB1137 by Boyd.)
Sewage - caption
47. SB0880 by Reeves. (*HB0896 by Todd.)
Administrative Procedure (UAPA) - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 5. As introduced, prohibits a state agency from disseminating, proposing, or finalizing any regulatory action for a substance, mixture, or chemical related to drinking water, water pollution control, hazardous substances, contaminated site remediation, air quality, or solid or hazardous waste handling unless the regulatory action is based upon the best available peer-reviewed scientific and technical information.
Watch. Would block rules against PFAs, ‘forever chemicals’
48. SB0877 by Reeves. (*HB0893 by Todd.)
Environment and Conservation, Department of - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7; Title 59; Title 65; Title 66; Title 68 and Title 69. As introduced, requires the department to make available a list of the registered withdrawals of 10,000 or more gallons of water per day from a surface water or a groundwater source in a publicly accessible place on the department's website.
Watch. Looks like it could be related to the Memphis Sand Aquifer, the source of drinking water for Memphis
12:30 p.m. Health & Welfare
1. *SB1282 by Johnson. (HB1310 by Lamberth.)
Food and Food Products - Amends TCA Section 53-8-103; Title 68, Chapter 110; Title 68, Chapter 111; Title 68, Chapter 14 and Title 68, Chapter 15. As introduced, deletes present laws pertaining to rented premises unfit for habitation and quick fast food establishment delivery vehicles; removes the statutorily set permit fees to operate food service establishments and requires such permit fees to be set by rule; makes other revisions to present laws pertaining to food service and safety.
2. *SB0789 by Walley. (HB0959 by Hemmer.)
Medical Occupations - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 63. As introduced, changes the term "temporary license" to "associate license" for a marriage and family therapist who has completed the academic coursework and training required for the license and who has successfully passed the examination required by the board; redefines an approved supervisor for marital therapy and counseling services to no longer include a board-approved marriage and family supervisor; redefines the exemptions to current law for professional counselors and marital and family therapists.
3. SB0606 by Bailey. (*HB0495 by Baum.)
Hospitals and Health Care Facilities - Amends TCA Title 63 and Title 68. As introduced, rewrites the fee limits for a party requesting a patient's medical record in either paper or electronic format from a provider or the provider's third-party release of information provider.
4. *SB0764 by Bailey. (HB0979 by Williams.)
Health Care - Requires the Board of Medical Examiners (BME) to review and determine the qualifications and fitness of all persons applying for a license to practice as an anesthesiologist assistant. Requires the BME to adopt rules governing the licensure and practice of anesthesiologist assistants. Establishes the scope of practice of anesthesiologist assistants, including that an anesthesiologist assistant may assist in the practice of medicine only under the supervision of an anesthesiologist.
5. SB0931 by Rose. (*HB0804 by Grills.)
Food and Food Products - Prohibits a cell-cultured food product from being labeled as a meat or meat food product, as defined in current law. Adds that cell-cultured food products that is labeled as meat or a meat food product is not in compliance and is misbranded. Requires the Department of Agriculture to assess a fine of $2,000 for each misbranded food product. Requires the Department of Agriculture to promulgate rules to implement and administer a program requiring a manufacturer who sells cell-cultured food products in Tennessee to have a permit.
Cloning meat cells?
6. *SB0871 by Hensley. (HB1192 by Cepicky.)
General Assembly, Directed Studies - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 33; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71. As introduced, directs TACIR to conduct a study and prepare a report on recommendations on the continuum of care in this state and how the continuum of care can be improved; requires the study and report to survey the continuum of care in other states and compare such care to the continuum of care in this state; requires TACIR to submit the report on or before January 1, 2026, to each member of the general assembly and the legislative librarian; permits the report to be submitted electronically.
7. *SB0264 by Hensley. (HB0385 by Butler.)
Taxes - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 4. As introduced, requires TennCare to certify an eligible healthcare provider's unreimbursed costs in a calendar year as charitable contributions made exclusively for public purposes to TennCare; requires eligible healthcare providers to pay TennCare $25 annually to receive such certification.
8. *SB0267 by Hensley. (HB0702 by Leatherwood.)
Health Care - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 29. As introduced, clarifies that the location to which specimens are transported that are collected at a collection station owned and operated by a medical laboratory owner that is a licensee of a medical laboratory in this state does not affect the ability of such collection station to operate without an additional license from the medical laboratory board.
