All Roll Calls
Yes: 237 • No: 0
TennesseeHB 0959114th General Assembly (2025-2026)House
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33 and Title 63, relative to mental health.
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
Medical Occupations
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Exam-free Tennessee licenses for experienced counselors
Beginning July 1, 2025, the board can license qualifying out-of-state professional counselors at an equivalent level without an exam. Applicants must hold a valid license without restrictions from another U.S. state, territory, or federal district. One route requires a graduate degree of at least 60 hours in counseling or a related field. It also requires active, unsupervised practice at that license level during at least two of the past three years. Another route requires a graduate degree of at least 52 hours in counseling or a related field, earned before 2016. That route also requires at least 25 years of practice as a licensed professional counselor. Both routes retain the other statutory requirements; applicants seeking the highest license level must meet additional requirements. Authority to make rules implementing the act takes effect when the act becomes law.
More supervised training for family therapists
Beginning January 1, 2026, marriage and family therapy students can provide services without the usual license. Their work must be part of an accredited degree program and supervised through a board-approved program or arrangement. Students can use “marital therapy intern,” “family therapy trainee,” or “student therapist.” Graduates with the required degree who are supervised and pursuing independent licenses can use “pre-licensed marriage and family therapist” or postgraduate titles. Approved supervisors include licensed marriage and family therapists or other licensed mental health professionals approved by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. The law also allows board-approved supervisors and supervisors-in-training who receive supervision and mentoring from a current association-approved supervisor.
New supervised licenses for counselors
Beginning January 1, 2026, the board can issue associate licenses to professional counselor applicants designated as mental health service provider applicants. Applicants must complete the required coursework and training, pass the board’s exam, submit both license applications, and pay required fees. The license allows specified counseling work under qualified supervision for up to four years, with extensions at the board’s discretion. To seek full licensure, applicants must notify the board and document satisfactory completion of the required postgraduate supervised clinical experience. The board then grants or denies the full license.
New supervised licenses for family therapists
Beginning January 1, 2026, the board can issue associate licenses to marriage and family therapy applicants with the required coursework and training. Applicants must submit an application, proof of an agreement with an approved supervisor, and required fees. They can practice under an approved supervisor for up to four years, with a possible board-approved extension. For an independent license, they must apply and document satisfactory completion of the required supervised clinical experience after their master’s degree. The associate license ends when the board approves or denies the independent license, or revokes the associate license. Holders can use only “associate licensed marriage and family therapist” or “AMFT,” not the title of licensed marriage and family therapist.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
Karen D. Camper
Democrat • House
T.J. Hardaway
Democrat • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/3/2025
FLOOR VOTE: MESSAGE CALENDAR CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENT # 2 4/3/2025
Yes: 85 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/27/2025
FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/27/2025
Yes: 32 • No: 0
House vote • 3/10/2025
FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/10/2025
Yes: 94 • No: 0
House vote • 3/10/2025
HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/4/2025
HOUSE HEALTH COMMITTEE
Yes: 18 • No: 0
House vote • 2/26/2025
HOUSE HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE
Yes: 8 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Effective date(s) 04/11/2025, 07/01/2025, 01/01/2026
4/28/2025Pub. Ch. 204
4/28/2025Signed by Governor.
4/11/2025Transmitted to Governor for his action.
4/7/2025HouseSigned by Senate Speaker
4/7/2025SenateSigned by H. Speaker
4/7/2025HouseEnrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
4/3/2025HouseH. concurred in S. am. no. 2 Ayes 85, Nays 0 PNV 3 HB0959
4/3/2025HouseH. Placed on Message Calendar 4/3/2025
3/31/2025HousePassed Senate as amended, Ayes 32, Nays 0
3/27/2025SenateSenate adopted Amendment (Amendment 2 - SA0156)
3/27/2025SenateAmendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0155)
3/27/2025SenateSenate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
3/27/2025SenateReceived from House, Passed on First Consideration
3/13/2025SenateEngrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
3/11/2025HousePassed H., as am., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0
3/10/2025HouseSponsor(s) Added.
3/10/2025HouseH. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0032)
3/10/2025HouseH. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/10/2025
3/6/2025HousePlaced on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/6/2025
3/5/2025HouseRec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
3/4/2025HousePlaced on cal. Health Committee for 3/4/2025
2/26/2025HouseRec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Health Committee
2/26/2025HousePlaced on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 2/26/2025
2/19/2025HouseAssigned to s/c Health Subcommittee
2/11/2025House
Bill Text
HA0032 (Substitute)
3/10/2025
Enrolled / Public Chapter
Fiscal Note
Introduced
SA0155
SA0156
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