Tennessee Bill Book

The bill would stop people from suing pesticide sellers if the label was EPA‑approved when sold.

If passed, everyday folks could not hold pesticide companies accountable for misleading labels, letting them avoid court costs while consumers bear any harms.

Pesticide manufacturers

• Accountability (hurts) — Reduces company accountability. Shielding manufacturers from civil suits limits oversight.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Cuts right to sue. Consumers lose the ability to sue over label issues.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Costs shift to public. Companies avoid court costs; any harms fall on users.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No change in transparency. Bill does not add new reporting or disclosure.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding changes. No new money is allocated or taken.

• Official text (TN HB0809)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=HB0809&ga=114
• LegiScan — HB0809https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/HB0809/2025

Pesticide sellers could not be sued for label problems as long as the label was EPA‑approved when sold.

Citizens could lose a key way to hold pesticide companies accountable, making it harder to get compensation if a product harms health or the environment.

Pesticide manufacturers

• Accountability (hurts) — Reduces ability to hold pesticide makers accountable. Immunity from civil labeling suits
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Limits right to sue for label issues. Civil action barred if label was EPA‑approved
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Costs shift to citizens who may suffer harm. No civil recourse for damages
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No change to procedural openness. Bill text does not affect transparency
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding provisions. No money allocation in text

• Official text (TN SB0527)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=SB0527&ga=114
• LegiScan — SB0527https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/SB0527/2025

It would make flying a drone over a prison a felony and let prison staff shut down drones without being sued.

Citizens who enjoy hobby drones could lose the ability to fly near prisons, while prisons gain more power to stop drones and avoid paying for any damage.

Government Power

• Accountability (hurts) — immunity for staff. prison staff are not liable for drone damage
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — higher penalty, restricts drone use. drone flight over prison becomes a felony
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — cost shift to drone owners. owners may lose drone with no compensation
• Process Transparency (neutral) — no transparency change. bill does not address procedural openness
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no funding changes. no money allocation mentioned

• Official text (TN HB1538)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1538&ga=114
• LegiScan — HB1538https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/HB1538/2025

Health insurers could not pay labs less than the federal fee schedule, which may raise your insurance premiums but could improve lab quality.

Consumers should watch this bill because it could push insurers to spend more on lab tests, which might show up as higher monthly premiums, while labs get more stable pay and may meet stricter performance rules.

Medical labs

• Accountability (neutral) — neutral. Bill does not change oversight of insurers or labs
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — neutral. Does not affect consumer legal rights
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — cost shift to consumers. Higher lab payments may raise premiums
• Process Transparency (neutral) — neutral. No new reporting requirements
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — neutral. No new funding changes

• Official text (TN HB1993)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1993&ga=114
• LegiScan — HB1993https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/HB1993/2025

Businesses that give money to charities approved by the governor could lower their state taxes.

The bill gives companies a tax break for charitable gifts, which could reduce money for public services and shift the cost to everyday taxpayers.

Big Business

• Accountability (hurts) — Tax credit reduces oversight. Businesses get tax break without extra reporting
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No direct impact on personal rights. Bill does not change individual legal protections
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Cost shift to taxpayers. State revenue reduced, taxpayers may fund services
• Process Transparency (hurts) — Limited public input. Bill introduced with little debate before committee
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — Reduces state funding. Tax credits lower revenue without new funding source

• Official text (TN HB1494)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1494&ga=114
• LegiScan — HB1494https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/HB1494/2025

This bill would get rid of an old study requirement about Medicare plans for people under 65, which might not help anyone right now.

This bill seems harmless but doesn't really help anyone. It is important to watch how changes like this can affect Medicare plans in the future.

• Accountability (neutral) — No clear accountability measures are added or removed.. The bill simply removes an old requirement.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No new rights or protections are created.. The bill does not affect rights related to Medicare.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Cost implications are unclear.. Removing the study requirement does not shift costs.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Transparency remains the same.. No new processes are introduced.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding changes are noted.. The bill does not mention funding.

• Official text (TN HB2577)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=HB2577&ga=114
• LegiScan — HB2577https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/HB2577/2025

Insurers could not pay labs less than the CMS fee schedule, and they could force labs to meet quality standards.

The bill would protect lab owners by guaranteeing fair pay, but it may push insurance costs up, which could raise your monthly premium.

Medical labs

• accountability (neutral) — Neutral impact on oversight. Insurers must follow CMS rates but no new oversight body.
• rights & protections (helps) — Boosts lab protections. Labs cannot be forced to accept lower payments.
• who bears the cost (hurts) — Potential premium increase. Higher insurer payouts may be passed to consumers.
• process transparency (helps) — Performance metrics requirement. Insurers can set quality standards for labs.
• funding tilt (neutral) — No new funding. Bill does not create spending.

• Official text (TN SB1722)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=SB1722&ga=114
• LegiScan — SB1722https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/SB1722/2025

The bill would make a state commission review how often insurers refuse payments and share the results with lawmakers.