9. SB1390 by Watson. (*HB0782 by Martin G.)
TennCare - Amends TCA Title 71. As introduced, directs the director to establish an additional PACE program as a pilot in one of the two grand divisions where a PACE program did not exist in 2024; permits a current PACE program in a county with a specific population to expand into contiguous counties having specifically listed populations.
10. *SB0321 by Massey. (HB0498 by Hale.)
Health Care - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 62 and Title 63. As introduced, creates the advisory task force on state reimbursement rates to make recommendations on annual adjustments to rates paid to agencies that perform healthcare functions and services, the purpose of which is to ensure such reimbursement rates are adequate.
11. *SB0644 by Crowe. (HB0865 by Hicks T.)
Nurses, Nursing - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 63. As introduced, requires the board of nursing to change certain minimum curricula standards for schools of nursing related to program course access and enrollment; requires the board of nursing to permit practical nursing program students to sit for the national council licensure exam upon completion of the program, as long as the exam's minimum age requirements are met.
12. *SB0654 by Crowe. (HB0717 by Jones R.)
Disability and Aging, Dept. Of - Amends TCA Title 9; Title 33; Title 52; Title 67 and Title 68. As introduced, enacts the "Caring for Caregivers Act," which requires the department to create and administer a three-year family caregiver grant pilot program to provide grants to caregivers of family members diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia to offset expenditures incurred by the caregivers.
13. *SJR0016 by Kyle.
General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position - Urges Tennesseans to donate feminine hygiene products to local schools.
14. SB1156 by Kyle. (*HB1099 by Towns.)
Food and Food Products - Amends TCA Title 47, Chapter 18 and Title 53. As introduced, prohibits the sale of food containing nanotechnology created by humans that is capable of collecting and transmitting data unless the food is labeled as containing nanotechnology.
15. SB0554 by Reeves. (*HB0510 by Terry.)
Medical Occupations - Enacts the Tennessee Physician Workforce Information Act.
Just a new survey of the healthcare workforce.
16. *SB1154 by Crowe. (HB1236 by Zachary.)
Human Resources, Department of - With amendment, creates the “Tennessee Healthy SNAP Act” by requiring the Department of Human Services to submit a request for a waiver to the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service to seek authorization in excluding candy and soft drinks from the definition of eligible foods from the SNAP program.
Watch. Food police.
17. Department of Health -- Budget Hearing
3 p.m. Education
1. SB1073 by Johnson. (*HB0861 by McCalmon.)
Local Education Agencies - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 10 and Title 49, Chapter 6. As introduced, requires LEAs to notify parents or guardians of a student at least 10 days before the student's individualized education program (IEP) meeting; requires LEAs to provide a copy of all evaluations and assessments of a student conducted for purposes of the student's IEP and, if created, a copy of a student's draft IEP, unless previously declined, to the student's parent or guardian at least 48 hours prior to a scheduled IEP team meeting.
2. *SJR0108 by Johnson.
General Assembly, Confirmation of Appointment - DeWitt Booth, University of Tennessee Southern Advisory Board
3. *SJR0095 by Johnson.
General Assembly, Confirmation of Appointment - Todd Womack, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Advisory Board
4. SB1085 by Johnson. (*HB0777 by Reeves.)
Lottery, Scholarships and Programs - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 4, Part 9. As introduced, allows a private postsecondary institution that is a candidate for accreditation by a regional accrediting association and that has its primary campus domiciled in this state to serve as an institution at which a student may be enrolled for purposes of receiving financial aid funded using net proceeds of the state lottery.
Watch. Puts unbudgeted pressure on the Lottery Fund.
5. SB1391 by Watson. (*HB1084 by Martin G.)
Health, Dept. of - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 68. As introduced, requires the department to establish and administer a grant program to reimburse local education agencies, public charter schools, private schools, and medical first responders for the costs of anti-choking devices purchased by the local education agency, public charter school, private school, or medical first responder on or after July 1, 2025.
6. *SB0899 by Massey. (HB0964 by Hawk.)
Education - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 8. As introduced, changes the standard for entry-resistant window treatment for school buildings constructed or remodeled on or after July 1, 2025; requires the state-level school safety team to issue guidelines to the state fire marshal for inclusion in rules.
