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TennesseeSB 2005114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5; Title 6; Title 38 and Title 68, relative to fire investigation.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Fire Prevention and Investigation

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Fire investigators face new arrest rules

Beginning January 1, 2028, Tennessee’s law applies to conduct on or after that date. The commerce and insurance commissioner and deputies can use police powers, including arrests, to enforce arson laws with current peace-officer certification. Municipal and county fire investigators also need authorization from their fire department chief or fire services director to investigate fires. Their police powers cover enforcement of applicable local arson laws and require current certification, subject to the exceptions below. Investigators can investigate fires without certification when they do not use police powers; the commissioner can also appoint special assistants. Local investigators serving on January 1, 2027, who were hired before January 1, 2021, are exempt from certification. Those serving on January 1, 2027, who were hired on or after January 1, 2021, must comply by January 1, 2030. Starting January 1, 2028, the state’s peace-officer training commission must certify covered officials who meet police-officer job qualifications and complete approved recruit training. Keeping certification requires annual training suited to fire-investigation duties, subject to the same exemption and deadline rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Jessie Seal

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 160 • No: 5

Senate vote • 4/13/2026

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 1 4/13/2026

Yes: 32 • No: 0

House vote • 4/8/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/8/2026

Yes: 87 • No: 5

Senate vote • 3/30/2026

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/30/2026

Yes: 32 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/16/2026

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date(s) 01/01/2028

    5/5/2026

  2. Pub. Ch. 847

    5/5/2026

  3. Signed by Governor.

    4/27/2026Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/17/2026Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/16/2026House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/16/2026Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/15/2026Senate

  8. Concurred, Ayes 32, Nays 0 (Amendment 1 - HA0921)

    4/13/2026Senate

  9. Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/13/2026

    4/10/2026Senate

  10. Passed H., as am., Ayes 87, Nays 5, PNV 3

    4/8/2026House

  11. H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0921)

    4/8/2026House

  12. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/8/2026House

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

    4/2/2026House

  14. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/30/2026Senate

  15. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/30/2026Senate

  16. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 32, Nays 0

    3/30/2026Senate

  17. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0716)

    3/30/2026Senate

  18. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/30/2026

    3/27/2026Senate

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

    3/16/2026Senate

  20. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/16/2026

    3/11/2026Senate

  21. Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

    2/5/2026Senate

  22. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/2/2026Senate

  23. Filed for introduction

    1/22/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • HA0921 (Substitute)

    4/8/2026

    PDF

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • SA0716

    PDF

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