Amendment: Lee admin adds $343M of spending to the budget
8:30 a.m. - Finance, Ways & Means - Watch
- Gov. Bill Lee’s administration presented an overview of its $59.5 billion FY 2025-2026 budget proposal in February to members of the Senate finance committee.
- Today, Lee’s finance chief will present the “administration’s amendment” to the budget, giving the public its first look at all the revenue and spending details the governor’s office intentionally withheld from the state’s official budget book.
- A preview showed the Lee administration is adding $343 million of new spending, which brings the total budget recommendation to nearly $60 billion.
GOP bill denying school access for undocumented kids up again
8:30 a.m. CT – Finance, Ways & Means - Watch - SB0836 by Watson
- The Senate sponsor of legislation to block undocumented children from attending public schools has filed a new amendment for his bill. The amendment still allows public school districts to deny enrollment to any child whose parents cannot produce documentation to verify citizenship or a legal immigration status, but the policy would be optional.
- School officials could choose to verify the status of every child or none. They could also choose to charge tuition to undocumented students or deny them access altogether.
- Republicans introduced this callous legislation to challenge a 53-year-old U.S. Supreme Court decision which held that states cannot deny students access to public K-12 schools based on immigration status. The decision affirmed what we already knew: It’s in our shared interest to ensure that every child in our community can get an education, no matter their parents, wealth, religion or where they were born.
Akbari bill ends TN’s modern day poll taxes
10:30 a.m. - State & Local Government - Watch - SB0336 by Sen. Raumesh Akbari
- Every felony conviction results in a Tennessean being stripped of their voting rights and the process to restore those rights is one of the most complex in the nation.
- One recent estimate suggests that nearly 500,000 people are waiting to regain their right to vote.
- With Senate Bill 336, redemption and responsibility go hand-in-hand. This legislation would repeal two provisions that act as modern day poll taxes and make sure that no one is denied a voice in our democracy simply because they cannot afford to pay.
Bill creates new watchdog for state, private prisons
10:30 a.m. - State & Local Government - Watch - SB0330 by Jackson
- After years of failed audits, safety issues and penalties, a Senate committee chairman is sponsoring legislation to create the office of the Corrections Ombudsman.
- The office would serve as an investigative watchdog for the General Assembly, which for years has increased the prison budget without taking corrective action to address shortcomings in the department.
A state mint? Bill would convert ‘rainy day fund’ into gold, metal reserve
3 p.m. - Commerce & Labor - Watch - SB 0167 & SB 0168 *Bailey, Southerland
- A pair of bills backed by Republicans would establish a state mint to produce coins and bars made of gold and other precious metals.
- The legislation directs state officials to borrow money from the state’s $2 billion “rainy day fund” to set up the mint and begin amassing metal bullion, stamping coins and selling Tennessee-branded gold and silver coins. In addition to funds from the reserve, the legislation asks taxpayers to contribute $50 million more each year “for the purchase of precious metal bullion” and mint production.
- As if we needed another sign of wealth inequality in Tennessee, Republicans want to amass a stockpile of gold and precious metals while ignoring the needs of working families.
Bipartisan bill allows 12-month refills for prescription birth control
3 p.m. - Labor & Commerce - Watch - SB0589 by Sen. Raumesh Akbari
- Convenience and common sense: The legislation would give every Tennessean covered by health insurance the ability to receive a 12-month supply of birth control.
- This policy would eliminate the need to return to a pharmacy every 30 or 90 days to refill prescriptions, reducing the possibility of temporarily not having access to contraception.
Bill sets $20 an hour minimum wage
3 p.m. - Labor & Commerce - Watch - SB 1357 by Sen. Raumesh Akbari
- In a move to boost income for working families, Senate Bill 1357 would set the state minimum wage at $20 an hour, a move that aligns with core Tennessee values—promoting self-reliance, reducing dependence on government assistance and strengthening families.
Full Senate Schedule
Senate Finance, Ways & Means
1. *SB0763 by Yager. (HB0968 by Hawk.)
Tobacco, Tobacco Products - Amends TCA Title 10, Chapter 7, Part 5; Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 15; Title 47, Chapter 25; Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 10 and Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 26. As introduced, requires the department of revenue to maintain a directory on its website that lists all vapor products certified as authorized to be sold in this state; levies a privilege tax of seven cents per milliliter of consumable material contained in a closed-system vapor product; levies a privilege tax at the rate of 10 percent of the wholesale cost price on an open-system vapor product.
Watch. Highly controversial regulations and tax increase on vapor products. The American Heart Association is opposed because the bill does not directly address youth vaping and only limits competition in the industry. The American Lung Association is also opposed.
2. SB0836 by Watson. (*HB0793 by Lamberth.)
Local Education Agencies - As amended, requires documentation showing that a student is a citizen of the United States, is in the process of obtaining citizenship, or holds a legal immigration or visa status at the time of the student’s enrollment in an LEA or public charter school. Additionally, this legislation permits an LEA or public charter school to charge tuition and require full payment prior to enrollment for any student who cannot provide the required documentation.
Watch. Bill aims to deny undocumented families access to public schools and overturn four decades of SCOTUS precedent.
3. Administration’s Budget Amendment
Commissioner Jim Bryson, FY 2025-2026 Administration Amendment Overview
Notes: Gov. Bill Lee’s administration presented an overview of its recommended FY 2025-2026 budget to the Senate Finance Committee in February. The presentation of the “administration amendment” gives the public its first look at all the revenue and spending priorities Gov. Lee intentionally withheld from the state’s official budget book.
