All Roll Calls
Yes: 173 • No: 27
TennesseeHB 2530114th General Assembly (2025-2026)HouseWALLET
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29, Part 2; Title 20, Chapter 9, Part 6; Title 55, Chapter 17, Part 1; Title 62, Chapter 13; Title 62, Chapter 18; Title 62, Chapter 2; Title 62, Chapter 20; Title 62, Chapter 27; Title 62, Chapter 35; Title 62, Chapter 4; Title 62, Chapter 6; Title 62, Chapter 76; Title 68, Chapter 102 and Title 68, Chapter 105, relative to professions regulated by the department of commerce and insurance.
Sponsored By: William Lamberth, William (Republican)
Became Law
Boards and Commissions
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
16 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 11 mixed.
Tougher criminal history for real estate
From July 1, 2026, real estate licenses can be denied or disciplined for convictions, guilty pleas, or nolo pleas for crimes like homicide, assault, forgery, embezzlement, fraud, bribery, larceny, extortion, and crimes that require sex‑offender registration. Guilty pleas count the same as convictions under these rules.
Stronger licensing and penalties for design work
Beginning July 1, 2026, you must be registered to practice or offer architecture, engineering, land surveying, or landscape architecture, or to use the title “registered interior designer.” It is a Class B misdemeanor to use someone else’s certificate, give forged evidence, impersonate a licensee, use an expired or revoked certificate, or practice without registration. Each day of a violation is a separate offense. The board must investigate and can go to court to stop unauthorized practice. The board will set minimum standards of practice and may require continuing education for land surveyors by rule.
Bond option for contractors
Beginning July 1, 2026, you can use a continuous surety bond instead of a financial statement for a contractor license, changes to your monetary limit, and renewals. The bond must be at least 50% of your requested monetary limit, stay in effect while your license is active, and people harmed can claim against it (liability is capped at the bond amount). If the bond ends, your license becomes invalid. The board must send renewal notices 90 days before expiration and may email them. You must submit the renewal fee with your renewal.
Contractor bonds public and project costs clarified
Starting July 1, 2026, the board may give copies of any bond, surety, or personal guaranty you filed to anyone who asks. The board must share applicant or licensee financial records with law enforcement or other government agencies on request. The law also defines a project’s “total cost” as all labor, materials, equipment, subcontracted work, overhead, profit, and any other expense, no matter who pays or how many contracts. This sets clear totals for licensing and bidding thresholds.
New licensing rules for design professionals
Beginning July 1, 2026, architect, engineer, land surveyor, landscape architect, and registered interior designer certificates expire every two years. You can renew in the 30 days before expiration, or up to six months late with a monthly penalty; after six months you must reapply, and the board may waive extra exams. The board must tell you the expiration date and the two‑year renewal fee and may email notices. Each profession requires a separate application and separate original and renewal fees. Two profession members can approve applications, exams are given by members of the same profession, and fees are not refunded if you are denied. The board can refuse, suspend, or revoke for fraud, gross negligence, rule violations, other‑state discipline, or a felony (Fresh Start Act applies), and seven board votes are needed to suspend, revoke, or reissue. Land surveyors are explicitly listed, some older surveyor sections are removed, complaints must be sent to the accused by email or first‑class mail, and money from eliminated boards in this act moves to this board’s account.
Email notices for real estate licenses
Starting July 1, 2026, the commission can serve notices and accept answers by email if you have an email on file, by hand, or by mail. Time to respond starts the day of personal or email service, and from the postmark for registered mail. Suspension and revocation notices must be sent by regular mail or email to your business and home addresses or emails on file, and to your broker at the broker’s address or email.
Makeup-only services are not cosmetology
Beginning July 1, 2026, “makeup application services” means applying cosmetics to enhance the face or skin, including airbrush, and cleaning or priming done only for makeup. Makeup-only work is not treated as cosmetology or esthetics. It does not include facials, hair removal, tattooing or permanent makeup, or artificial eyelashes. People who only do makeup application are recognized under the law, and the board must notify licensees and schools of these rules by website posts, e-blasts, mail, email, or other reasonable methods.
Simpler rules for real estate brokers
As of July 1, 2026, the law removes the sentence that a broker’s business location must “conform with zoning laws and ordinances.” It also deletes a required statement that a broker document must say the broker is engaged in the real estate business, and removes one related subdivision. Local zoning rules still apply unless changed elsewhere.
When these changes take effect
Agencies can start rulemaking as soon as the act becomes law. All other changes take effect July 1, 2026. This lets boards prepare rules now before requirements apply to people.