7. SB0803 by Massey. (*HB0738 by Parkinson.)
Scholarships and Financial Aid - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, adds an institution accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS) that has its primary campus domiciled in this state as an eligible postsecondary institution in which a student may be enrolled for purposes of receiving a Tennessee Promise scholarship; conditions the availability of the scholarship at such an institution on there being no available enrollment slots in a Tennessee college of applied technology in the student's county of residence for the student's desired program of study.
Watch. Puts unbudgeted pressure on the Lottery Fund.
8. SB0709 by Massey. (*HB0663 by White.)
Education -
Caption
9. SB0471 by Bowling. (*HB0178 by Bulso.)
Education, Curriculum - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 13. As introduced, establishes that family life curriculum must include age-appropriate instruction and evidence regarding the positive personal and societal outcomes associated with the method by which a person completes the following in sequential order: obtains a high school diploma or high school equivalency credential; enters into the workforce or pursues a postsecondary degree or credential; enters into marriage; and has children.
Watch. The real indoctrination party.
10. SB0478 by Bowling. (*HB0008 by Hale.)
Law Enforcement - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 38 and Section 49-7-118. As introduced, requires an annual training pay bonus supplement for eligible campus police officers and public safety officers in the amount of $800.
11. *SB1041 by Bowling. (HB1250 by Maberry.)
Teachers, Principals and School Personnel - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, authorizes a local board of education and public charter school governing body to employ or accept as a volunteer a school chaplain to provide support, services, and programs for students, school staff, and students' parents.
Watch. Further erodes the division of church and state.
12. SB1044 by Bowling. (*HB0746 by Fritts.)
Local Education Agencies - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, requires a parent or guardian who wishes to enroll the parent's or guardian's student into an LEA or public charter school to submit one of the listed documents to the LEA or public charter school upon enrollment of the student unless the parent or guardian pays an amount equal to the amount representing the per pupil state and local funds generated and required through the Tennessee investment in student achievement formula for the LEA in which the participating student resides.
Watch. 2nd bill restricting access to public schools for undocumented students.
13. *SB0011 by Gardenhire. (HB0409 by White.)
Education, Dept. of - With amendment, expands the Education Savings Account program to Knox, Rutherford, and Montgomery counties. Additionally, this amendment removes current language in law regarding the program's design to serve students zoned to historically underperforming schools
14. SB0536 by Stevens. (*HB0194 by Martin B.)
Tennessee Higher Education Commission -
Caption re: Name Image Likeness
15. *SB0602 by Bailey. (HB1125 by Farmer.)
Education - With amendment, prohibits the use of student achievement data, student growth data, or any student performance data for a student who attended the school for less than half the year in calculating a teacher or principal's evaluation. Additionally, this amendment also bars the use of this data in school or district-wide TVAAS evaluation composites (as used for teacher evaluations for teachers without individual growth) unless the data is used in calculation of evaluation scores for teachers with access to individual growth data.
Looks OK
16. SB0514 by Bailey. (*HB0531 by Farmer.)
Education, Curriculum - Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, this amendment requires LEAs and public charter schools to offer 6th-12th grade students instruction on accessing, using, and evaluating artificial intelligence tools. Under this legislation, the Department of Education is required to issue guidance to public schools including guidance on basic concept introduction, practical applications, responsible use, relevant AI tools, and critical thinking.
Unnecessary?
17. *SB0701 by Kyle. (HB0715 by Jones J.)
Libraries - Amends TCA Title 10 and Title 49. As introduced, prohibits libraries from banning, removing, or otherwise restricting access to a book or other material based solely on its viewpoint or the messages, ideas, or opinions it conveys, except as otherwise authorized.
18. SB0933 by Rose. (*HB0919 by Cepicky.)
Boards and Commissions - With amendments, increases the size of the Board of Regents, the University Governing Boards, and the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees by two members each and redesignates the appointing authority for board members to allow the speaker of the senate and the speaker of the house two appointments a piece to each board.
Watch. Gives the speakers more power/influence over public colleges and universities
19. SB0636 by Walley. (*HB0091 by Haston.)
Education, Dept. of - As amended, would require the Department of Education (DOE) to request an amendment concerning the ESSA plan. Under this bill, the DOE would request to eliminate EOC tests for 9th -12th graders (except for science), and instead use 9th-11th grade results from postsecondary assessments for accountability purposes.
20. *SB0928 by Walley. (HB1001 by Haston.)