4. Tennessee Higher Education Commission -- Capital Budget Hearing
10:30 a.m. State & Local Government
1. SB0754 by Yager. (*HB0079 by Keisling.)
Economic and Community Development - Amends TCA Title 6 and Title 67, Chapter 6. As introduced, enacts the "Courthouse Square Revitalization Act."
Off notice
2. *SB0411 by Bailey. (HB0802 by Grills.)
State Employees - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 42 and Title 9, Chapter 8. As introduced, classifies as state employees for purposes of defense and other related provisions, soil and water conservation district board of supervisors, employees, officers, and agents, and persons designated by a soil and water conservation district as participants in volunteer programs authorized by such districts.
3. *SB0795 by Bailey. (HB1173 by Williams.)
Purchasing and Procurement - Amends TCA Title 12, Chapter 3. As introduced, authorizes local governments to purchase goods and services directly, without bid or quotations, from vendors awarded general services administration (GSA) schedule contracts at prices equal to the vendor's current GSA schedule price.
Chips away at public procurement laws…
4. SB1139 by Taylor. (*HB0542 by Vaughan.)
Utilities, Utility Districts - Amends TCA Title 7; Title 13, Chapter 7; Title 65 and Title 68. As introduced, requires a utility to review plans of development for compliance with water, electric, and natural gas infrastructure codes within 30 days of the plan's submission; authorizes developers to hire a third-party plans examiner in lieu of the utility's review if not timely completed.
Watch. Overreach. Developers want a state law that forces utilities to approve building projects without due diligence by the utilities examiners.
5. *SB0336 by Akbari. (HB0687 by Camper.)
Election Laws - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 40. As introduced, removes the permanent deprivation of the right of suffrage upon conviction of first degree murder, aggravated rape, treason, or voter fraud; removes the requirement that a person must have paid all court costs in order to be eligible for restoration of the right of suffrage; requires a person to be compliant with all current child support orders rather than current in all child support obligations in order to be eligible for restoration of the right of suffrage.
6. SB0159 by Hensley. (*HB0139 by Warner.)
Election Laws - Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 6, Part 5 and Title 2, Chapter 9. As introduced, prohibits using voting machines or voting equipment to cast, receive, or transmit an election ballot via the internet, except for military personnel and citizens abroad.
7. SB0268 by Hensley. (*HB0145 by Bulso.)
Immigration - Amends TCA Title 1; Title 4; Title 7; Title 45 and Title 49. As introduced, requires a financial institution to verify the immigration status of a person sending funds electronically outside of the United States and its territories; changes the definition of resident or citizen of this state to mean citizens of the United States and aliens lawfully present in this state; requires the parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a pupil who is not lawfully residing in this state, but who attends a public school in this state, to pay tuition.
Anti-immigrant. Anti-American.
8. SB0160 by Hensley. (*HB0083 by Moon.)
Local Government, General - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 61. As introduced, requires a municipality that does not provide ambulance service to reimburse the county for such service in proportion to the municipality's population to the population of the county, up to 50 percent of the total cost of providing the service.
Amended to TACIR study…
9. *SB0377 by Rose. (HB0548 by Cochran.)
Purchasing and Procurement - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 56. As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Procurement Protection Act."
10. SB0396 by Rose. (*HB0132 by Zachary.)
Governor - Amends TCA Section 58-2-107. As introduced, limits the duration of a state of emergency declared by the governor to 30 days; authorizes the general assembly to terminate, extend, or renew a state of emergency by joint resolution; establishes an ad hoc legislative council to extend a state of emergency during the interim between legislative sessions.
Legislative overreach. Eroding separation of powers.
11. SB0643 by Campbell. (*HB0426 by Love.)
Taxes, Exemption and Credits - Amends TCA Section 67-5-212. As introduced, exempts a nonprofit religious institution from property taxes, under certain circumstances; applicable in Davidson County.
12. SB1115 by Pody. (*HB1144 by Boyd.)
Correction, Dept. of - With amendment, requires the department of correction to reduce the population at a private prison facility by 10 percent if the death rate of inmates at the private prison facility is twice the death rate of an equivalent state-operated facility. It requires the department to continue the reduction in population until they are able to determine what conditions are causing the higher death rate and have corrected those issues..
Good bill. Holds CoreCivic accountable to keep inmates and guards safe
13. *SB0731 by Pody. (HB0795 by Vaughan.)
Public Contracts - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 9; Title 12; Title 13 and Title 66. As introduced, requires a local government to send back any requested changes on a contractor's or developer's application for development site plans or inspections in a single deliverable document or set of documents, or to remit related fees back to the developer for subsequent change requests; prohibits a local government from requiring a developer or contractor to fund, develop, or contribute to the development of nonessential infrastructure, unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties.
Developer bill. Primarily benefits developers and contractors by restricting local governments' ability to modify contracts and by limiting their authority to require contributions to infrastructure beyond the immediate development site.
14. SB0952 by Powers. (*HB0978 by Burkhart.)
Utilities, Utility Districts - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 65; Title 68 and Title 69. As introduced, requires a utility governed by the Utilities' Cut-Off Procedures Act to publish its policy governing the discontinuation of service for nonpayment of service on the utility's website in a publicly accessible location.
Off notice in House
15. SB0953 by Powers. (*HB0977 by Burkhart.)
Pensions and Retirement Benefits - With amendment, authorizes a political subdivision to adopt a supplemental benefit after July 1, 2025 for members in positions with mandatory retirement provisions. Upon adoption, the bridge benefit applies to members between the ages of 55 and 62 for up to seven years after the effective date of retirement. For members retiring between the ages of 60 and 62 to be paid the benefit until the member reaches 67 years of age.