If passed, the study could reveal patterns of unfair claim denials, helping lawmakers fix problems, but it costs taxpayers and may take time.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — adds oversight of insurer denials. requires commission to evaluate and report
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — does not change consumer rights. no new rights or protections added
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — state funds the study. taxpayer cost not specified
• Process Transparency (helps) — public report required. findings go to legislative committees
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no new funding mechanisms. study cost not detailed

• Official text (TN SB1134)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=SB1134&ga=114
• LegiScan — SB1134https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/SB1134/2025

The state would ask the revenue department to see if tax credits can be sold or given to other people or companies.

Citizens should watch because letting credits be transferred could help big companies move money around, but it might not change anyone’s tax bill right now.

Businesses

• Accountability (neutral) — requires department to report. adds oversight through a mandated study
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — no impact on personal rights. does not affect individual legal protections
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — study funding not specified. potential taxpayer burden for the study
• Process Transparency (helps) — mandates public report. increases openness about tax credit options
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no funding changes. does not allocate new money

• Official text (TN HB0424)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=HB0424&ga=114
• LegiScan — HB0424https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/HB0424/2025

This bill would get rid of an old tax credit for beer that was ruined in a flood over ten years ago.

Since this bill removes an outdated tax credit, it doesn't really help or hurt anyone now. It's just cleaning up old rules.

Nobody / Symbolic

• Accountability (neutral) — No real impact on accountability.. The bill just removes an old tax credit.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No change in rights or protections.. This is a cleanup of old tax rules.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No cost shift involved.. This bill does not change who pays taxes.

• Official text (TN HB1252)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1252&ga=114
• LegiScan — HB1252https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/HB1252/2025

This bill would make sure mental health care is covered like other health issues, which is important for many people.

If this bill passes, more people will get the mental health care they need without worrying about costs. Now is the time to support it.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Improves insurance accountability for mental health coverage.. Requires equal coverage for mental health, increasing accountability.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Enhances rights for mental health treatment.. Gives people better access to necessary mental health services.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Costs may shift to insurance companies.. Insurance companies will need to cover more services.

• Official text (TN HB1291)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1291&ga=114
• LegiScan — HB1291https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/HB1291/2025

This bill would make sure health insurance covers mental health like it does for drug and alcohol issues.

If this bill passes, more people will get the mental health care they need. It is important to support this now to help everyone get equal treatment.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Improves mental health coverage.. This bill enhances rights to mental health care.
• Accountability (helps) — Holds insurers accountable for mental health coverage.. It ensures insurance companies provide equal coverage.

• Official text (TN SB1248)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=SB1248&ga=114
• LegiScan — SB1248https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/SB1248/2025

This bill would give money help to small businesses, especially those owned by women and minorities, to hire people and teach them new skills.

This bill wants to help small businesses grow in Tennessee. It would give them tax breaks for hiring people from their towns and teaching them job skills. It would also give special money to businesses owned by women and minorities in places that need more jobs. Supporters would say this helps create jobs and makes local economies stronger. It could help people find work and learn new skills. Some might worry about where the money for these tax breaks and grants comes from, but the goal is to boost local business and jobs. Since it is still being discussed, people can share their thoughts on how to best help small businesses and workers.

Small businesses

• Accountability (helps) — Helps businesses grow, potentially leading to more jobs.. The bill would give tax credits for hiring locally and workforce training, and grants for minority-owned and women-owned businesses.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Supports job creation and skill development.. The bill would authorize business tax credits for small businesses hiring locally or providing workforce training.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Taxpayers fund the credits and grants, but benefits could outweigh costs through economic growth.. The bill would authorize business tax credits and create grants, which would be funded by the state.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No specific details on process transparency are provided in the summary.. The official summary does not mention any changes to process transparency.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Directs funds to support small businesses, especially those owned by women and minorities.. The bill would create grants for minority-owned and women-owned businesses in underserved areas.

Pushing for it: Small businesses, especially minority-owned and women-owned businesses.
Bearing the cost: State budget/taxpayers

• Official text (TN HB0952)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=HB0952&ga=114
• LegiScan — HB0952https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/HB0952/2025

This bill would require Tennessee employers to pay workers at least $20 an hour starting in 2027, with the wage going up each year based on inflation, giving workers a bigger paycheck and the right to sue if their boss doesn't pay.

Right now, Tennessee follows the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, one of the lowest in the country. Workers with full-time jobs can still fall below the poverty line. This bill would nearly triple that floor and tie future raises to the cost of living, so wages keep up automatically. Employers would have to post the wage rules clearly, and workers would get 2–3 years to file a lawsuit if they were cheated. The bill is still in committee, so this is the moment workers and business groups will fight it out, supporters say it lifts families out of poverty and boosts the local economy; opponents worry small businesses will cut hours or jobs. The clock is ticking.

