Capitol Report From State Rep. Greg Vital For April 24

114th General Assembly adjourns for 2025

 

State lawmakers concluded their business on April 22 in a successful first session of the 114th General Assembly. House and Senate Republicans delivered results for all Tennesseans this year by prioritizing conservative policies and fulfilling the General Assembly’s constitutional duty of approving a balanced budget.

The 2025 session was highlighted by efforts to strengthen education, improve public health and safety, bolster infrastructure and combat illegal immigration. House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, praised the hard work of his colleagues in both chambers, noting the Volunteer State’s remarkable success under conservative leadership.

“We all lead with the same vision. We believe in our governor, we believe in the direction we want to go. We’re all moving in the same direction, in the same boat rowing at the same time,” said Sexton. “That is how we’re making a difference in our state. Whether it’s education, the economy, or criminal justice - pick a subject - that’s the way we’re leading; that’s the way we’re moving. It's been a pleasure to be a part of and I look forward to seeing what the next year brings.”

Lawmakers this session worked to preserve Tennessee’s rich agricultural and natural heritage, ensure government efficiency and promote economic opportunity. They also continued efforts to provide relief to the Tennesseans impacted by Hurricane Helene while helping increase preparedness for future disasters. These strategic investments aim to make life better for all in the Volunteer State. Republicans continued to build on their previous accomplishments and cemented Tennessee’s status as a leader in common-sense conservative governance and prosperity.

2025 LEGISLATIVE WINS

Education and School Safety

Legislators continued their drive to improve public education in Tennessee by investing in teachers and increasing academic outcomes, limiting distractions and ensuring students have the tools necessary to succeed. The legislature also approved the Education Freedom Act to provide families with the freedom to choose the education that best fits the needs of their children.

• Legislation to teach Tennessee students the success sequence (House Bill 178)
• Increased access to recess (House Bill 85)
• Prohibited electronic devices in classrooms (House Bill 932)
• Option for districts to implement merit-based pay for teachers (House Bill 759)
• Federal education deregulation task force (House Bill 958)
• Free speech protections (House Bill 1270)
• Parental notice for school threats (House Bill 1088)
• Allowed inhalers in schools (House Bill 760)
• Enhanced drug awareness education (House Bill 382)
• Background checks for released time educators (House Bill 1281)

Criminal Justice and Protecting Victims

Republicans worked to hold offenders accountable for their actions while protecting victims as part of their continued efforts to improve public safety in the Volunteer State.

• Savanna’s Law establishes a new domestic violence registry (House Bill 1200)

• Marsy’s Law to protect rights of victims (Senate Joint Resolution 9)
• PEACE Act to confront hate crimes, improve public safety (House Bill 55)
• Created offenses for impersonating taxi, ride-share drivers (House Bill 786)
• Enhanced penalty for THC distribution to minors (House Bill 72)
• Ink of Hope Act to spot signs of human trafficking (House Bill 182)
• Created human smuggling offense (House Bill 322)
• Protections against drunk driving (House Bill 190)
• Built on anti-squatter laws (House Bill 216)
• Legislation combats threats of mass violence (House Bill 1314)
• Constitutional amendment to deny bail for violent offenses (Senate Joint Resolution 25)

Health

Enhancing public health was another major theme of this legislative session, with lawmakers passing legislation to remove a harmful food dye from Tennessee schools, ensuring access to low-cost drugs for vulnerable residents, and working to restore trust in public health guidelines and information.

• Supporting regulation of kratom (House Joint Resolution 147)
• Legislation encouraging healthier lifestyles (House Joint Resolution 69)
• Medical Ethics Defense Act (House Bill 1044)
• Expanded prenatal screenings to protect mothers and babies (House Bill 111)
• Required medical examinations of deceased mass shooters to test for psychotropic drugs (House Bill 1349)
• Removed barriers for cancer patients to access recommended medications (House Bill 395)
• Banned Red 40 in schools (House Bill 134)

Children and Families

Tennessee Republicans prioritized protecting children and families by strengthening penalties for crimes against children, improving access to child care and promoting common-sense legislation.

