NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Story courtesy of WVLT / WSMV) – Several bills were up for consideration during this year’s legislative session in Tennessee.
Some of the bills were recently signed into law after passing both the Senate and the House.
Whereas other bills failed to make it out of the session.
Crime and Safety:
What passed:
Lawmakers approve use of deadly force to protect property in some situations
A bill that would allow the use of deadly force to protect your property, in certain situations, passed in the Tennessee legislature. The Senate passed its version on Tuesday and the House passed it on Thursday night.
If signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee, property owners will be able to use deadly force the following circumstances:
- To prevent attempted or actual trespassing
- Arson and damage of the property
- Damage to livestock
- Burglary, theft, robbery
- Aggravated cruelty to animals
All Tennessee sheriff’s offices to enter agreement under 287(g) immigration program
A bill that would require sheriffs, in every Tennessee county to partner Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE).
So far more than 50 Tennessee agencies have already partnered with ICE in someway.
The bill gives the rest of the Tennessee agencies, not partnered with ICE, until Jan. 1 of 2027 to meet that deadline.
Vandalism fines at houses of worship
A bill that requires people who vandalize a church, synagogue, mosque or other place of worship to pay a fine that is worth double of what it costs to fix and clean up is headed to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk.
Higher penalty for livestock abuse
A new bill creating higher penalty for livestock abuse in Tennessee is headed to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature.
Senate Bill 2133 was passed by the state House on April 20 after the Senate passed the legislation at the end of March.
The measure “adds starvation resulting in death of a livestock animal to the types of conduct that constitute the Class E felony of aggravated cruelty to a livestock animal, when done in a depraved and sadistic manner without justifiable or lawful purpose,” according to the bill.
Riley Gaines Women’s Safety and Protection Act
The Tennessee Senate has adopted a conference committee report for the “Riley Gaines Women’s Safety and Protection Act” on Wednesday morning following negotiations over the bill’s language.
According to the report, the bill, introduced by Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma) and Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood), defines sex in state law as a person’s biological sex, male or female, determined at birth.
This measure applies to the following:
- Domestic violence shelters
- Correctional facilities
- Juvenile detention facilities
- Public institutions of higher education
Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill into law that would prohibit the selling or offering of nitrous oxide by retail sellers.
The bill that creates a felony charge for anyone who sells or gives nitrous oxide to another person knowing it will be used for intoxication.
Education:
What passed
Bill requires schools to adopt digital device policy
A bill that originally sought to ban digital devices was signed into law by Gov. Lee. The bill, which originally prohibited elementary school teachers from using digital devices while teaching and barred electronic testing for Kindergarten through the fifth grade.
The State Senate adopted an amendment on March 16 that would, instead of outright banning devices all together, require local education agencies and public charter schools grades K-5 to adopt policies “governing the age-appropriate and instructional use of digital devices by students to minimize unnecessary screen time while preserving instructional effectiveness.
The bill will take effect July 1, 2026.
School Voucher Program expansion
A bill that would increase the number of scholarships within the state’s school voucher program to 35,000 is headed to Gov. Lee’s desk for his signature.
The Education Freedom Scholarship allows Tennessee K-12 public school students to use state funds toward education expenses. For the previous school year, each scholarship was worth $7,295.
Supporters of the bill said it gives parents more flexibility and more control over their children’s education, whereas critics argue that the scholarships pull taxpayer money away from public schools and that the money isn’t always used for what it’s intended for.
However, some state officials say the demand for these “vouchers” is still far outpacing the supply, with more than 56,000 families having applied.
Charlie Kirk Act
A bill called the Charlie Kirk Act that would enact safeguards for free speech on college campuses in Tennessee is now headed to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) and Sen. Paul Rose (R-District 32), would require Tennessee colleges and universities to adopt certain free-speech protections and a policy modeled after the University of Chicago’s Freedom of Expression Policy.
Health:
What passed:
Fair Rx Act
Tennessee lawmakers have passed a bill that, if signed by Gov. Bill Lee, will block companies from owning a pharmacy while also owning a pharmacy benefit manager and a health insurance issuer.
Upon it becoming law on July 1, 2028, a person or entity will be blocked from directly or indirectly owning, operating, controlling or directing part of a pharmacy and also controlling a pharmacy benefit manager and a health insurer in the state (with ownership exceeding 5%).
12-month prescriptions of birth control
An amendment to allow insured Tennesseans to obtain a 12-month supply of birth control (contraceptives) has been adopted after Gov. Lee signed it into law.
Eye care
Gov. Lee signed a bill into law to improve access to eye care in the state, strengthen rural eye care and better reflect Doctors of Optometry current education according to the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians (TAOP).
What failed:
Bill pushing death penalty for abortions
A bill that would classify abortion as a homicide and would allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty in Tennessee has failed in the House.
The amendment has failed after a Republican-led Population Health Subcommittee called the bill and no votes were heard.
Maternal Healthcare Protection Act
A bill to expand maternal health care in Tennessee failed to make it out of the Tennessee legislative session.
The Maternal Healthcare Protection Act, which was introduced by Rep. Aftyn Behn and Sen. Charlane Oliver, was in response to the “Medical Ethics Defense Act” which passed in 2025.
The Medical Ethics Defense Act allows doctors, hospitals and even insurers to refused services based on their religious or moral beliefs.
Supporters of the Maternal Healthcare Protection Act want to undo that and guarantee healthcare for any women.
“Surprise” Ambulance Billing
A bill that would protect patients from “surprise” ambulance billing failed in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee earlier this month.
The bill, HB 1061, was introduced by Rep. Greg Vital (R-Harrison) and Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson) and aims to prohibit an out-of-network ambulance service provider from balance billing an enrollee in a health benefit plan for emergency ambulance services.
Community and business:
What passed:
Robot delivery
A bill that would allow for personal robot delivery services was signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee and will now allow for low-speed delivery services to operate on bike paths, crosswalks and certain roads.
Bill extending preferred pronoun prohibition
The Tennessee House and Senate have passed a bill that would extend existing legal protections involving pronoun usage to honorifics such as Mr., Mrs. and Ms.
Under the amended bill, the protections from civil liability, and more that already apply when pronouns are used with a person’s sex would also apply when they use honorifics consistent with that person’s sex.
The bill applies to state employees, public school teachers, local education agencies, students, contractors, public colleges and universities, higher education faculty, staff and students.
Notice to relocate homeless Tennesseans
A bill that would require advance notice to relocate homeless Tennesseans is heading to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature after passing in the House and Senate.
What failed:
Pot for potholes
A recreational use bill, called “pot for potholes” was proposed again this year and was shut down.