16. SB1228 by Oliver. (*HB1110 by Salinas.)
Election Laws - caption on voting at the jail
17. SB0276 by Roberts. (*HB0208 by Littleton.)
Naming and Designating - As introduced, designates the National Guard Armory in Cheatham County as the "First Sergeant Charles Anderson Douglas National Guard Armory."
18. *SB0848 by Hatcher. (HB0935 by Moon.)
County Government - Amends TCA Title 5 and Title 12, Chapter 3, Part 12. As introduced, authorizes a county that has adopted the County Purchasing Law of 1957 to require a competitive bid process for insurance brokerage services.
19. *SB1326 by Kyle. (HB1380 by Harris.)
Taxes, Real Property - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 5, Part 7. As introduced, exempts taxpayers who are 85 or older and who have received property tax relief for at least five consecutive years from annual income reporting requirements for continued participation.
20. *SB0181 by Jackson. (HB0288 by Lafferty)
State Government - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8, Chapter 34, Part 2; Title 52; Title 58, Chapter 7; Title 63, Chapter 6, Part 4; Title 68, Chapter 142, Part 1; Title 68, Chapter 11, Part 2 and Title 69, Chapter 10. As introduced, removes obsolete statutory references to the defunct joint select committee on veterans services of the general assembly.
21. *SB0330 by Jackson. (HB0454 by Hurt.)
Correction, Dept. of - With amendment, creates a legislative office of the corrections ombudsman to provide oversight in state prisons and prisons run on behalf of the state
22. *SB0212 by Gardenhire. (HB0885 by Todd.)
Open Meetings - Amends TCA Section 8-44-110. As introduced, expands the requirement that state and local governing bodies make an agenda available to the public prior to regular public meetings of the body to include the governing bodies of certain nonprofit organizations, including nonprofit community organizations that receive federal funding, nonprofit organizations that receive community grant funds from this state or certain funding from local governments, nonprofit organizations created for the benefit of local governments, and nonprofit organizations that provide the metropolitan government of Nashville/Davidson County with certain utility services; requires, rather than permits, such governing bodies that maintain a website to post the agenda to the website.
23. SB1193 by Gardenhire. (*HB0863 by Faison.)
Local Government, General -
caption
24. *SB1258 by Yarbro. (HB1267 by Johnson.)
Election Laws - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 41.
Caption on incarcerated voting for persons who are legal voters
25. *SB0007 by Lowe. (HB0073 by Howell.)
Historical Commission - prohibits the Tennessee historical commission, and any other state entity other than the state building commission engaged in the historic preservation of real property, from regulating the renovation, alteration, or demolition of improved public or private real property that is not listed on the Tennessee register of historic places.
Prohibits local governments from preserving historic neighborhoods.
26. *SB0008 by Lowe. (HB0550 by Cochran.)
Pensions and Retirement Benefits - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 27; Title 8, Chapter 34; Title 8, Chapter 35; Title 8, Chapter 36 and Title 8, Chapter 37. As introduced, enacts the "Fairness in Benefits Act"; requires an employer participating in the Tennessee consolidated retirement system to allow the dissemination of information and educational materials developed by a private entity regarding the entity's alternative retirement plans and supplemental benefits to its employees on the employer's premises.
27. SB0165 by Walley. (*HB0098 by Hicks G.)
Human Services, Dept. of - Amends TCA Title 13, Chapter 26. As introduced, increases the amount of funding the state is authorized to match local contributions for funding of human resource agencies.
28. SB0510 by Walley. (*HB0535 by Haston.)
Pensions and Retirement Benefits - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 25; Title 8, Chapter 34; Title 8, Chapter 35; Title 8, Chapter 36 and Title 8, Chapter 37. As introduced, establishes that certain public officials, including members of the general assembly, who take office on or after July 1, 2025, have mandatory membership in the Tennessee consolidated retirement system (TCRS); allows a retiree to reannuitize retirement benefits in favor of a new spouse beneficiary following cancellation of a former spouse beneficiary due to divorce; makes other revisions to provisions governing the TCRS.
29. SB0842 by Walley. (*HB0763 by Littleton.)
Tort Liability and Reform - Amends TCA Title 12; Title 12, Chapter 3 and Title 29. As introduced, clarifies that any governmental entity may purchase any of the insurance authorized under state law, without the necessity of public bidding, as required by any public or private act or charter restriction, if such insurance is purchased through a plan authorized and approved by any organization of cities, counties, or other governmental entities as contemplated by state law.
30. SB0622 by Briggs. (*HB0604 by Lamberth.)
Alcoholic Beverage Commission - Amends TCA Title 55 and Title 57. As introduced, requires a person or entity owning a hotel, restaurant, or other establishment that desires to sell wine or other alcoholic beverages for consumption on its premises where food may be served to make application for a permit to do so on forms in triplicate, instead of in duplicate.
31. *SB0623 by Briggs. (HB0857 by Leatherwood.)
Public Records - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 4, Part 6. As introduced, requires the office of open records counsel to facilitate the convening of meetings of the advisory committee on open government, including selecting a date for the required annual meeting in the absence of co-chairs.
32. SB0624 by Briggs. (*HB0618 by Wright.)
Public Officials - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 8. As introduced, prohibits an individual holding an elected office of a local government from holding another elected office in this state at the same time; grandfathers individuals holding more than one office presently until the terms expire; clarifies that such prohibition does not apply to an office in a political party's state executive committee.
33. *SB0625 by Briggs. (HB0917 by Faison.)
Public Property - Amends TCA Section 12-2-114. As introduced, clarifies exception to when a state entity must advertise for leasing space when the entity has requirements that are special and unique.
