Bill criminalizes THCa flower – the hemp industry’s most popular product
9:30 a.m. CT - Senate Regular Calendar - Watch - *SB1413 by Briggs
- Legislation up for a vote in the Senate today would criminalize the most popular product sold by Tennessee’s quarter-billion dollar hemp industry.
- The move could deal a significant blow to many in the industry, which is dominated by small businesses. An economic survey shows that more than half of the industry’s revenue comes from THCa products. If the ban becomes law, 64% of hemp companies that responded to the economic survey said they would either go out of business or leave the state.
- Interestingly, the legislation protects hemp-derived THC drinks. Hemp growers have said the bill is a power play by the alcohol industry, which wants more control over the fast-growing THC beverage market.
G.O.P. grandstands against ‘DEI hires’ but allows nepotism, political hires
1 p.m. - Senate Regular Calendar - Watch - SB 1083 *Johnson, Hensley
- Senate Bill 1083 would enact the "Dismantle DEI Act" which prohibits state agencies, local governments and colleges from basing hiring decisions on metrics that consider an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability.
- The Republican sponsor — who has twice delayed a Senate vote — says government hiring should only be based on “merit,” but his legislation still allows government officials to hire friends, family members and political campaign supporters.
- Republicans have proven they fundamentally do not understand the purpose of “diversity, equity and inclusions” initiatives, which are meant to ensure that everyone in the organization feels respected and valued.
- Instead of canceling DEI initiatives and playing into FOX News stereotypes, the Republican Party should be focused on real problems, like Tennessee’s road funding crisis, spiraling healthcare costs or sky-high inflation.
- Extra Useless: The next bill on the calendar follows the same failed thinking – SB 1084 *Johnson, called the "Dismantling DEI Departments Act."
Controversial ban on some vapor products back in the Senate amended
1 p.m. - Senate Regular Calendar - Watch - *SB0763 by Yager
9:30 a.m. Senate Floor
1. *SB1413 by Briggs. (*HB1376 by Lamberth.)
Alcoholic Beverage Commission - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40; Title 43, Chapter 27; Title 53, Chapter 11; Title 57 and Title 67. As introduced, provides for the regulation of the manufacturing, supplying, wholesale distribution, and retail sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products by the commission and department of revenue; creates licenses for suppliers, wholesalers, and retailers; establishes taxes for such products and the manner in which such taxes are collected and allocated; establishes civil and criminal penalties for violations.
Brutal regulations for the $250 million hemp industry that outlaws the most popular product.
2. *SB0255 by Gardenhire. (HB0490 by Helton-Haynes.)
Courts - As amended, allows municipal judges who were elected or appointed before March 7, 2025, and qualified under the laws in effect at the time, to remain in office despite not meeting any new residency requirements established after that date. These judges will be considered de facto officers, and their actions will remain valid throughout their term. The residency requirements established in McNabb v. Harrison will apply starting with the next election for affected municipal judges.
This bill is attempting to get around a TN Supreme Court ruling requiring municipal judges to live in city where they were elected
3. *SB0415 by Lowe. (HB0675 by Cochran.)
Education- As amended, creates an advisory committee composed of Senate members, House members, representatives of the board of education and department of education that is tasked with studying teacher and principal evaluation processes, state and locally mandated assessments, a potential shift in required instructional hours rather than days, substitution of CTE courses for courses required for graduation, and educational, licensure, and training requirements for teachers, as well as, compensation structure. The committee is required to submit a report to the speakers of both houses, and the appropriate education committees by December 31, 2025.
4. *SB0727 by Lowe. (HB1127 by Farmer.)
Fiduciaries - As amended, requires, in any sale of land to foreclose a deed of trust, mortgage, or other lien securing the payment of money or other thing of value or under judicial orders or process, that advertisement of the sale be made at least two times for sales occurring prior to July 1, 2027, and at least one time for sales occurring on or after July 1, 2027, instead of at least three times, in a newspaper in the county where the sale is to be made. Requires advertisement of the sale to additionally be made through a third-party internet posting company for at least 20 continuous days.
5. *SB0764 by Bailey. (HB0979 by Williams.)
