States

Tennessee Bill Tracking And State Guide

Everything you need to know to engage with the Senate and House
How does a bill become law in Tennessee?
1. Introduction: The bill is introduced in either the Senate or the House. 2. Numbering: The Chief Clerk numbers the bill. 3. First Consideration: The bill passes its first consideration. 4. Second Consideration: For local bills, the procedure changes at this stage. The bill is passed on second consideration and held on the Clerk's desk. 5. Local Approval: Local bills must be approved by the local legislative delegation. The Speaker may refer the bill to a committee, in which case it follows the normal committee process. 6. Signature Collection: The bill must receive the signature of each member of the local delegation affected by the legislation. 7. Consent Calendar: Once signed, the bill is placed on the Consent Calendar. 8. Engrossing Process: From this point onward, the procedures for local bills align with those for general bills. 9. Finalization: Unlike general bills, local bills do not amend the code but become part of the Private Acts for that particular year. 10. House Procedure: The steps for passing local bills in the House follow the same process as for general bills.
How can a member of the public get involved in the legislative process in Tennessee?
A member of the public can get involved in the legislative process in Tennessee by engaging with their local legislative delegation. Here are some specific ways to participate: 1. Contact Local Legislators: Reach out to your local representatives to express your views on proposed local bills. You can do this by sending emails, making phone calls, or attending town hall meetings. 2. Attend Legislative Sessions: Members of the public can attend sessions at the State Capitol where bills are discussed and voted on. Engaging in these sessions can provide insights into the legislative process and allow you to voice your opinions on specific bills. 3. Participate in Committee Meetings: Although local bills might not always go through a standing committee, if they are referred to a committee, attending these meetings allows you to learn more about the proceedings and provide input. 4. Stay Informed: Keep an eye on local bills that may affect your community and follow their progress. 5. Advocate for Local Bills: If you support a particular local bill, you can organize advocacy efforts with other community members to show support to your local legislative delegation and encourage them to consider the bill favorably.
How can FastDemocracy help me with that?
Tracking bills is hard, especially if you rely on state legislature websites, which are often hard to navigate. Thousands of bills get filed in Tennessee every year (and about 180,000 bills nationwide). If you want to be an effective advocate, you need to know where legislation of interest stands, and act quickly.
FastDemocracy's free version allows you to track an unlimited number of bills - no strings attached. We'll send you a daily or weekly email on your priority bills and give you tools to research bills and legislators.
FastDemocracy Professional is for anyone who tracks bills in a professional capacity. It features
  • real-time bill, amendment and hearing alerts
  • automated reporting
  • team collaboration
  • bill tagging for clients and stakeholders
  • bill similarity detection
  • ...and much more
How do I track bills in Tennessee?
1. Sign up here for a free FastDemocracy account.
2. Head to Tracked Topics to select issue areas you care about.
3. Use the search bar on top if you're looking for something specific.
4. Click "Track Bill" for any legislation you'd like to monitor a bit closer. That's how you add it to your Tracked Bills. You can also click on a bill to learn more, see the bill summary, most recent actions, votes, news and tweets. You can also contact legislators or share your bills on social media.
5. You can track an unlimited number of bills for free and we'll send you a daily or weekly email if your tracked legislation moves.
6. Do you need real-time alerts, outreach tools, bill lists, and professional functions? Then FastDemocracy Professional is the right fit for you.
7. Track bills on your smartphone using our free mobile app.
How do I find my local Tennessee Senator and Representative?
You can use the Find Your Legislators tool to find them, see their voting records, and contact them.
Most tracked bills in Tennessee, 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)
Controlled Substances - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Cannabis Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 29; Title 33; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41; Title 43; Title 45; Title 50; Title 53; Title 63; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 71.
Last Action
Failed in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee
House • Apr 01, 2025
Latest Version
Local Education Agencies - As introduced, authorizes LEAs and public charter schools to refuse to enroll students who are unlawfully present in the United States. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 49.
Last Action
Sponsor(s) Added.
House • Mar 31, 2025
Latest Version
Controlled Substances - As introduced, enacts the "Pot for Potholes Act"; establishes a regulatory structure for the cultivation, processing, and retail sale of marijuana and marijuana products in this state to be administered by the department of agriculture. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 29; Title 33; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41; Title 43; Title 45; Title 50; Title 53; Title 54; Title 63; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 71.
Last Action
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
Senate • Mar 31, 2025
Latest Version
Local Education Agencies - As introduced, prohibits a public school from using public funds to have a membership with an association that regulates interscholastic athletics and prohibits a student from participating in an interscholastic athletic competition due to the student transferring no more than once from a school at which the student previously participated in an interscholastic athletic competition regulated by the association. - Amends TCA Title 49.