34. SB0629 by Briggs. (*HB0627 by Crawford.)
Taxes, Hotel Motel - caption
TML opposes. Kevin Cain?
35. SB0771 by Briggs. (*HB0733 by Crawford.)
Taxes, Ad Valorem - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 5. As introduced, removes the condition that a taxpayer or owner must obtain consent of the assessor of property before appealing the valuation of industrial and commercial real and tangible personal property directly to the state board of equalization; makes other related revisions.
Trustees oppose.
36. SB0773 by Briggs. (*HB0735 by Wright.)
Planning, Public - Amends TCA Title 13, Chapter 3; Title 13, Chapter 4 and Title 13, Chapter 7. As introduced, specifies that the vesting period established for a construction project or development plan does not expire because of pending litigation challenging a permit; specifies that the vesting period is tolled while such litigation is pending.
Need more info
37. SB0365 by Briggs. (*HB0317 by Rudd.)
Zoning - Amends TCA Title 13, Chapter 7. As introduced, makes certain changes to the powers and duties of county and municipal boards of zoning appeals.
38. SB0368 by Briggs. (*HB0048 by Hale.)
Veterans - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 5, Part 7. As introduced, removes the market value cap used for calculating property tax relief on the primary residence for disabled veterans who are eligible for property tax relief and requires the state to fully reimburse such veterans for local property taxes paid for a given tax year on that property.
Admirable goal, but the property tax relief fund is running at a deficit
1 p.m. Judiciary
1. SB 0924 *Haile (HB 0706 by *Travis)
District Attorneys- As introduced, adds an additional assistant district attorney general position and criminal investigator position in each judicial district that includes a state correctional facility. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 16 and Title 41.
2. SB 1015 *Haile (HB 1359 by *Littleton)
Foster Care- With amendment, establishes a set of rights for foster children in Tennessee’s DCS custody or in agencies contracted for foster care placement. It mandates that the department implement these rights through administrative rulemaking. The 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 with age-appropriate explanations, and freedom from punitive restrictions on communication with legal representatives.
Good bill. Foster Child Bill of Rights
3. SB 1052 *Haile (HB 1355 by *Littleton)
Children- As introduced, specifies that a biological father or alleged biological father who makes token financial support to or for the benefit of a child or the child's mother during the pregnancy or when the mother had physical custody of the child is not a putative father; makes various other changes regarding final orders of adoption. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 63.
4. SB 1234 *Haile, Walley, Bailey (HB 1301 by *Grills, Atchley, Hurt, Jones R, Barrett, Freeman, Gillespie, Marsh, Hicks G, Howell, Scarbrough, Carringer, Todd, McCalmon)
Civil Procedure- As introduced, revives causes of action based on a sexual assault that occurred when the injured party was 18 years of age or older and are time-barred because the applicable statute of limitations has expired; allows such actions to be commenced within a certain time period. - Amends TCA Title 28, Chapter 3; Title 39 and Title 40.
5. SB 1245 *Haile (HB 0576 by *Doggett)
Bonding, Surety and Professional- With amendment, establishes the Board of Professional Bondsmen, transferring regulatory authority from individual courts to this centralized board.
6. SB 0285 *Bailey (HB 0323 by *Bricken)
Real Property- As introduced, changes from a preponderance of the evidence to clear and convincing evidence the burden of proof for a debtor to prove that property sold at a foreclosure sale for an amount materially less than the fair market value in order to rebut the presumption that the foreclosure sale price of the property was equal to the fair market value at the time of sale. - Amends TCA Title 35.
Off notice
7. SB 0943 *Massey (HB 1255 by *Alexander)
Children- As introduced, increases from two to three the number of hours of training or continuing education courses that each judge involved in child custody proceedings on domestic violence shall complete per year; increases from 10 to 15 the number of hours of training or continuing education courses each judge involved in child custody proceedings on child abuse shall complete per year. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 37.
Caption
8. SB 0944 *Massey (HB 1089 by *Sexton, Hicks T)
Criminal Offenses- As introduced, requires the punishment for the offense of cruelty to animals to include at least 40 hours of community service work to be determined by the court, in addition to any other punishment authorized by law. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 39 and Title 40.
9. SB 0770 *Briggs (HB 0962 by *Hawk, Lamberth)
Local Government, General- As introduced, authorizes local governments to create local boards for the purpose of permitting retailers of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 43, Chapter 27.
10. SB 1425 *Briggs, Campbell (HB 1241 by *Helton-Haynes, White, Shaw)
Abortion- As introduced, defines the terms "serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function" and "lethal fetal anomaly"; specifies that a physician does not commit the offense of criminal abortion if, under certain circumstances, the physician performs or attempts to perform an abortion to address a lethal fetal anomaly or a premature delivery of an unborn child with a lethal fetal anomaly.
Off notice.
11. SB 0222 *Jackson (HB 1027 by *Russell)
Criminal Procedure- With amendment, establishes the Tennessee Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods Support (TN-VICTIMS) Act to improve violent crime clearance rates and victim support. It directs the Department of Finance and Administration to create a grant program for law enforcement agencies and district attorney offices to enhance investigative strategies and victim engagement.
12. SB 0444 *Jackson (HB 0501 by *Littleton, Alexander, Hardaway, Russell, Sparks, Stinnett, Davis, Glynn, Eldridge)
Children and Youth, Commission on- As introduced, creates the Tennessee juvenile justice review commission to review an appropriate sampling of juvenile justice cases and any critical incidents involving juveniles in order to provide the general assembly with findings and legislative recommendations. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 37.