Education - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, requires the state board of education to authorize a student who is working toward completing a career and technical education elective focus to substitute up to four career and technical education course credits for the required chemistry course credit, computer science course credit, world language course credit, and Algebra II course credit necessary to earn a full diploma upon graduation from high school.
21. SB0593 by Walley. (*HB0224 by Haston.)
Local Education Agencies - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, enacts the "School District Capital Improvements Investment Trust Act."
23. SB0713 by Taylor. (*HB0665 by Cepicky.)
Education - With amendment, requires high schools to provide official military recruiting representatives access to the high schools once a month during student lunch periods and once every other month (when school is in session) to provide more information to interested students.
24. SB0714 by Taylor. (*HB0662 by White.)
Education - Memphis schools takeover bill
Watch. More Republican overreach into local government. Republicans are trying to create a new state-run school district while other Republicans are trying to shut one down (ASD)
25. *SB1336 by Taylor. (HB1383 by Harris.)
Local Education Agencies - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 5; Title 7; Title 8 and Title 49. As introduced, requires elections for county boards of education to be held at the same time and on the same election cycle as elections for members of the local legislative body for the county; requires members of county boards of education to have the same staggered terms as members of the local legislative body for the county; requires members of a county board of education to have the same term limits as members of the local legislative body for the county.
Watch. State interference with local school board elections.
26. *SB0386 by Taylor. (HB0522 by Reedy.)
Education - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 37 and Title 49. As introduced, enacts the "Early Behavioral Intervention and Reporting Act"; clarifies that public charter schools are required to have a threat assessment team in the same manner as required of local education agencies.
Watch. The Disability Rights Coalition is opposed, I am told.
27. *SB0740 by Harshbarger. (HB1153 by Lynn.)
Education - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, requires local boards of education to establish a program to provide free school breakfast and lunch to disadvantaged students; subject to funding, requires the state to reimburse LEAs for providing such free breakfasts and lunches after all federal funds have been applied.
28. *SB1332 by Harshbarger. (HB1281 by Hill.)
Education - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 2; Title 49, Chapter 5 and Title 49, Chapter 6. As introduced, requires that persons who hold positions with independent entities that teach released time courses and who have proximity to students undergo a criminal history records check conducted by the TBI; requires LEAs to notify students' parents whether results indicate that the subject has been convicted of certain criminal offenses for which a licensed educator's license is subject to revocation with a hearing.
29. SB1147 by Crowe. (*HB0880 by Stinnett.)
Education, Dept. of - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 1 and Title 49, Chapter 5. As introduced, requires the department to compile a list of all of the educator preparation providers' teacher training requirements for licensed educators to teach students in any of the grades K-12 who are employees of a local education agency or public charter school; requires the department to publish the list on the department's website and submit the list to the education committee of the senate and the committee of the house of representatives having jurisdiction over educator licensure by June 30 of each year.
30. SB0295 by Crowe. (*HB0299 by Reedy.)
Education, Higher - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, extends to the dependent children and spouses of veterans who sustained a permanent and total service-connected disability during a qualifying period of armed conflict the same waiver of all tuition and fees at public institutions of higher education being provided to the dependent children and spouses of veterans who were killed, died due to injuries received, or reported as prisoners of war or missing in action during a qualifying period of armed conflict.
31. SB1151 by Crowe. (*HB0789 by Vital.)
Lottery, Scholarships and Programs - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 50, Part 1; Title 49, Chapter 7 and Title 49, Chapter 4. As introduced, removes the requirement that a student with a documented intellectual disability be admitted to, and enrolled in, an eligible postsecondary institution in an eligible postsecondary program no later than 16 months after completing high school in order to be eligible to receive a Tennessee STEP UP scholarship.
32. *SB0912 by Lowe. (HB1043 by Vital.)
Education - With amendment, make changes to the Education Freedom Act (Public Chapter 7, 2025) to allow students to receive an education freedom scholarship for the purpose of paying the tuition costs associated with attending a public school outside of their residential LEA.
33. *SB1112 by Lowe. (HB1085 by Martin G.)
Education - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, prohibits a local board of education or public charter school governing body from removing a material from a library collection for the sole reason that the material is religious.
34. SB0729 by Lowe. (*HB0759 by Marsh.)
Local Education Agencies - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, authorizes an LEA to adopt and implement a merit-based pay structure for educators to award additional compensation to high-performing educators and to incentivize educators to meet and exceed expectations.
35. *SB0341 by Lowe. (HB1130 by Farmer.)