Everyday People

• Right to sue for unpaid wages (helps) — Workers gain explicit 2–3 year legal window to recover unpaid wages. Bill establishes civil liability and statute of limitations, giving workers a clear path to court
• Wage floor increase (helps) — Raising minimum wage from $7.25 to $20/hour is a 176% increase, directly boosting lowest-paid workers. Beginning January 1, 2027, all covered workers earn nearly triple the current federal minimum
• Automatic inflation adjustments (helps) — Wage indexed to consumer price index prevents erosion of purchasing power over time. Commissioner of Labor ties future annual raises to inflation, no new legislative action needed
• Employer posting mandate (helps) — Transparency requirement helps workers know their rights and catch violations early. Employers must display wage rules, reducing information gaps between boss and worker
• Potential job/hour cuts by small business (hurts) — Some employers may reduce headcount or shift to fewer hours to offset labor costs. No exemptions stated for small firms; compliance costs may be passed to workers via reduced hours
• Phase-in speed (neutral) — One-year lead time (Feb 2026 to Jan 2027) is tight for some small employers to adjust. Less time than some peer states used for similar raises, though not negligible

Pushing for it: Tennessee workers earning minimum wage (estimated 50,000–100,000+) (Approx. $10,400/year per worker (difference between $20/hr ×2,080 hrs and current min. wage))
Bearing the cost: Employers (cost not quantified in bill text; depends on payroll size and worker count)

• Official text (TN SB2495)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=SB2495&ga=114
• LegiScan — SB2495https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/SB2495/2025

The bill would stop insurers from downcoding health plans so doctors can still get paid for services they actually performed.

Right now insurers can shrink the amount they pay, leaving doctors unpaid and patients with hidden costs; this bill would keep the fee intact, protecting care access.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Adds oversight body. Creates a commission to review insurance practices.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects payment rights. Stops insurers from downcoding that blocks fee collection.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Keeps costs on insurers. Prevents cost shifting onto patients.
• Process Transparency (helps) — More review. Commission review adds transparency to insurance decisions.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding change mentioned. Bill does not specify funding adjustments.

• Official text (TN HB2619)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=HB2619&ga=114
• LegiScan — HB2619https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/HB2619/2025

The bill would let anyone sue a company that knowingly sells or distributes illegal obscene material and recover damages and court costs.

Citizens could hold offenders accountable and get money for harms, while companies would face new lawsuits, so the bill could deter illegal porn and protect families.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — increases liability. Allows individuals to sue commercial entities for obscene material
• Rights & Protections (helps) — expands right to sue. Gives victims the ability to recover damages and fees
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — shifts cost to companies. Companies would pay damages, court costs, and attorney fees
• Process Transparency (neutral) — no change. Bill does not add new transparency requirements
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no funding change. No new funding or budget provisions are included

• Official text (TN HB0221)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=HB0221&ga=114
• LegiScan — HB0221https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/HB0221/2025

The bill would let anyone sue a company that spreads illegal obscene material and could win damages, court fees, and attorney costs.

If passed, the bill gives people a new way to hold bad companies accountable for spreading illegal porn, which could deter them and protect families.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — adds civil liability. commercial entities can be sued for damages
• Rights & Protections (helps) — expands right to sue. individuals may sue for obscene content
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — costs shift to businesses. companies pay damages and fees
• Process Transparency (neutral) — no new transparency measures. bill does not change procedural rules
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no funding changes. no budget impact mentioned

• Official text (TN SB0467)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=SB0467&ga=114
• LegiScan — SB0467https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/SB0467/2025

People buying Medicare supplement plans could ask for a refund within 60 days instead of 30, giving them more time to decide.

The bill gives seniors a longer cooling‑off period, so they can back out of a costly plan if they find a better option, and it forces insurers to clearly tell them about the refund window.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — No change to accountability mechanisms.. The bill does not alter who can be held accountable for policy issues.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Expands consumer refund rights.. Extends the refund window, giving consumers more time to change their mind.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No new cost shift identified.. The bill does not shift costs to consumers or the state.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Requires clear notice on policies.. Insurers must print refund information prominently on the first page.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding changes.. The bill does not allocate or redirect money.

• Official text (TN SB0552)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=SB0552&ga=114
• LegiScan — SB0552https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/SB0552/2025

This bill would make sure health insurance covers tests for preeclampsia in pregnant women, helping keep moms and babies safe.

This is a big step for pregnant women in Tennessee. If this bill passes, more women will get the care they need. Now is the time to support it.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Increases healthcare access. Provides coverage for important health tests
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Shifts costs to insurers. Insurers will have to pay for the tests

• Official text (TN HB0070)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=HB0070&ga=114
• LegiScan — HB0070https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/HB0070/2025

This bill would help families of veterans with disabilities pay for college by waiving tuition and fees at public schools.

If this bill passes, more families of veterans could save money on college. It is important to support those who served our country and their families.

Everyday People

• Funding Tilt (helps) — This bill could increase support for veterans' families.. It provides financial relief for college expenses.

Pushing for it: Dependent children and spouses of veterans
Bearing the cost: Unknown

• Official text (TN HB0299)https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=HB0299&ga=114
• LegiScan — HB0299https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/HB0299/2025