13. SB 0560 *Jackson (HB 0347 by *Hurt)
Children- As introduced, specifies that the terms abandonment, abuse, severe abuse, and dependent and neglected child do not include the failure to meet the needs of a child solely due to financial hardship unless reasonable material resources such as cash assistance, safe and stable housing, or tangible goods have been offered to and refused by the parent or guardian; makes various other changes regarding adoption, termination of parental rights, and the criminal offenses of child abuse and child neglect. - Amends TCA Title 36; Title 37 and Title 39.
14. SB 0419 *Hensley (HB 0005 by *Bulso)
Remedies and Special Proceedings- As introduced, increases the amount of compensation an injured plaintiff in a civil action may receive for noneconomic damages from $750,000 to $1.5 million; increases the amount of compensation an injured plaintiff in a civil action may receive for noneconomic damages, if the injury or loss is catastrophic in nature, from $1 million to $2 million.
With amendment, allows for a wrongful death claim for the death of an unborn child at any stage of gestation if an abortion-inducing drug, specifically mifepristone or misoprostol, is sent directly to a patient by a defendant in violation of existing state law. It exempts pharmacists, physicians, motor carriers, freight forwarders, and air carriers from liability under this provision. The bill does not prohibit the lawful use of mifepristone or misoprostol by pharmacists or physicians.
15. SB 0661 *Hensley (HB 0723 by *Fritts, Warner)
Criminal Offenses- With amendment, makes significant changes to Tennessee's firearm laws, especially regarding carrying firearms on school property and other public areas. It clarifies that adults may possess firearms in private vehicles on school property without committing an offense and allows schools to opt out of firearm prohibition signage in favor of warnings about armed personnel. It expands exemptions for carrying firearms to include certain government officials, ROTC members, and security personnel. It lowers the age for applying for an enhanced handgun carry permit from 21 to 18 and broadens the definition of "firearm" to replace "handgun" in several statutes. The amendment also removes several statu-tory provisions regulating firearm possession on school grounds and public property, including specific rules for college campuses and local government property.
16. SB 1004 *Briggs (HB 0990 by *Terry)
Abortion- With amendment, defines "inevitable abortion" as cervical dilation before pregnancy viability due to preterm labor or cervical insufficiency. It defines "serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function" as a medically diagnosed condition that severely complicates pregnancy and may include specific complications like preterm membrane rupture, severe preeclampsia, mirror syndrome, and infections risking uterine rupture or infertility. It excludes mental health conditions from this definition.
17. SB 1360 *Hensley (HB 0873 by *Fritts, Powers, Barrett)
Remedies and Special Proceedings- As introduced, removes the ability to bring a civil liability action for negligence per se against a seller of a qualified product; expands "qualified products" to include knives, body armor, pepper spray, silencers, and other certain products; requires physical injury for a negligent entrustment action rather than an unreasonable risk of physical injury; specifies that a person who will be subject to an ordinance in the future or reasonably intends to be physically present in the political subdivision is an adversely affected party for purposes of filing certain actions; makes various other changes regarding civil actions against arms dealers, manufacturers, and sellers and the preemption of local regulation of firearms. - Amends TCA Title 29, Chapter 42 and Title 39.
18. SB 1411 *Hensley (HB 0721 by *Dixie)
Criminal Offenses- As introduced, makes assault against school employees a Class E felony offense under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 49, Chapter 6.
19. SB 1424 *Hensley (HB 0884 by *Todd, Grills, Garrett, Zachary, Cochran, Moon, Davis, Barrett, Fritts)
Obscenity and Pornography- As introduced, specifies that a community or municipal center that is being used to offer adult cabaret entertainment is an "adult-oriented establishment" for purposes of regulating its hours of operation, location, and physical characteristics. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 51, Part 14.
20. SB 0433 *Reeves, Campbell (HB 0076 by *Stevens, Terry, McCalmon)
Animal Cruelty and Abuse- As introduced, prohibits the abandonment of an animal in a person's custody and provides that it is not a defense to prosecution that the person abandoned the animal at or near an animal shelter, veterinary clinic, or other place of shelter if the person did not make reasonable arrangements for the care of the animal. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 2.
22. SB 0475 *Bowling, Lamar (HB 0720 by *Dixie)
Sentencing- As introduced, reduces the percentage of sentence that a person convicted of first degree murder on or after July 1, 1995, and sentenced to life imprisonment is required to serve before becoming eligible for release from 100 percent of 60 years less sentence credits earned and retained to 60 percent of 60 years less sentence credits earned and retained; prohibits a defendant becoming eligible for parole before serving 25 years of the sentence, if the defendant was 25 years of age or younger at the time of the offense, or 30 years of the sentence, if the defendant was 26 years of age or older at the time of the offense. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 2 and Title 40.
23. SB 0493 *Bowling (HB 1024 by *Russell, Lafferty, Faison, Hulsey, Eldridge, Grills, Todd, Stinnett, Littleton, Farmer, Hill, Davis, Travis, Towns, Reneau, Fritts, Leatherwood, Terry, Rudd, Martin B, Warner, Barrett, Atchley, Hicks T, Sparks, Reeves, Slater, Burkhart, Sherrell, Capley, Bricken, Jones R, Hurt, Haston, McCalmon, Kumar, Cepicky, Reedy, Maberry, Rudder, Gant, Darby, Hicks G, Stevens)
Forfeiture of Assets- As introduced, increases the burden of proof required to be met by the state in civil asset forfeiture proceedings from a preponderance of evidence standard to a clear and convincing evidence standard. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 33.