• Criminalized generative artificial intelligence involving minors (House Bill 769)
• Strengthened several penalties related to child abuse (House Bill 1360)
• Increased access to child care (House Bill 1175)
• Foster children’s bill of rights (House Bill 1359)
• Protected children in custody cases (House Bill 1255)
• Ensured children use bathrooms/facilities that correspond to their biological sex (House Bill 64)
• Established pro-life protections for mothers facing serious pregnancy complications (House Bill 990)

Illegal Immigration

Republicans remain committed to working alongside President Donald J. Trump’s administration to decouple Tennessee from the burden and danger of illegal immigration. 

• Created the Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division within the Tennessee Department of Safety to coordinate with federal and local governments to implement immigration policies (House Bill 6001)
• Strengthened the sanctuary city ban by imposing a Class E felony charge on local officials who adopt or maintain sanctuary city policies in violation of state law (House Bill 6001)  
• Established the Immigration Enforcement Grant Program to aid local law enforcement (House Bill 6001)
• Created a felony offense for smuggling and trafficking illegal immigrants (House Bill 322)
• Increased accountability for organizations housing criminal illegal immigrants (House Bill 811)
• Enhanced state-issued identification (ID) standards to distinguish between citizens and non-citizens. This ensures that only individuals with permanent IDs are eligible to vote in Tennessee elections. (House Bill 6001)
• Invalidated out-of-state driver’s licenses issued to illegals (House Bill 749)

Dismantled DEI and Restored Merit-Based Systems

• Prohibited local governments and public universities from making hiring decisions based on race, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability (House Bill 622)
• Prohibited race-based discrimination in higher ed admission, scholarship and financial aid decisions (House Bill 377)
• Ended race-based selection for membership of state boards (House 1237)
• Prohibited state and local governments and public universities from having DEI departments (House Bill 923)

Marsy’s Law to expand victims’ rights heads to TN voters

A proposed constitutional amendment to expand the rights of victims in Tennessee now heads to voters in the state for final approval. Senate Joint Resolution 9, filed in the House by Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and carried by State Rep. Clay Doggett, R-Pulaski, proposes to put Marsy’s Law in the state constitution to ensure crime victims’ rights are protected in Tennessee.

“In 1998, Tennesseans voted overwhelmingly to include specific rights for crime victims in our state’s constitution,” Doggett told House members on April 21. “By passing Marsy’s Law, we can clarify and expand these rights and make good on Tennessee’s clear intention to guarantee victims the rights that they deserve.”

The legislation would amend Article 1, Section 35 of the Tennessee Constitution to establish clear and enforceable constitutional rights for victims of crime, including the rights to be: heard, informed and treated with fairness, dignity and respect through the judicial process. Named after Marsalee Nicholas, Marsy’s Law is part of a nationwide effort to support crime victims and prevent further trauma. Marsy was murdered in 1983 by her ex-boyfriend, who stalked and killed her while she was a student at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Marsy’s family ran into her murderer a week after her death on the way back from her funeral, unaware that he was released on bail. Marsy’s Law seeks to ensure devastating and traumatic experiences like this never happen to victims in Tennessee. This proposed amendment will now be considered by Tennessee voters in the Nov. 3, 2026 gubernatorial election.

Republicans tackle AI-generated deepfakes

Republicans took a critical step this session to combat the rising threat of artificially generated sexually explicit materials, or “deepfakes.”

House Bill 1299, the Preventing Deepfake Images Act, is part of a broader effort by Republicans to address the misuse of artificial intelligence and protect individual privacy as well as intellectual rights in the digital age. A deepfake is a kind of fake media that seems real, such as a video, photo or audio recording, created using artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate a person’s likeness. Deepfakes can depict someone appearing to say or do something they didn’t.

“This bill highlights how AI can be a phenomenal tool but can also be a phenomenal weapon against those who are completely innocent,” said bill sponsor House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland.

House Bill 1299 creates a legal framework for victims to sue and recover financial damages from a person who posts pictures of intimate digital depictions without consent. It creates a Class E felony offense “to disclose or threaten to disclose intimate digital depictions with the intent to harass, annoy, alarm or cause substantial harm to the finances or reputation of the depicted individual.”

Former Nashville TV meteorologist Bree Smith was in the House chamber on Monday when the legislation passed. The Sumner County resident testified before the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee in March about how humiliated she was when someone posted fake images of her face on another woman’s semi-nude body on several social media channels. She said several imposters attempted to scam her followers and fans into sending money to the imposters.

"Discovering these imposter accounts and seeing the degrading fake images and videos was devastating to me," Smith testified.