Health Care - As amended, 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. Prohibits a person from practicing as an anesthesiologist assistant or using the title or representing that the person is a certified anesthesiologist assistant or anesthesiologist assistant without having a license granted by the BME. Establishes that a violation of such restriction is Class B misdemeanor.
Watch. CRNAs oppose. Anesthesiologists want the option to hire lower-paid, less-trained “anesthesiologist assistants” that do not have a scope of practice currently under TN law.
6. SB1048 by Bowling. (*HB0562 by Fritts.)
State Government - Amends TCA Title 58, Chapter 2. As introduced, prohibits a person, political subdivision, or public official, in connection with a state emergency, from categorizing or proclaiming by order, rule, or regulation that a lawful occupation is non-essential, or otherwise proclaiming by order, rule, or regulation that a lawful occupation is prohibited from operating based on what the lawful occupation is; specifies that a person harmed by a violation of the prohibition may bring a civil action for actual damages or declaratory relief.
7. *SB1065 by Seal. (HB1128 by Farmer.)
County Officers - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 10 and Title 38, Chapter 8. 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.
8. SB0778 by Lowe. (HB0816 by Travis.)
Driver Licenses - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 50. As introduced, designates a traffic citation issued solely on the basis of a violation for the offense of driving while the person's driving privileges are canceled, suspended, or revoked as a nonmoving traffic violation.
9. SB1083 by Johnson. (*HB0622 by Maberry.)
Local Government, General - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8 and Title 49. As introduced, enacts the "Dismantle DEI Act," which prohibits local governments and public institutions of higher education from basing hiring decisions on any metrics that consider an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability, or hiring a particular candidate in order to achieve any goals to increase diversity, equity, or inclusion in the workplace.
10. SB1084 by Johnson (*HB0923 by Maberry.)
Human Rights - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8 and Title 49, Chapter 7. As introduced, enacts the "Dismantling DEI Departments Act."
11. SB1135 by Bailey. (*HB1050 by Parkinson.)
Nuisances - As amended, establishes that certain specified circumstances automatically qualify as a nuisance. It allows courts to require those responsible for maintaining a nuisance to pay statutory damages between $1,000 and $50,000. Eligible claimants include property owners within the same zip code as the nuisance who file a claim asserting property value damage.
12. *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.”
Message Calendar
1. *SB0007 by Lowe. (HB0073 by Howell.)
Historical Commission - As amended, 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.
Watch. History buffs might hate this.
2. *SB0026 by Pody. (HB0636 by Burkhart.)
Regional Authorities and Special Districts - authorizes municipalities, counties, and metropolitan governments to establish infrastructure development districts (IDD) within a municipality or across multiple municipalities for the purpose of establishing an alternative method to fund and finance capital infrastructure through the levy and collection of special assessments and the issuance of bonds, the maximum term of which must not exceed 30 years from the first issuance of the debt obligation. It adds the ability for commercial development to be eligible to participate in infrastructure development districts.
3 SB0102
Sunset bill for the technology commission
4. *SB0161 by Hensley. (HB1199 by Kumar.)
Local Education Agencies - As amended, SB161 will require each local school board for an LEA with at least one high school to adopt a policy for authorizing one high school student to serve as a nonvoting representative on the school board.
5. SB 0252 *Haile (HB 0314 by *Littleton)
Treasurer, State- As introduced, requires the state treasurer to compare the maximum award limit for the criminal injuries compensation program with the average of the maximum award limits of other states and territories every three years beginning January 1, 2026, rather than by October 1 of each year; requires the state treasurer to publish an adjustment to the maximum award on the department of treasury website by no later than March 1 of the comparison year; declares that the determination and publication of the adjusted maximum award is not a rule as defined in statute and is exempt from the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act. - Amends TCA Section 29-13-106.
6. *SB0359 by Briggs. (HB1203 by Kumar.)
Medical Occupations - Amends TCA Title 63. As introduced, authorizes a healthcare provider’s licensing board to issue a license subject to a private advocacy order which requires the applicant to participate in a peer assistance program approved by the board; designates private advocacy orders as confidential and not public records, as long as the provider does not fail to maintain participation in the peer assistance program and requires the initiation of disciplinary proceedings by the board.
7. *SB0468 by Bowling. (HB0571 by Barrett.)
