Commercial squatters: The House of Representatives this week approved legislation to protect owners of commercial property in Tennessee from lengthy eviction processes for illegal squatters. House Bill 216, sponsored by State Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro, will allow for the immediate removal of squatters on commercial property if certain conditions are met, building on a previous law Rudd passed creating an expedited eviction process for lawful Tennessee homeowners. The companion version of House Bill 216 is still making its way through the Senate.
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SNAP benefits: A proposal that seeks to promote healthy living in Tennessee passed in the House of Representatives this week. The Tennessee Healthy SNAP Act, sponsored by House Deputy Speaker Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, requires the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) to request a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to allow the Volunteer State to prohibit the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on candy and soft drinks. House Bill 1236 instructs the department to have a plan to ensure existing point-of-sale systems can properly enforce the prohibition. The bill will also provide education and outreach opportunities on alternative healthy food options for SNAP recipients. If the USDA approves the waiver, the DHS will have one year to implement the new program. House Bill 1236 is still advancing through the Senate.
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Mental health evaluations: Legislation to improve public safety and mental health in Tennessee advanced out of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week. 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. House Bill 1089 is scheduled to be heard in the House Judiciary Committee on March 19.
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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 clarifies that people cannot walk out of court-ordered treatment after charges are retired, allowing them to get the care they need. It 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 is scheduled to be heard for consideration in the House Judiciary Committee on March 19.
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School safety: A proposal to ensure parents are aware of threats to their children’s schools advanced in the House of Representatives this week. House Bill 1088, filed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and guided in the House by State Rep. Rick Scarbrough, R-Oak Ridge, will require local education agencies to report to parents a credible threat directed toward a school their children attend within 24 hours of notifying law enforcement. The bill is scheduled to be heard for consideration in the House Education Committee on March 18.
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Kleefstra syndrome: Legislation allowing TennCare to recognize Kleefstra syndrome unanimously passed in the House of Representatives this week. House Bill 502, sponsored by State Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, authorizes TennCare to provide coverage and benefits, including genetic testing and treatment, for patients with Kleefstra syndrome similar to how it covers disorders like autism and Down syndrome. Kleefstra syndrome is a rare genetic disorder impacting less than 1,000 people across the United States. It is caused by a mutation or deletion in the EHMT1 gene on chromosome 9, impacting multiple organs, including the face, brain and heart. Insurance companies often misclassify Kleefstra syndrome as Down syndrome or autism due to similarities and its rarity. The companion version of House Bill 502 is still advancing through the Senate.
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Maternal remote patient monitoring: The House TennCare Subcommittee unanimously advanced legislation to expand access to critical maternal health care across the state. House Bill 867, sponsored by State Rep. Tim Hicks, R-Gray, establishes a three-year pilot program through TennCare for remote patient monitoring (RPM) for pregnant and postpartum women diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes. These conditions must be monitored daily, and this program would allow clinicians to track a patient’s vitals, like blood pressure or glucose, to catch problems before they become emergencies. House Bill 867 is expected to be heard in the House Insurance Committee on March 19.
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Juvenile Justice Commission: The House of Representatives approved a bill aimed at improving the state’s juvenile justice system this week. House Bill 501, sponsored by State Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, creates the Tennessee Juvenile Justice Review Commission. This 20-member group will review adjudicated juvenile cases involving critical incidents and systemic concerns to discuss potential legislation or policy changes. Cases may include escape, abuse by staff, extreme placement instability and transfers of juveniles to adult corrections. Members include lawmakers, law enforcement, state agency representatives and an individual with first-hand experience as an adjudicated juvenile within the state system. The companion version of House Bill 501 is still advancing through the Senate.
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Protecting Tennesseans' DNA: The General Assembly this week approved legislation to protect Tennesseans’ DNA from foreign adversaries and ensure the state is disconnected from China’s illegal organ practices. The Tennessee Genomic Security and End Organ Harvesting Act, sponsored by State Rep. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro, bans any genetic sequencers or software from foreign adversaries in Tennessee and also prohibits a health insurer from knowingly covering organ transplants in China or any transplants involving organs sold or donated by Chinese sources. House Bill 395 will soon head to the governor’s desk for his signature. It will take effect Jan. 1, 2026.
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Pharmacists: The General Assembly has approved legislation making various updates to a 2024 law allowing pharmacists to prescribe certain medications. House Bill 693, sponsored by State Rep. Charlie Baum, R-Murfreesboro, authorizes pharmacists to schedule appointments with patients looking to obtain hormonal birth control. Typically, an administrative fee for this appointment would be billed to the patient’s insurance. This bill removes the fee for individuals who receive a pharmacy benefit covering the cost of contraceptives. It also codifies that a person may lawfully possess a drug prescribed by a pharmacist. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature. It will take effect on July 1, 2025.
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DNA collection on death row: The House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday that mandates the collection of biological specimens, such as blood or saliva, from individuals on death row within 30 days of their sentencing or before completing a shorter term of incarceration. House Bill 341, sponsored by State Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, specifically targets those required to register as sex offenders. Prior to this legislation, there was no set timeline or clear responsibility for collecting these specimens. House Bill 341 also empowers law enforcement, including the Tennessee Department of Correction, to submit DNA samples from deceased offenders convicted of qualifying crimes to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) for analysis, regardless of when the conviction occurred. The companion version of House Bill 341 was approved by the Senate in February. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.
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Adoption records: The General Assembly this week passed House Bill 102, a measure aimed at making it easier for individuals to access their adoption-related records at a younger age. Sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, and State Rep. William Slater, R-Gallatin, the legislation lowers the age a person can access their own adoption records from 21 to 18. This change aims to support greater transparency and provide adoptees with the opportunity to learn more about their background as they transition into adulthood. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.
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Detransition procedures: House Bill 754 by House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, would require insurance plans that cover transgender procedures to also cover detransition treatments. It would also prohibit a county or municipality from denying mental health therapy to help a minor address gender dysphoria. To increase transparency, House Bill 754 requires a gender clinic that uses funds provided by the state to directly or indirectly provide or pay for gender transition procedures to agree to provide or pay for the performance of detransition procedures as a condition of receiving such funds. Finally, it requires gender clinics to report statistics regarding all gender transition procedures to the Tennessee Department of Health (DOH) no later than 15 days after the end of the calendar month during which the procedure was prescribed.
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Consumer protection: A new bill introduced aims to protect consumers from unfair billing practices when terminating contracts for services like telephone, cable, internet and broadband. House Bill 141, sponsored by State Rep. Michael Hale, R-Smithville, will prohibit service providers from billing consumers for a subsequent billing cycle if the agreement is terminated in the first half of a billing cycle. If terminated in the second half, providers can bill for the remaining cycle and one additional cycle. Violating this provision would be considered an unfair or deceptive practice under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, subjecting offenders to penalties. House Bill 141 will be heard for consideration in the House Commerce Committee on March 19
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