Last Action
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 4/1/2025
House • Mar 26, 2025
Latest Version
Bill up for public hearing House Education Committee
Apr 02, 2025 09:30am
House Hearing Room I
Constitutional Amendments - Proposes an amendment to Article I of the Constitution of Tennessee to declare that a person shall not be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall a person be denied equal protection of the law; defines "person" to include every human being from fertilization to natural death. -
Last Action
Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 4/2/2025
House • Mar 26, 2025
Latest Version
Controlled Substances - As introduced, enacts the "Pot for Potholes Act"; establishes a regulatory structure for the cultivation, processing, and retail sale of marijuana and marijuana products in this state to be administered by the department of agriculture. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 29; Title 33; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41; Title 43; Title 45; Title 50; Title 53; Title 54; Title 63; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 71.
Last Action
Failed in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee
House • Mar 26, 2025
Latest Version
Education - As introduced, creates the division of early child care and education within the department of education. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 49.
Last Action
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee
Senate • Mar 26, 2025
Latest Version
Immigration - As introduced, requires a law enforcement agency in custody of an individual unlawfully present in the United States to request an immigration detainer and detain such individual for the maximum period as specified in the detainer; requires such agency to transport such individuals not taken into federal custody to a sanctuary city; requires department of revenue to request reimbursement for costs of detention and transportation of illegal aliens and to withhold federal petroleum taxes collected in this state if such reimbursement is not received. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7; Title 38; Title 39; Title 55 and Title 67.
Last Action
Failed in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee
House • Mar 18, 2025
Latest Version
Abortion - As introduced, clarifies that the term "abortion," as defined for the offense of criminal abortion, does not include the use of contraceptives, including any device, medication, biological product, or procedure that is generally intended for use in the prevention of pregnancy, whether specifically intended to prevent pregnancy or for other health needs, or the disposal of embryos resulting from fertility treatments, including healthcare services, procedures, testing, medications, treatments, or products. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39; Title 63 and Title 68.
Last Action
Failed in s/c Population Health Subcommittee of Health Committee
House • Mar 18, 2025
Latest Version
Birth Control - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Contraceptive Freedom Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.
Last Action
Failed in s/c Population Health Subcommittee of Health Committee
House • Mar 18, 2025
Latest Version
Abortion - As introduced, enacts the "Unborn Child Protection Act of 2025." - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 39, Chapter 15, Part 2; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.
Last Action
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Population Health Subcommittee of Health Committee
House • Mar 04, 2025
Latest Version
Education - As introduced, enacts the "Education Freedom Act of 2025." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 8 and Title 49.
Last Action
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 7
executive • Feb 25, 2025
Latest Version
Health Care - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Medical Cannabis Act," which establishes a medical cannabis program to be administered by the Tennessee medical cannabis program commission. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 38, Chapter 3; Title 39, Chapter 17; Title 43; Title 50; Title 53; Title 63; Title 67 and Title 68.
Last Action
Failed in Senate Judiciary Committee / no second
Senate • Feb 25, 2025
Latest Version
Controlled Substances - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Cannabis Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 29; Title 33; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41; Title 43; Title 45; Title 50; Title 53; Title 63; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 71.
Last Action
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
Senate • Feb 12, 2025
Latest Version
Health Care - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Medical Cannabis Act," which establishes a medical cannabis program to be administered by the Tennessee medical cannabis program commission. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 38, Chapter 3; Title 39, Chapter 17; Title 43; Title 50; Title 53; Title 63; Title 67 and Title 68.
Last Action
Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee
House • Feb 10, 2025
Latest Version
Constitutional Amendments - Proposes an amendment to prohibit this state or an instrumentality of this state from abridging or denying a person's rights on account of sex. -
Last Action
Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee
House • Jan 29, 2025
Latest Version
Education - As introduced, enacts the "Education Freedom Act of 2025." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49 and Title 49.
Last Action
Assigned to s/c K-12 Subcommittee
House • Jan 28, 2025
Latest Version
Abortion - As introduced, enacts the "Reproductive Freedom Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 20; Title 29; Title 37; Title 39; Title 49; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.
Last Action
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
Senate • Jan 27, 2025
Latest Version
Education - As introduced, enacts the "Education Freedom Act of 2025." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49 and Title 49.
Last Action
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
Senate • Jan 15, 2025
Latest Version
Abortion - As introduced, clarifies that the term "abortion," as defined for the offense of criminal abortion, does not include the use of contraceptives, including any device, medication, biological product, or procedure that is generally intended for use in the prevention of pregnancy, whether specifically intended to prevent pregnancy or for other health needs, or the disposal of embryos resulting from fertility treatments, including healthcare services, procedures, testing, medications, treatments, or products. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39; Title 63 and Title 68.
Last Action
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
Senate • Jan 15, 2025
Latest Version
All Legislators in Tennessee (Senator and Representative)