All Roll Calls
Yes: 190 • No: 53
TennesseeHB 1709114th General Assembly (2025-2026)House
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 7; Title 20; Title 23; Title 33; Title 37; Title 39; Title 42; Title 43; Title 44; Title 45; Title 46; Title 47; Title 49; Title 52; Title 53; Title 55; Title 56; Title 57; Title 59; Title 60; Title 62; Title 63; Title 67; Title 68; Title 69; Title 70; Title 71 and Chapter 463 of the Public Acts of 2025, relative to the regulation of professions.
Sponsored By: Mark Cochran (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Professions and Occupations
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 3 mixed.
Tighter citizenship rules for licensed workers
Applicants for covered Tennessee work licenses and other professional credentials must be U.S. citizens or qualified aliens under state law. This can block applicants who lack either status from getting or renewing credentials needed for work. For certain out-of-state credentials and educator agreements, Tennessee must confirm another state's status check or check status itself. These rules apply to applications and renewals starting when the act became law.
Health license limits with physician exception
Most applicants for Tennessee health-profession credentials must be U.S. citizens or qualified aliens under state law. Physician applicants under Title 63, Chapters 6 or 9 can instead show proof of applying for a valid work-authorizing visa. That pathway remains subject to later verification. Boards cannot deny applicants who meet the applicable eligibility rules, meet all other qualifications, and are fit to practice. These rules cover applications and renewals starting when the act became law.
Health licenses face automatic revocation
This health-license rule takes effect July 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m., only if HB 1711/SB 2108 becomes law. A required report under Tennessee Code § 4-1-609 triggers automatic, immediate revocation of a covered license without further agency action. The commissioner, licensing-agency chair, or designated staff must revoke the license and send written notice. A person who later becomes a U.S. citizen or qualified alien can apply for a new license.
Court reporters face limits, gain authority
Court reporter applicants must be U.S. citizens or qualified aliens under state law. They must pass a listed registered-professional-reporter, certified-verbatim-reporter, or certified-electronic-reporter and transcriber exam. Licenses last two years. Licensed court reporters can administer witness oaths during their work without also being notaries. The application and renewal rules apply starting when the act became law.
Student visa exception for alcohol credentials
Applicants for covered alcohol-related credentials can meet the status requirement as U.S. citizens, qualified aliens, or valid J-1 or F-1 student visa holders. The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission must verify J-1 or F-1 visas. This student-visa exception applies to covered applications and renewals starting when the act became law. It does not provide a general exception for other licensed professions.
Court encouraged to limit law licenses
The law encourages the Tennessee Supreme Court to limit law-practice licenses to U.S. citizens or qualified aliens. The court is not required to adopt those guidelines. This provision itself does not change who can practice law.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Mark Cochran
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Rebecca K. Alexander
Republican • House
Fred Atchley
Republican • House
Clark Boyd
Republican • House
Rush Bricken
Republican • House
Gino Bulso
Republican • House
Ed Butler
Republican • House
Kip Capley
Republican • House
Michele Carringer
Republican • House
Scott Cepicky
Republican • House
John Crawford
Republican • House
Tandy Darby
Republican • House
Elaine Davis
Republican • House
Clay Doggett
Republican • House
Rick Eldridge
Republican • House
Jeremy Faison
Republican • House
Andrew Farmer
Republican • House
Monty Fritts
Republican • House
Ron M. Gant
Republican • House
Johnny Garrett
Republican • House
Rusty Grills
Republican • House
Michael Hale
Republican • House
David B. Hawk
Republican • House
Esther Helton-Haynes
Republican • House
Gary Hicks
Republican • House
Tim Hicks
Republican • House
Timothy Hill
Republican • House
Dan Howell
Republican • House
Chris Hurt
Republican • House
Renea Jones
Republican • House
Kelly Keisling
Republican • House
Sabi 'Doc' Kumar
Republican • House
Justin Lafferty
Republican • House
William Lamberth
Republican • House
Michael Lankford
Republican • House
Tom Leatherwood
Republican • House
Mary Littleton
Republican • House
Aron Maberry
Republican • House
Pat Marsh
Republican • House
Brock Martin
Republican • House
Greg Martin
Republican • House
Jake McCalmon
Republican • House
Debra Moody
Republican • House
Jerome Moon
Republican • House
Powers
Affiliation unavailable
Kevin D. Raper
Republican • House
Jay D. Reedy
Republican • House
Reeves
Affiliation unavailable
Tim Rudd
Republican • House
Iris Rudder
Republican • House
Lowell Russell
Republican • House
Rick Scarbrough
Republican • House
Cameron Sexton
Republican • House
Paul Sherrell
Republican • House
William Slater
Republican • House
Stevens
Affiliation unavailable
Tom Stinnett
Republican • House
Bryan Terry
Republican • House
Chris Todd
Republican • House
Kevin Vaughan
Republican • House
Todd Warner
Republican • House
White
Affiliation unavailable
Dave Wright
Republican • House
Jason Zachary
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/22/2026
FLOOR VOTE: MESSAGE CALENDAR CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENT # 2 4/22/2026
Yes: 70 • No: 21
Senate vote • 4/21/2026
FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/21/2026
Yes: 26 • No: 6
House vote • 4/21/2026
FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026
Yes: 70 • No: 20
House vote • 4/16/2026
HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/18/2026
HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE
Yes: 17 • No: 4
House vote • 2/18/2026
HOUSE BUSINESS AND UTILITIES SUBCOMMITTEE
Yes: 7 • No: 2
Actions Timeline
Effective date(s) 07/01/2026, 05/07/2026
5/18/2026Pub. Ch. 955
5/18/2026Signed by Governor.
5/7/2026Transmitted to Governor for his action.
5/6/2026HouseSigned by Senate Speaker
5/5/2026SenateSigned by H. Speaker
4/30/2026HouseEnrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
4/28/2026HouseH. concurred in S. am. no. 2 Ayes 70, Nays 21 PNV 0
4/22/2026HousePassed Senate as amended, Ayes 26, Nays 6
4/21/2026SenateSenate adopted Amendment (Amendment 2 - SA1033)
4/21/2026SenateAmendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA1020)
4/21/2026SenateSenate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
4/21/2026SenateReceived from House, Passed on First Consideration
4/21/2026SenateEngrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
4/21/2026HousePassed H., as am., Ayes 70, Nays 20, PNV 0
4/21/2026HouseSponsor(s) Added.
4/21/2026HouseAm. withdrawn. (Amendment 3 - HA1245)
4/21/2026HouseAm. withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - HA0844)
4/21/2026HouseH. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0730)
4/21/2026HouseH. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026
4/14/2026HousePlaced on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/14/2026
4/14/2026HouseRec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
3/18/2026HousePlaced on cal. Commerce Committee for 3/18/2026
3/11/2026HouseAction def. in Commerce Committee to 3/18/2026
3/11/2026HousePlaced on cal. Commerce Committee for 3/11/2026
3/4/2026House
Bill Text
HA0730 (Substitute)
4/21/2026
Enrolled / Public Chapter
Fiscal Note
HA0844
HA1245
Introduced
SA1020
SA1033
Related Bills
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SB 1667, AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 29; Title 55 and Title 56, relative to motor vehicle financial responsibility.
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SB 1668, AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 6 and Title 7, relative to penalties for violations of ordinances.
SB 0254, AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, relative to criminal law.
SB 1232, AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40, Chapter 32, Part 1, relative to expunction of criminal records.