24. SB 1032 *Bowling (HB 0850 by *Reneau, Todd, Hulsey, Eldridge, Lafferty, Russell, Martin B, Warner, Barrett, Fritts, Grills)
Search & Seizure- As introduced, requires officials who are employed or contracted by the federal government, the state government, or a local government within this state, or an agency or department thereof, to obtain a search warrant that identifies the person or property that is the subject of the search before entering private property, unless a judicially recognized exception to the warrant requirement exists. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 44.
25. SB 0028 *Pody (HB 0370 by *Scarbrough, Lamberth)
Criminal Offenses- As introduced, expands the criminal offense of harassment to include harassment that occurs by communicating in the physical presence of the victim, in addition to in writing, by telephone, or electronically. - Amends TCA Title 39.
26. SB 0030 *Pody (HB 0055 by *Lamberth, Russell, Sherrell, Eldridge)
Criminal Offenses- As introduced, creates new misdemeanor offenses, including intentionally refusing to give one's name or giving a false name to a law enforcement officer who has lawfully detained or arrested the person and requested the information. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40; Title 54 and Title 55.
27. SB 0837 *Pody (HB 0849 by *Reneau)
Statutes and Codification- As introduced, defines "human being," "life," and "natural person" for statutory construction purposes; excludes from the definition of "person," "life," and "natural person" artificial intelligence, a computer algorithm, a software program, computer hardware, or any type of machine. - Amends TCA Title 1.
28. SB 0170 *Lowe (HB 1025 by *Russell, Burkhart)
Juvenile Offenders- As introduced, requires suspension of a minor's driving privileges or ability to obtain a driver license for a period of one year as part of the disposition if a minor is adjudicated delinquent for an act that would constitute the offense of harassment by bullying or cyber-bullying. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39 and Title 55, Chapter 10, Part 7.
29. SB 0349 *Lowe (HB 0378 by *McCalmon, Zachary)
Law Enforcement- As introduced, specifies that a commissioned reserve deputy sheriff or commissioned reserve or auxiliary police officer receiving compensation for services as a guard, patrol, or watchperson under a contract with a private business that is properly licensed by the state is exempt from the private protective services licensing and regulation requirements. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 62, Chapter 35.
30. SB 1065 *Seal (HB 1128 by *Farmer)
County Officers- As introduced, requires the peace officer standards and training commission to issue a certificate of compliance to any person duly elected and sworn as a county constable if the person meets the qualifications for employment as a police officer and completes an approved recruit training program; requires a constable to complete an annual in-service training session to maintain certification. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 10 and Title 38, Chapter 8.
31. SB 1166 *Akbari (HB 1274 by *Shaw, Russell, Dixie)
DUI Offenses- As introduced, requires the Tennessee bureau of investigation to provide a report to the speakers of the senate and the house of representatives on or before January 1 each year detailing the instances in the most recent year for which complete data is available in which a person who was arrested for driving under the influence but where no alcohol or other intoxicants are detected in the person's blood or breath. - Amends TCA Title 6; Title 7; Title 8 and Title 38.
32. SB 1170 *Akbari (HB 1372 by *Chism)
Criminal Offenses- As introduced, removes the killing of another committed in the perpetration of or attempt to perpetrate certain crimes from the elements of first degree murder; deletes the offense of criminal responsibility for conduct of another; deletes the offense of criminal responsibility for the facilitation of a felony. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 11; Title 39, Chapter 12; Title 39, Chapter 13; Title 39, Chapter 14; Title 40, Chapter 24; Title 40, Chapter 35 and Title 40, Chapter 39.
33. SB 1177 *Akbari (HB 0689 by *Camper, Behn)
Expunction- As introduced, authorizes court clerks in certain counties to implement an automatic expunction processing program that initiates processing the expunction of public records without petition by the person, certification of eligibility from the TBI, or court order in certain limited circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 32.
34. SB 1422 *Akbari (HB 1166 by *Parkinson)
Law Enforcement- As introduced, requires law enforcement agencies to investigate for the presence of workplace bullying concurrent with investigations of crimes of violence in the workplace; requires law enforcement agencies to report findings to the TBI; requires the TBI to annually submit a report to legislative committees concerning workplace bullying and violence. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 50.
35. SB 1128 *Yarbro, Campbell (HB 1295 by *Powell)
Criminal Offenses- As introduced, enacts the "Shielding Tennesseans from Oligarchic Power and Eliminating Lawless Obstruction of Necessities Act (STOP ELON Act)," which creates a new offense of interfering with an individual's or entity's receipt of a loan, grant, or financial assistance that the individual or entity is lawfully entitled to receive from the federal, state, or local government, with intent to deprive the individual of the loan, grant, or financial assistance, which is punished as theft; authorizes a victim of an offense to bring a civil action to recover the funds that the victim did not receive because of the offense. - Amends TCA Title 29 and Title 39.
36. SB 1331 *Yarbro (HB 1131 by *Parkinson)
Children's Services, Dept. of- caption
37. SB 0920 *Campbell (HB 0679 by *Freeman)
Sexual Offenses- As introduced, increases from $1,000 to $2,500 the amount of compensation that may be awarded from the criminal injuries compensation fund to a health care provider who performed a forensic medical examination on a victim of a sexually oriented crime; requires the Tennessee bureau of investigation to perform serology or DNA analysis on a sexual assault evidence collection kit within 120 days of the bureau's receipt of the sexual assault evidence collection kit from a law enforcement agency. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 38 and Title 39.