The General Assembly in 2024 passed new laws addressing the unauthorized use of an individual’s voice and likeness through AI technologies. Among those, the ELVIS Act expanded the Protection of Personal Rights Act of 1984, which safeguards the use of a person’s name, photograph and likeness. Another measure ensures Tennessee laws against child pornography apply to AI-generated images. House Bill 1299 heads to the governor’s desk for his signature. It would become law July 1.

Farmland Preservation Act helps conservation

Legislation aimed at supporting Tennessee’s agricultural industry and preserving family farms now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature following final passage in the General Assembly.

The Farmland Preservation Act, House Bill 1325, sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, and State Rep. Greg Vital, R-Harrison, establishes a $25 million fund to provide grants for property owners who voluntarily place their farm or forestry land into an agricultural easement with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

The program aims to make farmland preservation financially feasible for family farms, ensuring they remain in agricultural use for future generations. Tennessee is losing farmland to development at a rapid rate. During a 20-year period from 1997 to 2017, Tennessee lost 1.1 million acres of farmland to development. Since 2017, another 432,941 acres of farmland have been lost. At this rate, Tennessee is losing 9.8 acres of farmland per hour.

While property owners can already place their land in a conservation easement through various entities, rising land prices provide little incentive to do so. The Farmland Preservation Fund established in the bill provides this incentive, making it more financially viable for Tennessee farmers to preserve their land. Participation in the program is voluntary, allowing property owners to receive compensation for the difference between their land’s agricultural value and its highest market value. Farmers who take part in the program would still maintain the freedom to develop their land for agricultural purposes and maintain full farming operations without restrictions on output.

Agriculture-related industries employ 324,000 individuals and contribute $89 billion to Tennessee’s economy. The Farmland Preservation Act becomes law July 1.

General Assembly works to keep violent offenders in custody

The General Assembly this week approved a constitutional amendment sponsored by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, that seeks to improve public safety in Tennessee by keeping violent offenders in custody.

Senate Joint Resolution 25 will expand the offenses for which a judge can deny bail to include capital offenses, acts of terrorism, second-degree murder, aggravated rape of a child, aggravated rape and grave torture. Currently, judges can only deny bail for capital offenses. 

“The purpose of our judicial system is to protect society, to protect our families, to protect our homes, our streets, our property from violent criminal offenders,” Sexton said on the House floor. “Unfortunately, in our state right now our constitution is our limiting factor in that regard. … This constitutional amendment protects victims. There is hardly anything worse than someone being bailed out who is a violent criminal with a violent past only to find that they committed another violent crime and we have another victim.”

The legislation would also improve transparency in Tennessee’s criminal justice system by requiring judges and magistrates to explain their reasoning behind allowing or denying a defendant’s bail.

Two separate General Assemblies must first approve any proposed amendment to the Tennessee Constitution before it can be placed on the ballot for voters to decide.

Senate Joint Resolution 25 received its first approval in the 113th General Assembly. Tennessee voters will now have the opportunity to approve this constitutional amendment in the Nov. 3, 2026, gubernatorial election.

Bill promotes low drug costs for vulnerable Tennesseans

A bill to help struggling Tennesseans continue to have access to essential medications through the 340B program was signed by the speakers of the House and Senate and transmitted to Gov. Bill Lee for his action this week.

House Bill 1242, sponsored by State Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes, R-East Ridge, ensures that drug manufacturers cannot interfere with the contract pharmacy arrangements of 340B safety net providers. These arrangements allow vulnerable Tennesseans to receive medications at a contract pharmacy that dispenses drugs on behalf of the 340B entity. The legislation also protects 340B entities from excessive data requests from drug manufacturers in exchange for continued access to the 340B drug program.

“Despite achieving record-high profits in recent years, pharmaceutical and insurance companies have begun pulling back support for the safety net providers that many Americans rely on,” said Helton-Haynes, who chairs the House Insurance Subcommittee. “This legislation protects these providers in the Volunteer State and helps ensure residents continue to have access to quality health care and essential medications.”

House Bill 1242 prohibits drug manufacturers from imposing requirements related to drug inventory management systems for 340B drugs. It also prohibits accreditation, recertification, credentialing or recredentialing requirements from drug manufacturers on 340B entities that are not imposed on non-340B-participating pharmacies or entities.