Safety - As introduced, enacts the "Women's Safety and Protection Act," which prohibits state and local governments from prohibiting distinctions between male and female sexes with respect to athletics, correctional facilities, juvenile detention facilities, domestic violence shelters, or other accommodations where biology, safety, or privacy is implied and which result in separate accommodations that are substantially related to protecting the health, safety, or privacy of individuals in such circumstances.
More anti-trans legislation
8. SB0536 by Stevens. (*HB0194 by Martin B.)
Tennessee Higher Education Commission - Makes various changes to state regulations relative to compensation for the use of an intercollegiate athlete's name, image, or likeness (NIL). Authorizes a third party, including, but not limited to, an institution and its affiliated foundations, or a third party authorized to act on behalf of such institution or affiliated foundations, to facilitate, offer, and provide compensation to an intercollegiate athlete related to the use of the intercollegiate athlete's own NIL. Authorizes any business arrangements with third parties that may provide economic incentives, foster start-ups, make investments, explore business combinations, develop licensing opportunities, or involve any other commercial activity that directly or indirectly benefits the state, the institution, the affiliated foundation, intercollegiate athletes, or industry participants. Places various requirements and restrictions on institutions’ athletic associations. Prohibits an agreement for representation of an intercollegiate athlete between that athlete and a third party from compromising the athlete’s eligibility to participate in an athletic program at an institution or any athletic event. Declares, broadly, that any records, materials, information, or other data, etc., related to, or generated from, business activities associated with NIL compensation are confidential and not subject to public inspection under the open records laws.
9. *SB0678 by White. (HB1352 by Littleton.)
Sentencing - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 5. As introduced, increases the penalty for aggravated sexual battery from a Class B felony to a Class A felony if the victim was less than 18 years of age or was mentally defective, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.
10. 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.
11. *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.
12. *SB1005 by Haile. (HB1180 by Farmer.)
Adoption - Amends TCA Title 18; Title 36 and Title 37. As introduced, allows petitioners to include all children in one adoption or termination of parental rights petition if the petitioners are seeking to adopt more than one child at the same time and the children are siblings who share at least one biological parent, unless the court issues a written order finding that it is in the best interest of the children that separate petitions be filed; specifies that the clerk of court shall charge only one filing fee for such a petition.
House version may be an improvement…
13. SB 1018 *White (HB 0997 by *Stevens)
Schools, Charter- As introduced, clarifies that a public charter school authorized in its charter agreement to locate in a county local education agency (LEA) is not allowed to charge a student who resides in the county any registration fees, enrollment fees, or tuition if the student transfers to the public charter school from another LEA located in the same county. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 13 and Title 49, Chapter 6.
14. *SB1133 by Gardenhire. (HB1256 by Doggett.)
Criminal Offenses - As amended, mandates that when a court issues a bench warrant or capias, the defendant must be listed as a fugitive from justice in available state and federal databases, including the National Crime Information Center. The judicial official must sign the warrant by the end of the business day, and the clerk must transmit it to the entering agency within one business day. The entering agency then has three business days to add the warrant to the databases, and a surety is not liable if this is not done. If the defendant is apprehended out of state in an area beyond the listed extradition limits, the district attorney general must decide within one business day whether to initiate extradition proceedings.
15. SB1237 by Haile. (*HB0785 by Howell.)
Bail, Bail Bonds - With amendment, introduces new reporting requirements for professional bondsmen and court clerks in Tennessee. Starting October 25, 2025, bondsmen must submit quarterly reports to the Department of Revenue by specific deadlines (January 25, April 25, July 25, and October 25) detailing the total number of bonds issued, broken down by county, and the total liability in each county. Similarly, court clerks must file quarterly reports detailing the total number of bonds accepted and their total value. These reports will be used by the Department of Revenue for auditing purposes to enforce the bail bonding tax.
Watch. New reporting requirements for the bail companies.
16. SB 1272 *Johnson (HB 1308 by *Lamberth, Cochran)
Education- As introduced, makes various changes to reporting requirements, school and district accountability, the accumulation of excess instructional time, remote instruction, the immunization status of students in state custody, the individualized education account program, public virtual school enrollment, and certain course access program requirements imposed on the department of education.
Removes immunization requirements for a child in state custody.
Removes the cap on the maximum for the Individualized Education Account.
Removes the cap on virtual public school enrollment.
