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TennesseeHB 2539114th General Assembly (2025-2026)House

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8; Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 48; Title 49; Title 52; Title 53; Title 55; Title 56; Title 62; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to health.

Sponsored By: William Lamberth (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Health Care

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Broader definition of palliative care

Beginning July 1, 2026, state law broadens what palliative care means. It is care that eases physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering. It supports people facing conditions with a high risk of death. It applies when illness hurts daily function or quality of life, or strains a caregiver.

Yearly suicide and prescribing reports

Beginning July 1, 2026, the health department publishes a suicide report every year. The first report is due by December 31, 2026, then each December 31. It lists total attempts and deaths using the latest final data. Within seven days, the department sends it to all lawmakers. Each year, the commissioner also reports to the Senate health chair and the House chair over prescribers on flagged prescribers, related discipline, drug distribution and abuse, and access to the controlled substance database.

Wider board coverage for health licensees

Starting July 1, 2026, the law updates which health boards the rules cover. It includes boards for counselors, alcohol and drug abuse counselors, occupational therapy, psychology, and social work. It also adds people licensed under chapter 11 of Title 63 to the covered group in this section. This can extend both protections and duties for those licensees.

Commissioner steps in on late rules

Starting July 1, 2026, if a health board misses rulemaking steps, the commissioner takes over. The board keeps control until 60 days before a law takes effect. If no emergency rules and hearing are set by then, the commissioner issues emergency rules on time. Permanent rules must follow within 180 days of the emergency rules effective date. After that, authority returns to the board, and those rules stay in place unless the board amends them.

Removes several narrow health provisions

Effective July 1, 2026, the law removes several narrow clauses in health law. It deletes the first two sentences of section 53-10-309. It repeals section 63-1-314 and subsection (f) of section 63-1-164. It also deletes one subdivision in section 68-1-128. These edits change legal wording, not direct payments or fees.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • William Lamberth

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Scott Cepicky

    Republican • House

  • Mark Cochran

    Republican • House

  • John Crawford

    Republican • House

  • Yusuf Hakeem

    Democrat • House

  • Sabi 'Doc' Kumar

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 218 • No: 23

House vote • 4/22/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/22/2026

Yes: 77 • No: 11

Senate vote • 4/22/2026

FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/22/2026

Yes: 26 • No: 2

House vote • 4/22/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 8 BY LAMBERTH PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/22/2026

Yes: 81 • No: 6

House vote • 4/13/2026

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 4/6/2026

HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 1

House vote • 3/31/2026

HOUSE HEALTH COMMITTEE

Yes: 18 • No: 3

House vote • 3/18/2026

HOUSE HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Bill Text

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