Finally, the legislation grants the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office (AG) the authority to ensure that 340B entities have access to program discounts without interference from drug manufacturers. The savings generated under this legislation will comply with all applicable federal and state laws regarding immigration, abortion, and transgender treatments and procedures for minors.

Established by a bipartisan act of Congress in 1992, the 340B program aims to stretch scarce federal resources and improve the health of low-income, uninsured and underinsured Americans. It allows pharmaceutical manufacturers to sell outpatient drugs at discounted prices to specific non-profit safety-net health care organizations known as 340B covered entities.

Prescription drug prices in the United States have increased by nearly 40 percent in the last decade, outpacing the rate of inflation, according to data from GoodRx.

General Assembly creates advisory committee on K-12 testing

A Republican proposal seeking to streamline K-12 testing in Tennessee was approved by the General Assembly this week.

House Bill 675, sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Mark Cochran, R-Englewood, will create a ten-member joint legislative advisory committee on innovations in K-12 learning to study several aspects of Tennessee’s educational system, including evaluations, assessments and other standards.

“We don’t want to completely eliminate testing. We want to make sure that we are implementing the correct tests and that we are focusing in the right areas,” Cochran said on the House floor. “There comes this point of diminishing returns, where you reach such a level of testing that you’re not getting what you desire out of it. … Hopefully we can look (at) what this committee finds (and) bring it back to this body and the (Senate) and we can do something about it.”

The committee will study standardized testing for K-12 students, including frequency and how to apply student performance on tests for accountability purposes. It will also evaluate the following:

• Teacher and principal evaluations
• Screening requirements for response to intervention (RTI) in schools
• Health coverage and compensation for educators
• Expanding teaching permits
• Allowing CTE courses to substitute for graduation requirements

The committee will develop strategies and suggestions to be reported to the General Assembly and the Tennessee Department of Education by the end of 2025. The purpose of this review is to support students and educators across the state.

House Bill 675 heads to the governor for his consideration.

General Assembly changes revenue-sharing requirements

Legislation altering the way Tennessee tracks population for determining shared revenues was approved by the General Assembly this week. 

House Bill 780, sponsored by State Rep. Robert Stevens, R-Smyrna, requires the state use annual population data collected by the University of Tennessee’s Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research to determine the amount of shared revenue cities and counties should receive.  

“The additional funds received by our local governments will significantly help them offset the cost of growth while continuing to provide necessary services to residents,” Stevens said.   

Currently, shared revenue allocations are calculated using the latest U.S. Census data. However, with the rapid population growth across Tennessee, the census data for several cities and counties may already be outdated, leading to insufficient funding for those areas. 

For example, data from the Boyd Center shows Rutherford County has grown about 2.15% annually since 2019. The 2020 census estimated the county’s population at 339,261, and the Boyd Center projects it could reach 421,070 by 2030. 

The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature and is set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. 

Legislation addresses nursing shortage, increases opportunity

Legislation to help address the nursing shortage across the Volunteer State now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law. House Bill 865, sponsored by State Rep. Tim Hicks, R-Gray, changes the requirements to allow eligible high schoolers to enroll in programs to become licensed practical nurses (LPNs) through local community colleges upon graduation.  

“This program is for students who meet all their high school and graduation requirements by the summer of their junior year to begin hands-on experience and training to be able to enter the workforce upon graduation,” Hicks said. 

Ballad Health, one of the largest employers in Northeast Tennessee, received a $15 million grant to create a two-year nursing program through local community colleges for high school students in the 10th grade and up. Once students have successfully completed the program, they would be eligible to take the NCLEX-PN, the test needed to become an LPN. They are also guaranteed an interview with Ballad Health upon completion of the program. While this program is specific to Northeast Tennessee, the requirement changes apply statewide, opening up future opportunities to all students. 

Lawmakers prohibit labeling of cell-cultured food as meat

The General Assembly this week passed legislation by State Rep. Rusty Grills, R-Newbern, prohibiting cell-cultured food products from being labeled as meat or meat food products in Tennessee. House Bill 804 defines cell-cultured food, also known as “lab-grown meat,” as food made without slaughter using cells taken from animals such as cattle, poultry and fish.

“These products cannot be sold in the state of Tennessee labeled as meat,” Grills said. “We are giving the Tennessee Department of Agriculture some jurisdiction over this type of product if it is, or ever becomes, something that is sold in Tennessee.”

