Local Government, General - As introduced, requires proposed contingent fee contracts for legal services between a political subdivision of this state and a private-sector attorney to be approved by the attorney general and reporter prior to…

What it does: This bill authorizes a political subdivision to only enter into a contingent fee contract for legal services if the governing body of the political subdivision adheres to all of the following requirements:  Calls a public meeting for the purpose of considering the contract and provides in the notice of the meeting (i) the reasons for pursuing the matter that is the subject of the legal services being procured and the desired outcome of pursuing the matter; (ii) the qualifications, experience, and competence of the attorney or law firm proposed for retention by the governing body; (iii) the… (official summary)

Question before the chamber: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION

Yes 36 · No 32 · Democrats 0–19 · Republicans 36–13

State Employees - As introduced, makes various changes regarding employment with this state and state employment benefits. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Section 41-24-113 and Section 70-1-309.

What it does: Present law requires the commissioner of human resources ("commissioner") to perform certain human resources functions authorized in present law if requested by state organizations. This bill, instead, authorizes the commissioner to perform such functions, rather than requires. JOB OPENINGS Present law requires the commissioner to give public notice of a job opening at least one week prior to the closing of the application period. This bill eliminates that requirement. (official summary)

Question before the chamber: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION

Yes 42 · No 40 · Democrats 0–21 · Republicans 42–19

Environment and Conservation, Department of - As enacted, requires an agreement or contract entered into between the commissioner and a county health department for the department to implement subsurface sewage disposal requirements to…

What it does: Present law provides that it is the duty of the commissioner of environment and conservation, or the commissioner's duly authorized representative or deputy commissioner, as applicable, to enter into an agreement or contract with county health departments whereby the departments would implement the law relative to subsurface sewage disposal systems in their respective jurisdiction. (official summary)

Question before the chamber: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 2 BY RENEAU PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION

Yes 44 · No 46 · Democrats 21–0 · Republicans 23–46

Education - As enacted, revises education law, including, but not limited to, increasing, from 25,000 to 35,000, the maximum number of education freedom scholarships that may be awarded to eligible students. - Amends TCA Title 49. HB2532 has…

What it does: ON APRIL 13, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #8, 2, 3, AND 9, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2532, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #8 prohibits an eligible student from receiving an education freedom scholarship if the student is enrolled in a private school that promotes or advocates for the support, adoption, or implementation of any foreign law, legal code, or system, in this state that, if adopted or implemented, would violate rights guaranteed by the Tennessee Constitution or United States Constitution. (official summary)

Question before the chamber: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION

Yes 52 · No 43 · Democrats 0–21 · Republicans 52–22

Education - As enacted, revises the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 12; Title 48; Title 49 and Title 67. Companion bill has…

What it does: ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1. SENATE BILL 1585, AS AMENDED, FAILED TO RECEIVE A CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to revise the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. Present law requires, as a condition of participating in the ESA program, participating students in grades three through 11 must be annually administered the TCAP tests for math and English language arts, or successor tests authorized by the state board of education for math and English language arts. (official summary)

Question before the chamber: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION

Yes 54 · No 39 · Democrats 0–22 · Republicans 54–17

Banks and Financial Institutions - As enacted, authorizes a premium finance company to impose and collect a convenience fee from an insured for use of certain payment methods; authorizes a premium finance company to charge and collect a…

What it does: Present law provides that a licensee under the "Premium Finance Company Act of 1980" does not have the power to charge premium loan charges other than, or in amounts greater than, the following:  Licensees may charge, in the case of the precomputed loan, a service charge in an amount equal to 4% of the total amount of the loan, which charge may be deducted in advance from the principal of the premium loan; provided, that a licensee who contracts for the payment of interest on the balances from time to time outstanding, commonly referred to as a revolving or open-end account, shall be limited… (official summary)

Question before the chamber: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION

Yes 48 · No 27 · Democrats 0–20 · Republicans 48–7

Flags - As introduced, requires the governor to proclaim a statewide day of mourning and order the state flag to be flown at half staff over the state capitol during such period of mourning if a current or former member of the general…

What it does: Abstract summarizes the bill. (official summary)

Question before the chamber: Third Consideration

Yes 14 · No 15 · Democrats 5–0 · Republicans 9–15

Food and Food Products - As enacted, prohibits LEAs and public charter schools from selling, offering for sale, or providing to students on school property through a school nutrition program any food or beverage item that contains Allura Red…

What it does: ON FEBRUARY 23, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2423, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill and adds to present law by prohibiting LEAs and public charter schools from selling, offering for sale, or providing to students on school property through a school nutrition program any food or beverage item that contains one or more of the following petroleum-based synthetic dyes: Allura Red AC; Erythrosine B; Tartrazine; Sunset Yellow FCF; Erioglaucine disodium salt; Indigo carmine; or Fast Green FCF. (official summary)

Question before the chamber: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION

A yes vote would have ended debate on SB 2423 (House companion HB 1853, banning certain artificial dyes in school food), and forced an immediate vote on it. (AI-written)

Yes 56 · No 32 · Democrats 0–22 · Republicans 56–10

Education - As enacted, revises the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 12; Title 48; Title 49 and Title 67. Companion bill has…

What it does: ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1. SENATE BILL 1585, AS AMENDED, FAILED TO RECEIVE A CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to revise the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. Present law requires, as a condition of participating in the ESA program, participating students in grades three through 11 must be annually administered the TCAP tests for math and English language arts, or successor tests authorized by the state board of education for math and English language arts. (official summary)

Question before the chamber: as Amended Third Consideration

Yes 16 · No 14 · Democrats 0–5 · Republicans 16–9

Education - As enacted, makes various revisions to education law, including, but not limited to, requiring each public school to annually submit to the department of education a list of all local assessments administered to students,…

What it does: This bill requires each public school, including public charter schools, to annually submit to the department of education, or a form developed by the department, a list of all local assessments administered to the students enrolled in the public school each school year, and the schedule for when each such local assessment is administered. The full text of this bill specifies information that must be included for each reported local assessment. (official summary)

Question before the chamber: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION

A yes vote passed SB 2403, as amended, which makes various education law revisions and, through House amendments, adds a designated period of prayer in public schools. (AI-written)

Yes 54 · No 31 · Democrats 0–21 · Republicans 54–10

Sewage - As enacted, makes revision to present law concerning sewerage systems using land application; exempts Hamilton County from the provisions requiring the developer of a subdivision or neighborhood that proposes to construct a…

What it does: ON MARCH 16, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 803, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to add to present law concerning sewerage systems using land application. Present law prohibits new construction of, or making any change in a public water supply or public sewerage system, until the plans for such new construction or change have been submitted to and approved by TDEC. (official summary)

Question before the chamber: MESSAGE CALENDAR CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENT # 10

A yes vote concurred in the Senate's Amendment 10 to HB 803, which exempts Hamilton County from the bill's requirement that subdivision developers apply to the local utility to own and operate a new treatment works. (AI-written)

Yes 59 · No 33 · Democrats 0–23 · Republicans 59–10

Education, Dept. of - As enacted, enacts the "The Learning Pod Protection Act." - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 49. Companion bill has been assigned Public Chapter Number 305 by the Secretary of State.

What it does: ON APRIL 3, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 134, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, enact the "The Learning Pod Protection Act," which makes the following revisions to present law:  Provides that the purpose of the Act is to allow parents to voluntarily participate in or associate with learning pods to advance the parents' children's K-12 education without being subject to regulation. (official summary)

Question before the chamber: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION

Yes 58 · No 28 · Democrats 0–23 · Republicans 58–5