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TennesseeSB 1284114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to health related licensure.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Boards and Commissions

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

License rules for Tennessee respiratory therapists

Tennessee respiratory therapist applicants must be at least 18, show good moral character, and pay board-required fees. They must complete academic and clinical training recognized by the licensing board or the National Board for Respiratory Care. Certified therapist applicants must hold that national board’s CRT or CRTT credential. Registered therapist applicants must hold its RRT credential. These requirements took effect when the act became law.

Health disciplinary records get privacy limits

After formal disciplinary charges, only materials supporting those charges can be released as public records or through a subpoena. The law shields complainant and patient identities, witness anonymity, patient medical records, and investigator reports from public disclosure. These protected records can be produced in response to a law-enforcement subpoena. When an investigation ends without charges, investigative materials remain subject to the existing separate disclosure rules.

Health providers face record production deadlines

Tennessee providers and facilities licensed under health licensing laws must allow Department of Health record inspection and copying within 10 business days. This includes medical, practice, patient billing, and electronic medical records. Production requires either written patient or legal representative authorization, or a qualifying written department request. Department requests must support authorized complaint investigations or legally required inspections or surveys. Requests must be in good faith, relate to that work, and state the violation, relevant laws and rules, and due date. Production must follow the state’s record-production rules.

Tennessee health boards use hearing panels

Covered Tennessee health licensing agencies need at least three members to conduct contested hearings and disciplinary matters. The presiding officer can form panels of at least three members; action requires a majority vote of panel members. Members can serve regardless of geographic division or whether they are licensed professionals or citizen members. Having a citizen member creates no right to citizen participation in panel selection. Before a final order, a member unable to serve can be replaced only if the panel otherwise lacks enough members. A replacement can use the existing record and continue proceedings as justice requires; panel decisions count as board orders.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Bobby Harshbarger

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 36 • No: 2

Senate vote • 3/6/2025

FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 3/6/2025

Yes: 28 • No: 1

Senate vote • 2/26/2025

SENATE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE

Yes: 8 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date(s) 04/03/2025

    4/8/2025

  2. Pub. Ch. 127

    4/8/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    4/3/2025Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    3/26/2025Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    3/26/2025House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    3/25/2025Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    3/25/2025Senate

  8. Passed H., Ayes 96, Nays 0, PNV 0

    3/24/2025House

  9. Subst. for comp. HB.

    3/24/2025House

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

    3/10/2025House

  11. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/6/2025Senate

  12. Passed Senate, Ayes 28, Nays 1

    3/6/2025Senate

  13. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/6/2025

    3/4/2025Senate

  14. Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

    2/26/2025Senate

  15. Sponsor(s) Added.

    2/25/2025Senate

  16. Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 2/26/2025

    2/19/2025Senate

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

    2/12/2025Senate

  18. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/10/2025Senate

  19. Filed for introduction

    2/6/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

Related Bills

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