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture will manage a permit system for businesses to sell these products in the state. A $1,000 annual permit fee will be required and the department will review permit applications within 90 days. The department will also set rules in line with federal guidelines to regulate the sale of cell-cultured food products in the state. A $2,000 fine will be imposed for misbranding cell-cultured food products as meat in Tennessee. The bill allows labels to state the species from which the cells were taken or to describe the product as a meat substitute.

A June 2023 survey by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago found that 50% of respondents were not interested in eating cell-cultivated meat. House Bill 804 now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature.

Bill requires rest areas to install markers for family restrooms

Legislation requiring signs to let drivers know when highway rest areas and welcome centers have family restrooms was unanimously approved by the General Assembly this week. House Bill 60, sponsored by State Rep. Kevin Raper, R-Cleveland, directs the Tennessee Department of Transportation to place signs along nearby highways for any rest stop that includes family restrooms. These facilities are designed for people who may need extra help, including those with disabilities, older adults, young children and people who need assistance from a caregiver.

“Last year, I became aware of a concern regarding family restrooms at rest stops and welcome centers and the fact that they are incredibly hard to find,” Raper said. “(Currently), the only option is to drive in and check for yourself, which is a burden upon the mentally handicapped (and) the physically handicapped.”

The department will also post a list of rest areas and welcome centers with family restrooms on its website. Signs can include words or symbols to clearly show that a family restroom is available. The transportation department may work with other state agencies to create and install the signs, which must follow federal and state regulations.

Tennessee has state-operated 19 rest stops and 16 welcome centers, 14 of which offer family restrooms. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature. It will take effect on July 1.

Briefly…

Glock switches: A proposal by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, to improve public safety in Tennessee by cracking down on machine gun conversion devices and drive-by shootings was approved by the General Assembly this week. House Bill 1093, guided in the House by State Rep. Andrew Farmer, R-Sevierville, will ensure people convicted of aggravated assault involving the discharge of a firearm from a motor vehicle serve 100 percent of their penalty in jail. The legislation will also add machine gun conversion devices, more commonly referred to as Glock switches, to the definition of a machine gun in state law. Glock switches are already illegal in Tennessee, and this legislation increases the penalty for possessing them from a Class E to a Class C felony. Additionally, the bill prohibits felons in Tennessee from possessing ammunition, mirroring federal law.

Mental health evaluations: Legislation to improve public safety and mental health in Tennessee now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law. House Bill 1089, filed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and guided in the House by State Rep. Tim Hicks, R-Gray, requires a court to order mental health evaluations for people convicted of certain crimes, including child abuse and animal cruelty. The legislation seeks to decrease the number of repeat offenders while enhancing opportunities for rehabilitation.  

Private prison accountability: A Republican proposal to ensure accountability in private prisons in Tennessee was approved by the General Assembly this week. House Bill 1144, sponsored by State Rep. Clark Boyd, R-Lebanon, will require ten percent of a private prison’s population to be transferred to a Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) prison if the death rate is double that of an equivalent state-operated facility. Population reduction would be completed 90 days following the release of TDOC’s annual statistical abstract. The bill now heads to the governor for further action.

Honoring Pope Francis: The General Assembly this week passed a resolution by State Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, honoring Pope Francis following his death on April 21. House Joint Resolution 689 recognizes Pope Francis for his dedication to the service of God and for teaching the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love. Pope Francis, who ascended to the papacy in March 2013 following the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI, canonized 942 saints, more than any of his predecessors.

Unlawful photography: The Tennessee House of Representatives this week passed legislation to protect Tennesseans from unlawful photography. House Bill 99, sponsored by State Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, enhances the penalty for unlawful photography from a Class A misdemeanor offense to a Class E felony. The penalty would increase further to a Class D felony or Class C felony in certain cases if the victim was younger than 13. Anyone convicted of unlawful photography would also be required to register as a sex offender.