Bill criminalizes THCa flower – the hemp industry’s most popular product
9:30 a.m. CT - Senate Regular Calendar - Watch - *SB1413 by Briggs
- Legislation up for a vote in the Senate today would criminalize the most popular product sold by Tennessee’s quarter-billion dollar hemp industry.
- The move could deal a significant blow to many in the industry, which is dominated by small businesses. An economic survey shows that more than half of the industry’s revenue comes from THCa products. If the ban becomes law, 64% of hemp companies that responded to the economic survey said they would either go out of business or leave the state.
- Interestingly, the legislation protects hemp-derived THC drinks. Hemp growers have said the bill is a power play by the alcohol industry, which wants more control over the fast-growing THC beverage market.
G.O.P. grandstands against ‘DEI hires’ but allows nepotism, political hires
1 p.m. - Senate Regular Calendar - Watch - SB 1083 *Johnson, Hensley
- Senate Bill 1083 would enact the "Dismantle DEI Act" which prohibits state agencies, local governments and colleges from basing hiring decisions on metrics that consider an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability.
- The Republican sponsor — who has twice delayed a Senate vote — says government hiring should only be based on “merit,” but his legislation still allows government officials to hire friends, family members and political campaign supporters.
- Republicans have proven they fundamentally do not understand the purpose of “diversity, equity and inclusions” initiatives, which are meant to ensure that everyone in the organization feels respected and valued.
- Instead of canceling DEI initiatives and playing into FOX News stereotypes, the Republican Party should be focused on real problems, like Tennessee’s road funding crisis, spiraling healthcare costs or sky-high inflation.
- Extra Useless: The next bill on the calendar follows the same failed thinking – SB 1084 *Johnson, called the "Dismantling DEI Departments Act."
Controversial ban on some vapor products back in the Senate amended
1 p.m. - Senate Regular Calendar - Watch - *SB0763 by Yager
9:30 a.m. Senate Floor
1. *SB1413 by Briggs. (*HB1376 by Lamberth.)
Alcoholic Beverage Commission - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40; Title 43, Chapter 27; Title 53, Chapter 11; Title 57 and Title 67. As introduced, provides for the regulation of the manufacturing, supplying, wholesale distribution, and retail sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products by the commission and department of revenue; creates licenses for suppliers, wholesalers, and retailers; establishes taxes for such products and the manner in which such taxes are collected and allocated; establishes civil and criminal penalties for violations.
Brutal regulations for the $250 million hemp industry that outlaws the most popular product.
2. *SB0255 by Gardenhire. (HB0490 by Helton-Haynes.)
Courts - As amended, allows municipal judges who were elected or appointed before March 7, 2025, and qualified under the laws in effect at the time, to remain in office despite not meeting any new residency requirements established after that date. These judges will be considered de facto officers, and their actions will remain valid throughout their term. The residency requirements established in McNabb v. Harrison will apply starting with the next election for affected municipal judges.
This bill is attempting to get around a TN Supreme Court ruling requiring municipal judges to live in city where they were elected
3. *SB0415 by Lowe. (HB0675 by Cochran.)
Education- As amended, creates an advisory committee composed of Senate members, House members, representatives of the board of education and department of education that is tasked with studying teacher and principal evaluation processes, state and locally mandated assessments, a potential shift in required instructional hours rather than days, substitution of CTE courses for courses required for graduation, and educational, licensure, and training requirements for teachers, as well as, compensation structure. The committee is required to submit a report to the speakers of both houses, and the appropriate education committees by December 31, 2025.
4. *SB0727 by Lowe. (HB1127 by Farmer.)
Fiduciaries - As amended, requires, in any sale of land to foreclose a deed of trust, mortgage, or other lien securing the payment of money or other thing of value or under judicial orders or process, that advertisement of the sale be made at least two times for sales occurring prior to July 1, 2027, and at least one time for sales occurring on or after July 1, 2027, instead of at least three times, in a newspaper in the county where the sale is to be made. Requires advertisement of the sale to additionally be made through a third-party internet posting company for at least 20 continuous days.
5. *SB0764 by Bailey. (HB0979 by Williams.)