38. SR 0006 *Oliver
General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position- Affirms that the American Dream belongs to all of us. -
39. SB 1011 *Oliver (HB 1105 by *Salinas)
Abortion- As introduced, creates an exception to the offense of criminal abortion if the person who performed or attempted to perform the abortion was a licensed physician and the patient's pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 15, Part 2.
3 p.m. Commerce & Labor
**Final Calendar**
1. SB 1372 *Watson, Crowe, Campbell (HB 0651 by *Williams, Hill, Miller, Behn)
Insurance, Health, Accident- As introduced, prohibits a health insurance entity or TennCare MCO from including an all-products clause in a network participation agreement with a healthcare provider, and makes certain other changes related to MCO network adequacy. - Amends TCA Title 56 and Title 71.
2. SB 0674 *Taylor (HB 0900 by *Todd)
Employees, Employers- As introduced, clarifies that the general assembly preempts and occupies the entire field of regulating the terms and conditions of employment; prohibits local governments from adopting or enforcing any law, rule, or policy that requires a term or condition of employment that exceeds or conflicts with state or federal law. - Amends TCA Title 7 and Title 50.
Watch. Major legislative overreach into employment law
3. SB 0350 *Harshbarger, Johnson (HB 0469 by *Reeves, Powers, Jones R, Atchley, Capley, McCalmon, Todd, Zachary, Keisling, Fritts, Butler, Hurt, Reneau, Boyd, Martin B, Grills, Burkhart)
Landlord and Tenant- As introduced, prohibits a landlord from prohibiting a tenant from lawfully possessing, carrying, transporting, or storing a firearm, firearm components, or ammunition on leased premises or in a vehicle located on leased premises; creates a cause of action for a tenant who is adversely affected by a landlord's violation of such prohibition. - Amends TCA Title 66.
What about college dorms? What about halfway houses? What about family members?
4. SB 1208 *Yarbro (HB 1049 by *Freeman)
Health Care- With amendment, Allows healthcare prescribes who are authorized to prescribe, via telehealth, buprenorphine for medication assisted treatment and is employed by a licensed nonresidential office-based opiate treatment facility or licensed nonresidential opioid treatment program, community mental health center, federally qualified health center, licensed hospital, or TennCare’s treatment network to establish and maintain a provider based relationship without an in-person examination unless federal law requires otherwise.
5. SB 1339 *Yarbro, Bowling (HB 1132 by *Parkinson)
Consumer Protection- With amendment, prohibits business entities from selling a consumer's personal information without their consent. It requires businesses to provide a separate request for this consent and stipulates that if consent is not given, the business cannot force the consumer to opt out of the sale. Additionally, businesses cannot deny services or products to consumers who do not consent to the sale of their personal information. Violating these provisions is classified as an unfair and deceptive act under the Consumer Protection Act of 1977.
6. SB 1414 *Briggs, Yager, Crowe (HB 1242 by *Helton-Haynes, Rudder, Moon, Jones R, Sherrell, Behn)
Insurance, Health, Accident- As introduced, expands provisions prohibiting discrimination against 340B entities that are covered entities participating in the federal 340B drug discount program under section 340B of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. § 256b. - Amends TCA Title 47, Chapter 18 and Title 56.
7. SB 1426 *Watson (HB 0411 by *Lynn)
TennCare- As introduced, requires TennCare coverage of treatment of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS). - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 56 and Title 71.
8. SB 1078 *Johnson, Yager (HB 0743 by *Keisling)
Commerce and Insurance, Dept. of- enacts the Debt Resolution Services Act by requiring licensure for providers of debt resolution services, with certain exceptions, under the Consumer Protection Act of 1977.
9. SB 0529 *Stevens (HB 0911 by *Garrett)
Consumer Protection- With amendment, revises the definition of nonprofit organization as it relates to the Tennessee Information Protection Act to encompass public utilities organized or regulated under the laws of this state, rather than only those organized under the laws of this state.
10. SB 0436 *Reeves (HB 1198 by *Kumar)
Drugs, Prescription- As introduced, adds mandating the use of biosimilar drugs as a cost-saving measure the bureau of TennCare may implement; adds that a health carrier, health benefit plan, or utilization review organization may require a patient to try a biosimilar product prior to providing coverage for the equivalent branded prescription drug; requires the TennCare pharmacy advisory committee to consider as a factor the use of biosimilar drugs in the committee's recommendation to the bureau of TennCare on any drugs to be added to the state preferred drug list. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 53; Title 56; Title 68 and Title 71.
11. SB 0881 *Reeves (HB 1244 by *Martin B, Behn)
Insurance, Health, Accident- As introduced, establishes standards for pharmacy benefits managers to use when processing and paying claims; removes limits on aggregate penalties for violations of law made by pharmacy benefits managers; makes other related revisions. - Amends TCA Title 56.
12. SB 1389 *Watson (HB 0638 by *Carringer)
TennCare- As introduced, prohibits a healthcare provider who participates in the TennCare or CoverKids programs from refusing to provide healthcare services to an enrollee based solely upon the enrollee’s refusal to obtain a vaccine or immunization; prohibits the bureau from reimbursing a healthcare provider in violation of such prohibition; requires the director to adopt rules. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.
Watch. More legal protections for anti-vaxxers
13. SB 0893 *Stevens (HB 0987 by *Williams)
Taxes, Tobacco, Tobacco Products- As introduced, requires cigarettes that are defined as heated tobacco products to be taxed at a rate of 0.15 cents per cigarette. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 4.
14. SB 0167 *Bailey, Southerland (HB 0440 by *Hulsey, Sexton, Hawk, Barrett)
Treasurer, State- As introduced, allows the state treasurer to enter into an agreement with an entity to carry out certain activities in order to serve as a facility to securely produce, store, process, and ship bullion products for the state's depository. - Amends TCA Title 9, Chapter 4.