Drunk driving: A Republican proposal to enhance the penalty for aggravated vehicular homicide and assault in Tennessee was approved in the General Assembly this week. House Bill 190, sponsored by State Rep. Ron Gant, R-Piperton, will lower the minimum alcohol concentration (BAC) in a person’s blood to be considered aggravated vehicular homicide or assault from 0.20 percent to 0.15 percent. A recent Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission report required by legislation Gant passed in 2024 reveals that alcohol-related vehicular crash deaths increased by 36 percent between 2019 and 2023 in Tennessee, while injury crashes increased by 12 percent. House Bill 190 now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Property taxes: Tennessee voters will decide in the November 2026 gubernatorial election whether to permanently ban a state property tax thanks to legislation sponsored by State Rep. Tandy Darby, R-Greenfield. Senate Joint Resolution 1 proposes an amendment to the Tennessee State Constitution to prohibit the state from levying or authorizing property taxes. Local governments will still have the authority to impose property taxes. The Tennessee General Assembly eliminated the state property tax in 1949 by setting the rate at 0%. Since then, the state has primarily relied on sales tax for revenue.

Human smuggling: House Bill 322, sponsored by State Rep. Chris Todd, R-Madison County, will create the Class E felony offense of human smuggling, which includes encouraging or inducing someone to enter or remain in Tennessee by concealing, harboring or shielding them from detection for private financial gain. The offense would also include transporting one or more persons for commercial advantage or private financial gain while intending to conceal them. House Bill 322 creates the Class A felony offense of aggravated human smuggling when a victim is less than 13 years old. The bill also adds promoting the prostitution of a minor to the criminal offense of human trafficking. Finally, House Bill 322 permits the Tennessee Attorney General to bring action against any person or organization believed to be committing a human trafficking offense in the Volunteer State. The legislation now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

State of emergency: House Bill 132, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, grants the General Assembly the authority to end a state of emergency declared by the governor through a joint resolution of the House and Senate. The legislation now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

TDOT funding: The Tennessee General Assembly this week approved a bill that will significantly increase funding that goes to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to improve infrastructure in the state. House Bill 969, sponsored by State Rep. David Hawk, R-Greeneville, will create a recurring stream of dollars to the TDOT highway fund from sales and use tax revenue generated from sale of new and used tires in Tennessee. The bill caps the allocation to the highway fund at $80 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year, but it is expected to grow in subsequent years. The legislation now heads to the governor's desk for his signature.

English language teachers: A proposal by State Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, seeks to provide English language learner (EL) teachers in Tennessee with the tools necessary to improve academic outcomes. House Bill 410 requires the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) to convene a working group to study and develop best practices, strategies and programming for EL K-12 public school teachers. The working group will be made up of EL program directors, members of the state board of education, members of the House and Senate, TDOE representatives and other people with significant experience working with EL students and teachers. House Bill 410 requires a report be submitted to the education committees in the House and Senate by Jan. 1, 2026.

Barry Brady Act: Lawmakers this week approved legislation to support Tennessee firefighters. The 111th General Assembly unanimously passed the Barry Brady Act in 2019, which outlined specific cancers presumed to have been caused by employment in the fire service and required firefighters to be covered by workers compensation for those conditions. Cancers covered under Tennessee law include non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and colon, skin and multiple myeloma cancers. House Bill 482, sponsored by State Rep. Gary Hicks, R-Rogersville, will add prostate, breast and pancreatic cancer to this list. The Barry Brady Act is named in honor of Captain Barry Brady of the Sparta Fire Department, who served his community for more than 31 years. He lost his life to colon cancer after retiring from the department. House Bill 482 now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Equal opportunity: Legislation shuttering diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) departments at entities across Tennessee is now headed to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk. The Dismantling DEI Departments Act prevents state and local governments and public higher education institutions from maintaining offices or departments that promote or require discriminatory preferences in efforts to advance DEI. The bill allows one-year exemptions for entities if compliance would result in the loss of federal funding. Entities must submit a written request to the Comptroller of the Treasury’s office and reapply annually if needed.

Tennessee National Guard: The General Assembly this week unanimously passed the Tennessee National Guard Servicemember’s Medical Readiness Act, sponsored by State Rep. Gary Hicks, R-Rogersville, which will create a premium reimbursement grant program to help National Guard members in the Volunteer State with health care costs. House Bill 479 will authorize premium reimbursement grants for guardsmen who are eligible for medical or dental coverage through TRICARE, the United States military’s health insurance program. The Tennessee Adjutant General will establish requirement criteria that servicemembers must meet in their application to receive reimbursements. The legislation now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for final approval.

