Dental and Dental Hygienist Interstate Compact – Tennessee is on track to become one of the first states to join the Dental and Dental Hygienist Interstate Compact, which would allow dental providers licensed in a member state to practice in other member states without having to obtain a license in another state. Senate Bill 361 would have a positive impact in Tennessee and help improve the shortage of dental providers by easing the barrier to cross state practice among member states.

Protecting citizens from stalking — Other legislation that seeks to protect citizens from being unknowingly tracked by strengthening advanced in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senate Bill 1223 strengthens Tennessee’s anti-stalking laws by expanding the meaning of stalking to include use of an electronic tracking or Global Positioning System (GPS) device to secretly monitor the location of an individual and/or their property without their consent. State law currently requires at least two separate noncontinuous acts to occur before someone could be charged with the offense. Law enforcement agencies across the nation have warned citizens about the growing problem of stalking with electronic tracking devices being secretly used by criminals to follow vehicles they intend to steal or worse.

Removing the tuition cap for dual enrollment — The Education Committee passed a bill that removes the tuition cap for dual enrollment for certain campuses. Senate Bill 1408 applies to high school students taking college courses to get a head start for college credit. Present law prohibits an eligible postsecondary institution from charging certain students receiving a dual enrollment grant tuition or fees in excess of the student’s dual enrollment grant award. However, an eligible postsecondary institution may charge a student receiving a dual enrollment grant costs actually incurred by the institution on the student's behalf, including book and material costs, and special examination fees. This bill changes the prohibition above to only apply to eligible public postsecondary institutions, not independent postsecondary institutions.

Expanding eligibility for the Tennessee HOPE scholarship — Senate Bill 74 seeks to recruit, retain and reward eligible Tennessee HOPE scholarship students by allowing them to receive the HOPE scholarship until the student has earned an advanced degree or for up to five years from initial enrollment, whichever is first. The HOPE scholarship is funded by the state lottery and is awarded to freshmen who are enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution within 16 months after graduating from a Tennessee-eligible high school. 

Easing requirements for veterans seeking a commercial driver’s license — Passed by the Transportation and Safety committee, Senate Bill 105 waives the knowledge test for active military service members, veterans and national guardsmen applying for a commercial driver’s license (CDL). The bill identifies various alternative requirements for the license, including operating a commercial motor vehicle in the military in combination with a good driving record. Similar laws are in place in 18 other states, including South Carolina, Georgia and Texas. 

Accelerating licensure for out-of-state medical providers — Legislation to remove red tape that can make it harder for rural communities to recruit physicians and medical providers cleared the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Senate Bill 296 would lower the time from 90 to 45 days that a medical board must make a decision on an application for licensure in Tennessee from a medical provider licensed in another state. The current wait period of up to 90 days to receive a decision on licensure by out-of-state medical providers and healthcare workers is too long for some providers considering practicing in rural areas. The bill applies to the Board of Medical Examiners, Board of Osteopathic Examination, Board of Nursing and Board of Physician Assistants. 

Topical Medical Waste Reduction Act of 2023 — Legislation passed the Health and Welfare Committee to allow patients to take home topical medication administered at a hospital or surgical center that is needed for continued use. Senate Bill 523 will save patients money and reduce waste for medication currently tossed out after being opened at a healthcare facility. The legislation applies to topical antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, dilation, glaucoma drop or ointments. 

Restitution for children of victims of DUI — In the event a parent of a minor child is killed by an intoxicated driver, current law requires the convicted offender to pay restitution to each of the victim’s children until each child reaches 18 years of age and has graduated from high school or the class of which the child is a member has graduated. Senate Bill 442 is known as “Dillard’s Law” and amends current law by allowing a family to convert the criminal restitution, which would be paid at the end of the defendant’s sentence, to a civil judgment, allowing the children to be compensated sooner rather than later. 

Permitting school resource officers to serve private schools — Passed by the Education Committee last week, Senate Bill 315 clarifies private schools may enter into contracts with school resource officers just as public schools are currently permitted. 

Communication between juvenile courts and DCS — Senate Bill 447 requires the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) to notify the juvenile judge when a child placed in DCS custody is going to be discharged from the care of DCS. This bill ensures effective communication within the juvenile justice system and DCS. It also sets a procedure for the judge to object to the child being discharged from DCS custody. The measure passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and now moves to the Finance, Ways & Means committee.  

Enhancing road safety — To enhance safety on Tennessee roads, the Transportation and Safety committee passed a bill that brings new penalties for distracted driving. Senate Bill 589 states that persons 18 years of age or younger caught texting while driving two times in a year will have their driver’s license suspended for six months. Those older than 18 years of age caught texting while driving three times in a year will also have their license suspended. The number of distracted driving offenses has been increasing in Tennessee each year.  

Annual Hospital Assessment Act — The Senate Health and Welfare Committee passed legislation to extend the Annual Hospital Assessment Act, which the state has passed each year since 2010. Senate Bill 289 continues the voluntary hospital assessment that results in more than $691 million in state funds going towards covering indigent and uninsured care provided by hospitals to the general public and makes the state eligible for $1.8 billion in federal matching funds to support TennCare. This assessment identifies areas of needs for hospitals and helps hospitals meet these needs and continue operations while not raising prices for patients.  

Extending the Ground Ambulance Service Provider Assessment Act

— Senate Bill 984 extends the Ground Ambulance Service Provider Assessment for one year to June 30, 2024. Ambulance providers in Tennessee impose a fee on themselves that’s administered by the Bureau of TennCare, and the fee is then leveraged into additional federal dollars that are distributed to participating ambulance services based on the number of ground transports. 

Modernizing regulations for the money transmitter industry — Passed by the Commerce and Labor committee, Senate Bill 268 seeks to modernize regulatory standards to enhance the safety and soundness of the money transmitter industry while supporting business, innovation and economic progress in Tennessee. The bill would replace the Tennessee Money Transmitter Act of 1994 as the industry has changed significantly over the years from operating out of brick-and-mortar offices to Internet-based models in multiple states. The bill clarifies the types of activities that are subject to licensing, enhances the prudential standards required by licensees and it better aligns these standards with the risks associated with the evolving industry. Multiple other states are considering similar if not identical legislation.

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