Health Care - As amended, 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. Prohibits a person from practicing as an anesthesiologist assistant or using the title or representing that the person is a certified anesthesiologist assistant or anesthesiologist assistant without having a license granted by the BME. Establishes that a violation of such restriction is Class B misdemeanor.
Watch. CRNAs oppose. Anesthesiologists want the option to hire lower-paid, less-trained “anesthesiologist assistants” that do not have a scope of practice currently under TN law.
6. SB1048 by Bowling. (*HB0562 by Fritts.)
State Government - Amends TCA Title 58, Chapter 2. As introduced, prohibits a person, political subdivision, or public official, in connection with a state emergency, from categorizing or proclaiming by order, rule, or regulation that a lawful occupation is non-essential, or otherwise proclaiming by order, rule, or regulation that a lawful occupation is prohibited from operating based on what the lawful occupation is; specifies that a person harmed by a violation of the prohibition may bring a civil action for actual damages or declaratory relief.
7. *SB1065 by Seal. (HB1128 by Farmer.)
County Officers - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 10 and Title 38, Chapter 8. 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.
8. SB0778 by Lowe. (HB0816 by Travis.)
Driver Licenses - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 50. As introduced, designates a traffic citation issued solely on the basis of a violation for the offense of driving while the person's driving privileges are canceled, suspended, or revoked as a nonmoving traffic violation.
9. SB1083 by Johnson. (*HB0622 by Maberry.)
Local Government, General - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8 and Title 49. As introduced, enacts the "Dismantle DEI Act," which prohibits local governments and public institutions of higher education from basing hiring decisions on any metrics that consider an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability, or hiring a particular candidate in order to achieve any goals to increase diversity, equity, or inclusion in the workplace.
10. SB1084 by Johnson (*HB0923 by Maberry.)
Human Rights - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8 and Title 49, Chapter 7. As introduced, enacts the "Dismantling DEI Departments Act."
11. SB1135 by Bailey. (*HB1050 by Parkinson.)
Nuisances - As amended, establishes that certain specified circumstances automatically qualify as a nuisance. It allows courts to require those responsible for maintaining a nuisance to pay statutory damages between $1,000 and $50,000. Eligible claimants include property owners within the same zip code as the nuisance who file a claim asserting property value damage.
12. *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.”
Message Calendar
1. *SB0007 by Lowe. (HB0073 by Howell.)
Historical Commission - As amended, 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.
Watch. History buffs might hate this.
2. *SB0026 by Pody. (HB0636 by Burkhart.)
Regional Authorities and Special Districts - authorizes municipalities, counties, and metropolitan governments to establish infrastructure development districts (IDD) within a municipality or across multiple municipalities for the purpose of establishing an alternative method to fund and finance capital infrastructure through the levy and collection of special assessments and the issuance of bonds, the maximum term of which must not exceed 30 years from the first issuance of the debt obligation. It adds the ability for commercial development to be eligible to participate in infrastructure development districts.
3 SB0102
Sunset bill for the technology commission
4. *SB0161 by Hensley. (HB1199 by Kumar.)
Local Education Agencies - As amended, SB161 will require each local school board for an LEA with at least one high school to adopt a policy for authorizing one high school student to serve as a nonvoting representative on the school board.
5. SB 0252 *Haile (HB 0314 by *Littleton)
Treasurer, State- As introduced, requires the state treasurer to compare the maximum award limit for the criminal injuries compensation program with the average of the maximum award limits of other states and territories every three years beginning January 1, 2026, rather than by October 1 of each year; requires the state treasurer to publish an adjustment to the maximum award on the department of treasury website by no later than March 1 of the comparison year; declares that the determination and publication of the adjusted maximum award is not a rule as defined in statute and is exempt from the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act. - Amends TCA Section 29-13-106.
6. *SB0359 by Briggs. (HB1203 by Kumar.)
Medical Occupations - Amends TCA Title 63. As introduced, authorizes a healthcare provider’s licensing board to issue a license subject to a private advocacy order which requires the applicant to participate in a peer assistance program approved by the board; designates private advocacy orders as confidential and not public records, as long as the provider does not fail to maintain participation in the peer assistance program and requires the initiation of disciplinary proceedings by the board.
7. *SB0468 by Bowling. (HB0571 by Barrett.)