Education, Dept. of - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, requires the department to allocate to each local education agency sufficient funds for the LEA to employ one full-time licensed professional school counselor at each high school in the LEA that enrolls at least 600 students in grades 10 through 12; requires each LEA to employ one full-time licensed professional school counselor at each high school for which the LEA receives such funding from the department.
36. *SB0342 by Lowe. (HB0416 by Davis.)
Local Education Agencies - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, requires school board members to be elected at the same election beginning in 2028.
Watch. State interference with local school board elections.
37. SB0146 by Lowe. (*HB0061 by Raper.)
Education - Amends TCA Title 37 and Title 49. As introduced, specifies that in an educational neglect case a subpoena may be issued for a student's attendance record, including all previous school years that the student attended a public school, in accordance with relevant privacy laws.
38. SB1168 by Akbari. (*HB0778 by McKenzie.)
Teachers, Principals and School Personnel - Amends TCA Title 8 and Title 49. As introduced, requires the office of research and education accountability (OREA), in the office of the comptroller of the treasury, to study and make recommendations for the implementation of an incentive program for educators who have 15 or more years' experience in education; requires OREA to report its findings and recommendations for implementation of the incentive program by December 31, 2025.
39. *SB1327 by Akbari. (HB1276 by Camper.)
Education - Caption
40. *SB1423 by Akbari. (HB1377 by Harris.)
Education - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, requires that a student's report card include a statement of the student's current reading grade level.
41. SB0124 by Powers. (*HB0081 by Hemmer.)
Students - With amendment, requires LEAs to transfer a student's records to a new school within or outside of their LEA within five business days of a student's transfer to a new school. Additionally, this amendment adds a requirement that the receiving school or LEA notify the sending school or LEA if the student does not enroll within five business days of their receipt of the student's records.
42. *SB0346 by Powers. (HB0453 by Hurt.)
Fire Prevention and Investigation - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 102. As introduced, specifies that fire drills for private and public schools requiring full evacuation in educational occupancies where such occupancies constitute the major occupancy of a building must be held at least one time every 30 school days.
Watch. Seems like overkill.
43. *SB0946 by Powers. (HB1088 by Sexton.)
Local Education Agencies - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, requires an LEA that receives credible information regarding a threat of violence or significantly disruptive behavior directed toward, or occurring on the grounds of, a public school in the LEA, and that reports the threat or disruptive behavior to a state or local law enforcement agency, to notify the parents and guardians of students enrolled in the public school of the same threat or disruptive behavior within 24 hours of the LEA making its report to law enforcement.
44. SB0950 by Powers. (*HB0958 by Slater.)
Education - As amended, Senate Bill 950 creates a federal education deregulation task force, consisting of seven members, with the responsibility to prepare the state for the potential deregulation of federal laws, regulations, requirements, and guidance for K-12 education. The seven members of the committee are the chair of the House Education Committee, two members of the House, the chair of the Senate Education committee, two members of the Senate, one licensed educator appointed by the governor. Appointments must be made no later than 7/1/25 and the first meeting must occur no later than 8/1/25. The task force is charged with identifying all federal funding received, as well as, the requirements of receiving the funding, resources necessary for the funding, positions funded. and the necessity of continuing the programs should federal funding cease. The task force is required to compile and submit a report to the General Assembly, no later than 12/31/25.
Watch. Federal Deregulation Task Force
45. SB0686 by White. (*HB0148 by White.)
Tennessee Higher Education Commission - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 49, Chapter 4 and Title 49, Chapter 7. As introduced, creates the Tennessee Promise completion grant special account in the state treasury for purposes of awarding completion grants to certain Tennessee Promise scholarship students; makes the four-year pilot program established by the commission to award completion grants to certain Tennessee Promise scholarship students a permanent program.
46. SB1024 by White. (*HB1036 by Baum.)
Education - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 14; Title 49, Chapter 4; Title 49, Chapter 50; Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9. As introduced, requires the department of education to evaluate the effectiveness of an innovative school district after the first school year of operation and make recommendations, which may include encouraging additional public universities to operate an innovative school district based upon future state educational needs, to the education committee of the senate and the committee of the house of representatives having jurisdiction over education.
47. *HJR0175 by Cochran.
General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position - Urges Tennessee universities to adopt principles of institutional neutrality, free expression and civil discourse, and the preservation of a safe and respectful campus.
Watch. Be truthful, not neutral.