Dangerous felonies: House Bill 578, sponsored by State Rep. Clay Doggett, R-Pulaski, will add 15 additional criminal offenses to the definition of dangerous felony in Tennessee law. These include attempting to commit first- or second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, aggravated kidnapping and carjacking. This legislation seeks to ensure severe crimes are treated consistently under state law while giving prosecutors the necessary tools to hold violent criminals accountable. House Bill 578 now heads to Gov. Bill Lee to be signed into law.

Hurricane relief: Legislation to provide additional support to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene was approved by the General Assembly this week. House Bill 1278 sponsored by State Rep. Timothy Hill, R-Blountville, ensures loan fees are also covered by the Hurricane Helene Interest Payment Fund. The $110 million fund was created to help local governments cover up to 5% of interest on federal loans for up to three years. House Bill 1278 now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature. 

Public safety: House Bill 1177, sponsored by State Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, builds on Jillian’s Law, which the General Assembly unanimously approved in 2024 requiring criminal defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial to be committed to an appropriate treatment facility. This legislation seeks to increase the time in which a misdemeanor charge will be retired for someone found incompetent to stand trial from 11 months and 29 days to two years after the date of arrest. House Bill 1177 also ensures that a person will go through the judicial process if they are found competent to stand trial within two years of arrest and charges have not been retired. Finally, the bill requires a court to be notified and sent an outpatient treatment plan to account for community safety when a person is released. House Bill 1177 now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law. 

Prescription benefit reforms: A bill that increases oversight of companies that manage prescription drug benefits has been unanimously approved by the General Assembly. House Bill 1244, sponsored by State Rep. Brock Martin, R-Huntingdon, requires these companies to follow the same rules as health insurers for paying pharmacists and processing claims on time. The bill also ensures they face the same penalties as insurers for violations. The legislation will immediately take effect upon Gov. Bill Lee’s signature.

Federal education deregulation: The General Assembly this week passed legislation to prepare Tennessee for significant changes to the United States Department of Education (ED). House Bill 958, sponsored by State Rep. William Slater, R-Gallatin, will create a seven-member task force to ensure Tennessee can effectively respond to any potential deregulation or dismantling of the ED at the federal level. This legislation will help identify federal K-12 education funding, federal requirements for receiving funds, state resources needed to receive funds and the number of positions paid by federal dollars. It will also consider whether programs or resources provided by federal funds should continue. The task force will be required to submit policy recommendations to the General Assembly by Dec. 31, 2025. It will be composed of the House and Senate Education Committee chairs, two state representatives, two state senators and a teacher appointed by the governor.

Transportation needs: The Tennessee legislature passed a proposal this week requiring a report on sustainable funding possibilities for the state's long-term transportation needs. House Bill 736, sponsored by State Rep. Greg Vital, R-Harrison, mandates the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to conduct a study on key infrastructure needs and the maintenance and modernization costs of current roads and bridges. The report will examine potential revenue sources, estimate revenue and review successful models from other states. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.

Food cottage law: Legislation to allow the sale of homemade food items including poultry and dairy was approved by the General Assembly this week. House Bill 130, sponsored by State Rep. Michele Reneau, R-Signal Mountain, expands the Food Freedom Act passed in 2022. Current state law allows items like bread, candies, honey, jams and pastries to be sold. House Bill 130 allows the sale of poultry and pasteurized dairy in food items. The bill now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature and it will go into effect on July 1. 

Protections for first responders: Legislation expanding the James ‘Dustin’ Samples Act to include law enforcement and first responders was approved by the General Assembly this week. House Bill 310, sponsored by State Rep. Aron Maberry, R-Clarksville, ensures law enforcement officers and emergency responders diagnosed with PTSD from traumatic calls also qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, similar to firefighters. House Bill 310 now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature. 

Newborn safe haven: Legislation approved this week by the General Assembly extends the age limit for newborns that can be voluntarily left at a safe location from 14 days to 45 days after birth. The change provides mothers more time to safely surrender their infants. House Bill 386, sponsored by State Rep. Ed Butler, R-Rickman, offers additional options for mothers in crisis and takes effect immediately upon being signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee.