New complaint process for court reporters
Beginning July 1, 2026, complaints must be written, signed, name and address the reporter, and describe the conduct. File within 90 days. Send a copy to the reporter by email or another method that gives actual notice. The commissioner may investigate and require a contested-case hearing.
Safety inspection and fire code updates
Beginning July 1, 2026, follow‑up inspections of electrical repairs are no longer limited to deputy electrical inspectors. The law also deletes two narrow subsections in the safety code statutes. Property owners and contractors should check the updated code to see how duties or inspection practices change.
Detection services funding and advisory panel
Beginning July 1, 2026, all money for detection services (including alarm contractors and private investigators) goes into a separate state treasury account used to run the licensing program. Title 62, Chapter 27 is repealed, but its money stays in the detection services account and must be used for this program. If the commissioner creates a detection services committee, it must have ten members: three from alarms, three from private investigation, three from private security, and one public member.
Fees and fund changes for trades
Starting July 1, 2026, the board sets issuance and renewal fees for limited licensed electricians and sets application, exam, issuance, and renewal fees for limited licensed plumbers. On that date, the limited electrician and limited plumber funds move into the contractor board’s fund, and the separate funds end. Future fees and penalties for these limited licenses go into the contractor board fund and can be used for that board’s lawful purposes.
Real estate license timing changes
Beginning July 1, 2026, one rule’s time period changes from three years to four years. Another rule’s look-back changes from over two years to over one year. These updates change how long certain licensing limits or requirements apply to real estate professionals.
New rules for auto commission seats
Starting July 1, 2026, the governor appoints industry members to the automotive commission from lists provided by auto groups. Appointees must live in Tennessee, be of good moral character, have at least five straight years selling vehicles in Tennessee, and hold the proper license while serving. The law also removes two separate statutory subsections related to commission law.
New combined board for design pros
Beginning July 1, 2026, one 15-member board oversees architects, engineers, land surveyors, a landscape architect, a registered interior designer, and a public member. Current members continue their terms, and vacancies are filled right away. Appointees must have 10 years’ experience, no formal discipline, five years leading work and in a statewide association, be U.S. citizens, and live in Tennessee for five years. Appointees must hold an unexpired certificate and file an oath before starting. The board can use an assistant attorney general, summon witnesses, give oaths, adopt a seal, set bylaws and rules, and set continuing education by rule. A quorum is seven members, including at least one person from the profession in a discipline case, and a key vote threshold rises from three to four members. All fees collected go to a separate treasury account to fund board operations and enforcement.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
William Lamberth, William
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Mark Cochran, Mark
Republican • House
Elaine Davis, Elaine
Republican • House
Justin Lafferty, Justin
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/21/2026
FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/21/2026
Yes: 26 • No: 4
House vote • 4/7/2026
FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/7/2026
Yes: 73 • No: 20
House vote • 4/7/2026
HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/31/2026
HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE
Yes: 25 • No: 0
House vote • 3/25/2026
HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE
Yes: 13 • No: 0
House vote • 3/16/2026
HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
Yes: 11 • No: 2
House vote • 3/11/2026
HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE
Yes: 19 • No: 0
House vote • 3/4/2026
HOUSE BUSINESS AND UTILITIES SUBCOMMITTEE
Yes: 6 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Pub. Ch. 1039
5/27/2026Effective date(s) 05/21/2026, 07/01/2026
5/27/2026Signed by Governor.
5/21/2026Transmitted to Governor for his action.
5/11/2026HouseSigned by Senate Speaker
5/5/2026SenateSigned by H. Speaker
4/30/2026HouseEnrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
4/27/2026HouseSenate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
4/21/2026SenateAmendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA1029)
4/21/2026SenatePassed Senate, Ayes 26, Nays 4, PNV 1
4/21/2026SenateReceived from House, Passed on First Consideration
4/9/2026SenateH. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0664)
4/7/2026HousePassed H., as am., Ayes 73, Nays 20, PNV 1
4/7/2026HouseSponsor(s) Added.
4/7/2026HouseEngrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
4/7/2026HouseH. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/7/2026
4/2/2026HousePlaced on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/2/2026
4/1/2026HouseRec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
3/31/2026HouseRec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
3/25/2026HousePlaced on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 3/31/2026
3/25/2026HousePlaced on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/25/2026
3/18/2026HouseRec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
3/16/2026HouseAssigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
3/16/2026HouseRec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee
3/11/2026HousePlaced on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/16/2026
3/11/2026House
Bill Text
HA0664 (Substitute)
4/7/2026
Enrolled / Public Chapter
Fiscal Note
Introduced
SA1029
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