The Tennessee Mint?
15. SB 0168 *Bailey, Southerland (HB 0439 by *Hulsey, Sexton, Hawk, Doggett, Capley, Barrett, Grills)
Public Funds and Financing- As introduced, creates in the reserve for revenue fluctuations account a restricted account for the purchase and sale of precious metal bullion or specie; authorizes the state treasurer, with approval of the comptroller of the treasury, to purchase and sell precious metal bullion or specie with funds from that account. - Amends TCA Title 9.
A precious metals fund? Bill puts Tennessee in the precious metals business.
16. SB 0579 *Akbari, Yarbro (HB 0427 by *Love)
Employees, Employers- As introduced, allows for eligible employees to be absent 12 weeks from work following a living organ donation surgery; prohibits insurers from denying coverage or varying any term or condition of a life insurance policy, disability insurance policy, or long-term care insurance policy based solely on the person's status as a living organ donor; requires the department of health to create living organ donor informational material and make such material available on the department's website. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 50; Title 56 and Title 68.
17. SB 0853 *Taylor (HB 0970 by *Hawk, Kumar, Garrett, Littleton, Travis, Hill)
Hospitals and Health Care Facilities- As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Healthcare Quality and Access Act of 2025." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 34; Title 42; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68; Title 71 and Chapter 985 of the Public Acts of 2024.
Watch. Certificate of Need reform…
18. SB 0226 *Taylor (HB 0470 by *Rudd, Barrett)
Professions and Occupations- As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Professionals' Freedom of Religion Act." - Amends TCA Title 4.
Watch. Looks like a giant intrusion on medical ethics and professional care
19. SB 1383 *Watson (HB 0476 by *Vaughan)
Comptroller, State-
Caption?
20. SB 0676 *Taylor (HB 0754 by *Faison)
Health Care- As introduced, requires gender clinics accepting funds from this state to perform gender transition procedures to also perform detransition procedures; requires insurance entities providing coverage of gender transition procedures to also cover detransition procedures; requires certain gender clinics and insurance entities to report information regarding detransition procedures to the department of health. - Amends TCA Title 1; Title 4; Title 33; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.
More anti-trans legislation
21. SB 0420 *Reeves (HB 0870 by *Rudder)
Insurance, Health, Accident- As introduced, prohibits an insurer, pharmacy benefits manager, or third-party administrator from changing or conditioning the terms of health plan coverage based on availability of financial or other product assistance for a prescription drug; establishes certain procedures for calculating an enrollee's contribution to an applicable cost sharing requirement. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 10; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.
Caption
22. SB 0225 *Taylor, Bowling (HB 0029 by *Cepicky, Hale, Sherrell, Atchley, Hawk, Slater, Lafferty)
Chiropractors- As introduced, requires certain insurers to reimburse chiropractic physicians at the same rate as physicians for the same services. - Amends TCA Title 56, Chapter 7 and Title 63.
23. SB 0422 *Reeves (HB 0406 by *Martin B, Leatherwood, Helton-Haynes, Martin G)
Health Care- As introduced, lowers from every three years to every two years, the time within which the advisory committee composed of medical device industry representatives and a representative of the department of economic and community development must review rules regarding the board of pharmacy's oversight of facilities that manufacture, warehouse, and distribute medical devices in order to review the advancements of new medical device technologies. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 47; Title 56; Title 63 and Title 71.
Coverage mandate for prosthetics
24. SB 0435 *Reeves, Akbari, Campbell, Rose, Jackson (HB 0484 by *Martin B, Hemmer, Helton-Haynes, Behn, White, Warner, Boyd, Freeman, Moody, Jones R, Hakeem, Parkinson, Sherrell, Terry, Faison, Hale)
Insurance, Health, Accident- As introduced, requires health benefit plans and TennCare health benefit plans to cover biomarker testing on and after January 1, 2026. - Amends TCA Title 56 and Title 71.
25. SB 0589 *Akbari, Yarbro (HB 0169 by *Helton-Haynes)
Insurance, Health, Accident- As introduced, expands the definition of a health benefit plan; requires a health benefit plan that amends, renews, or delivers a policy of coverage on or after January 1, 2026, and that provides coverage for prescription contraceptives, to provide coverage for a 12-month refill of contraceptives obtained at one time by an insured person. - Amends TCA Title 56 and Title 71.
26. SB 1382 *Watson, Reeves (HB 0858 by *Alexander, Jones R, Terry)
Commerce and Insurance, Dept. of- As introduced, requires the commissioner to conduct a study on the ease of access for patients and prescribing practitioners to insurers' online processes to request step therapy exceptions to determine whether insurers in this state are complying with the current law requirement for ease of access in a manner that does not impose any unnecessary barriers to making an exception request; requires the commissioner to deliver findings and recommendations from the study to the chief clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the legislative librarian no later than December 15, 2025. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.
28. SB 1357 *Akbari (HB 1399 by *Pearson)
Salaries and Benefits- As introduced, increases, from $7.25 to $20, the minimum hourly wage for employees within this state. - Amends TCA Section 8-23-203; Title 12 and Title 50, Chapter 2.
31. SB 0858 *Taylor (HB 0939 by *Powers)
State Employees- With amendment, establishes that a law enacted by this state or a political subdivision of this state must not regulate, restrict, or otherwise govern any employer welfare benefit plan subject to preemption under Section 514 of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
Watch. Prevents cities from mandating certain rules related to ERISA. Cases in US District Court in East Tennessee.
32. *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."