Harassment: The General Assembly has approved legislation strengthening Tennessee’s harassment law after an uptick in hate crimes. House Bill 370, sponsored by State Rep. Rick Scarbrough, R-Oak Ridge, adds “in-person” to the definition of harassment by communication. Current state law defines communication only in writing, by telephone, texts and flyers. In the most recent Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Hate Crime Report, the number of criminal offenses motivated by a known bias was 122 in 2023, according to crime data submitted to the TBI by law enforcement agencies around the state. House Bill 370 heads to the governor’s desk for his signature. 

Ambulance service study: A Republican bill requiring the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to study the economic impact of ambulance services in counties and municipalities passed the General Assembly unanimously. The study will focus on services provided directly or through franchises and explore whether policy changes could improve service delivery. The commission will also review reimbursement for emergency and non-emergency transport from commercial payors, Medicare and Medicaid, and examine how local governments fund service deficits. House Bill 83, sponsored by State Rep. Kip Capley, R-Summertown, now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk.

Child advocacy centers: Legislation to increase funding for child advocacy centers and forensic interviewers across the Volunteer State was approved by the General Assembly this week. The Savannah Grace Copeland Act sponsored by State Rep. Michele Carringer, R-Knoxville, raises the base annual funding for centers to $127,855 and forensic interviewers to $85,000. Copeland was a 13-year-old girl from Knox County who was murdered in 2024. This increase more than doubles previous funding and was approved on a recurring basis. Centers may use this money for salaries, general liability, travel costs and other operating costs. House Bill 641 now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature. It will take effect July 1.

Retired K-9s: House Bill 393, sponsored by State Rep. Ed Butler, R-Rickman, will allow police K-9 handlers to receive compensation for the medical care of retired police dogs. The legislation directs the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) to pay $85 per month until the animal’s death. Employees must maintain medical records and submit them annually to TDOC by June 1. If a retired K-9 dies, the employee must inform the department within 30 days, at which point the department will cease the monthly payments. The bill now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Realty tax update: A bill requiring the Tennessee Department of Revenue to return half of the recordation taxes collected on real estate transfers to counties passed the General Assembly this week. The tax, currently set at 37 cents per $100 of transfer value, is paid when real estate transfers are recorded. House Bill 842, sponsored by State Rep. John Crawford, R-Bristol/Kingsport, outlines specific allocations of the tax to various state funds, including those for wetlands and land conservation. The bill now heads to the governor's desk for his signature.

Cognitive behavioral training: Legislation aimed to reduce recidivism was approved by the General Assembly this week. House Bill 371, sponsored by State Rep. Rick Scarbrough, R-Oak Ridge, requires individuals convicted of a Class A misdemeanor to complete a cognitive behavioral training course as part of their sentence, unless a judge determines the course is unnecessary or inappropriate for their situation. These courses are designed to help people recognize and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that may be affecting their mental health and daily life. House Bill 371 now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature and applies to any offenses committed on or after July 1. 

Juvenile record access: The General Assembly approved a bill that expands access to juvenile court records in certain adult criminal cases. Courts will now be able to use juvenile records in pretrial reports to set bond if the juvenile offense happened within the past five years. Judges must also consider a defendant’s juvenile record when setting bail. Current Tennessee law only allows courts to consider prior criminal records in bail proceedings for crimes committed after the age of 18. House Bill 34, sponsored by State Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.

Bait privilege licenses: Legislation that allows hunters to use bait when hunting whitetail deer on private land with a bait privilege license from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has been approved by the General Assembly. Every hunter in a group must have the license, which will cost $50 for residents of Tennessee and $100 for non-residents. The agency can suspend the use of bait to help prevent the spread of disease among wildlife and must set rules for the program by Aug. 1, 2026. House Bill 938, sponsored by State Rep. Kip Capley, R-Summertown, now goes to Gov. Bill Lee for his signature.

Savanna’s Law: The Tennessee General Assembly has unanimously passed Savanna’s Law, creating a public registry for individuals convicted of second or subsequent domestic violence offenses. Sponsored by State Rep. Sabi “Doc” Kumar, R-Springfield, the bill directs the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to maintain a registry, which will include offenders’ names, dates of birth, conviction dates and photos, but exclude sensitive details like addresses and Social Security numbers. Named in honor of Robertson County Deputy Sheriff Savanna Puckett, who was killed by a former partner in 2022, the law requires courts to order qualifying offenders to register and court clerks to send certified conviction records to the TBI within seven days. It also imposes a $150 registration fee. House Bill 1200 now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature and takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026.