Safety - As introduced, enacts the "Women's Safety and Protection Act," which prohibits state and local governments from prohibiting distinctions between male and female sexes with respect to athletics, correctional facilities, juvenile detention facilities, domestic violence shelters, or other accommodations where biology, safety, or privacy is implied and which result in separate accommodations that are substantially related to protecting the health, safety, or privacy of individuals in such circumstances.
More anti-trans legislation
8. SB0536 by Stevens. (*HB0194 by Martin B.)
Tennessee Higher Education Commission - Makes various changes to state regulations relative to compensation for the use of an intercollegiate athlete's name, image, or likeness (NIL). Authorizes a third party, including, but not limited to, an institution and its affiliated foundations, or a third party authorized to act on behalf of such institution or affiliated foundations, to facilitate, offer, and provide compensation to an intercollegiate athlete related to the use of the intercollegiate athlete's own NIL. Authorizes any business arrangements with third parties that may provide economic incentives, foster start-ups, make investments, explore business combinations, develop licensing opportunities, or involve any other commercial activity that directly or indirectly benefits the state, the institution, the affiliated foundation, intercollegiate athletes, or industry participants. Places various requirements and restrictions on institutions’ athletic associations. Prohibits an agreement for representation of an intercollegiate athlete between that athlete and a third party from compromising the athlete’s eligibility to participate in an athletic program at an institution or any athletic event. Declares, broadly, that any records, materials, information, or other data, etc., related to, or generated from, business activities associated with NIL compensation are confidential and not subject to public inspection under the open records laws.
9. *SB0678 by White. (HB1352 by Littleton.)
Sentencing - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 5. As introduced, increases the penalty for aggravated sexual battery from a Class B felony to a Class A felony if the victim was less than 18 years of age or was mentally defective, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.
10. 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.
11. *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.
12. *SB1005 by Haile. (HB1180 by Farmer.)
Adoption - Amends TCA Title 18; Title 36 and Title 37. As introduced, allows petitioners to include all children in one adoption or termination of parental rights petition if the petitioners are seeking to adopt more than one child at the same time and the children are siblings who share at least one biological parent, unless the court issues a written order finding that it is in the best interest of the children that separate petitions be filed; specifies that the clerk of court shall charge only one filing fee for such a petition.
House version may be an improvement…
13. SB 1018 *White (HB 0997 by *Stevens)
Schools, Charter- As introduced, clarifies that a public charter school authorized in its charter agreement to locate in a county local education agency (LEA) is not allowed to charge a student who resides in the county any registration fees, enrollment fees, or tuition if the student transfers to the public charter school from another LEA located in the same county. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 13 and Title 49, Chapter 6.
14. *SB1133 by Gardenhire. (HB1256 by Doggett.)
Criminal Offenses - As amended, mandates that when a court issues a bench warrant or capias, the defendant must be listed as a fugitive from justice in available state and federal databases, including the National Crime Information Center. The judicial official must sign the warrant by the end of the business day, and the clerk must transmit it to the entering agency within one business day. The entering agency then has three business days to add the warrant to the databases, and a surety is not liable if this is not done. If the defendant is apprehended out of state in an area beyond the listed extradition limits, the district attorney general must decide within one business day whether to initiate extradition proceedings.
15. SB1237 by Haile. (*HB0785 by Howell.)
Bail, Bail Bonds - With amendment, introduces new reporting requirements for professional bondsmen and court clerks in Tennessee. Starting October 25, 2025, bondsmen must submit quarterly reports to the Department of Revenue by specific deadlines (January 25, April 25, July 25, and October 25) detailing the total number of bonds issued, broken down by county, and the total liability in each county. Similarly, court clerks must file quarterly reports detailing the total number of bonds accepted and their total value. These reports will be used by the Department of Revenue for auditing purposes to enforce the bail bonding tax.
Watch. New reporting requirements for the bail companies.
16. SB 1272 *Johnson (HB 1308 by *Lamberth, Cochran)
Education- As introduced, makes various changes to reporting requirements, school and district accountability, the accumulation of excess instructional time, remote instruction, the immunization status of students in state custody, the individualized education account program, public virtual school enrollment, and certain course access program requirements imposed on the department of education.
Removes immunization requirements for a child in state custody.
Removes the cap on the maximum for the Individualized Education Account.
Removes the cap on virtual public school enrollment.