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TennesseeSB 1282114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 53-8-103; Title 68, Chapter 110; Title 68, Chapter 111; Title 68, Chapter 14 and Title 68, Chapter 15, relative to health.

Sponsored By: Jack Johnson (Republican)

Became Law

Food and Food Products

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Clear statewide Food Code standard

The law sets the 2009 FDA Food Code as Tennessee’s standard. The Health Department can adopt newer editions by rule. This makes food‑safety rules clear and consistent for restaurants and other food businesses across the state.

Organized camps: narrower rules, higher fees

Some sites are no longer treated as organized camps. A site is excluded if it has no permanent or semi‑permanent living, sleeping, restroom, or kitchen structures and rents by the week or longer. Short‑term rental units defined in state law are also excluded. For sites that are still organized camps, the allowed fee range rises from $10–$50 to $50–$100.

New food permit fees and fewer inspections

Starting January 1, 2026, the Health Department sets a permit fee for listed food operations, like restaurants, temporary events, schools, and farmers market food units. Family child care homes and blind vendors are exempt. A fee over 30 days late, or a bad check, adds a penalty equal to half the permit fee. Fees can rise up to 3% in a year and up to 5% over each five‑year period beginning 2026, applied at renewal or a new permit. When an institution runs nearby group homes, one fee applies to the institution, not each home. Some required checks now happen less often: monthly moves to every three months, and twice‑yearly moves to once a year. Rulemaking to set the schedule begins now; the new fees apply January 1, 2026.

Several health code sections repealed

The law repeals several health and food‑safety sections. It removes sections 68‑14‑723 through 68‑14‑726 and deletes subdivision (16) of section 68‑14‑703. It deletes the first two sentences of section 68‑15‑205. It repeals all of Title 68, Chapter 111. The rules and duties in those sections no longer apply.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jack Johnson

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 132 • No: 1

House vote • 4/16/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/16/2025

Yes: 93 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/7/2025

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/7/2025

Yes: 30 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/26/2025

SENATE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 400

    5/13/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 05/05/2025, 01/01/2026

    5/13/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/5/2025Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/23/2025Senate

  5. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/22/2025Senate

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/22/2025Senate

  7. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/22/2025House

  8. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/16/2025House

  9. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0176)

    4/16/2025House

  10. Passed H., Ayes 93, Nays 1, PNV 0

    4/16/2025House

  11. Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

    4/9/2025House

  12. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0256)

    4/7/2025Senate

  13. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 30, Nays 0, PNV 1

    4/7/2025Senate

  14. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    4/7/2025Senate

  15. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/7/2025

    4/4/2025Senate

  16. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

    3/26/2025Senate

  17. Action deferred in Senate Health and Welfare Committee to 3/26/2025

    3/19/2025Senate

  18. Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/26/2025

    3/19/2025Senate

  19. Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/19/2025

    3/12/2025Senate

  20. Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee

    2/12/2025Senate

  21. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/10/2025Senate

  22. Filed for introduction

    2/6/2025Senate

Bill Text

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