Tennessee Legislation

This bill proposes to increase the penalties for reckless endangerment in Tennessee when it involves shooting a firearm into a motor vehicle. If the vehicle is occupied, the offense would be upgraded from a Class E felony to a Class C felony. If the vehicle is unoccupied, it would be upgraded to a Class D felony.

TN HB0470 aims to create the 'Tennessee Professionals' Freedom of Religion Act,' which would protect professionals in various fields from being required to act in ways that conflict with their religious beliefs. This bill would amend existing laws to ensure that professionals can freely express and practice their religion without facing professional penalties.

The bill requires individuals acting as agents for hostile foreign entities to register with the Tennessee ethics commission. It also mandates that any political organization supported by foreign entities must register with the commission. This aims to increase transparency about foreign influence in Tennessee's political landscape.

This bill aims to ensure that individuals are not excluded from joining state regulatory and health-related boards in Tennessee based on their race, color, ethnicity, or national origin. It also prevents these boards from implementing or operating under policies that are based on race. Additionally, the bill allows individuals to sue these boards and their members if they engage in such discriminatory practices.

This bill mandates that anyone arrested for a felony in Tennessee must provide a DNA sample. The sample is collected by the arresting authority to be used for DNA analysis, which helps in identifying the individual.

This bill requires the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, alongside the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, to review all state-funded financial aid and scholarship programs. The goal is to see if these programs can be expanded to offer more financial support to individuals seeking workforce credentials. The commission must report its findings and any legislative suggestions to the appropriate committees in the House and Senate by January 15, 2026.

This bill proposes to increase the financial requirements for insurance companies involved in workers' compensation in Tennessee. It raises the bond amount that these companies must secure from $50,000 to $100,000. Additionally, it increases the certificate amount that can be deposited with the commissioner in place of the bond from $100,000 to $200,000.

The bill allows taxpayers in Tennessee to choose to deduct 40% of the cost of new assets purchased from 2026 onwards when calculating their excise tax. If the federal depreciation rate is higher than 40%, taxpayers can use the higher rate instead. This change aims to adjust how businesses account for asset depreciation in their taxes.

The bill TN HB0478 proposes that individuals who carry firearms into areas where firearms are not allowed do not commit a crime if they leave immediately when asked or store their firearm in their vehicle as per state law. This amendment aims to clarify the conditions under which carrying a firearm into a restricted area does not result in an offense.

This bill proposes to add a new member to the information systems council in Tennessee. The new member will be a state employee with cybersecurity experience, appointed by the governor. This change aims to enhance the council's expertise in cybersecurity matters.

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The bill proposes to amend the Tennessee Constitution to include the right to clean air and pure water. It also aims to protect the state's natural beauty and historical sites. Essentially, it seeks to ensure that environmental values are recognized and preserved in Tennessee.

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The bill proposes to eliminate the professional privilege tax in Tennessee starting from June 1, 2026. This tax currently applies to certain professionals and is paid annually. By repealing it, the bill aims to reduce the tax burden on these individuals.

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