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TennesseeSB 2069114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 2; Title 44, Chapter 17; Title 63, Chapter 12 and Title 68, Chapter 140, relative to emergency services for specially trained animals.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Medical Occupations

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Emergency care for injured response dogs

Tennessee allows emergency medical workers to treat qualifying response dogs injured in the line of duty, at the scene or during transport. Dogs must be trained, or receiving training, for police, military, patrol, detection, or search-and-rescue work. They must be used and controlled by federal, state, local, or commissioned railroad police, or military members performing their duties. Covered military members include the U.S. armed forces, reserve units, and Tennessee National Guard. Workers can transport these dogs to a veterinary facility only when no person needs medical attention or transport. The law took effect upon becoming law.

Emergency workers gain limited dog-care protections

Emergency medical workers need no veterinary license for authorized care or transport of response dogs injured in the line of duty. This work does not count as unauthorized veterinary practice, and the state emergency medical services board cannot discipline workers for it. Veterinary board discipline protections cover regulated emergency medical services, but not veterinary medicine provided during dog transport. Workers acting in good faith are protected from criminal and civil liability for harm caused during authorized emergency care. They also have criminal and civil liability protection when refusing care or transport for an injured response dog.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Paul Bailey

    Republican • Senate

  • Janice Bowling

    Republican • Senate

  • Heidi Campbell

    Democrat • Senate

  • Rusty Crowe

    Republican • Senate

  • Todd Gardenhire

    Republican • Senate

  • Ed Jackson

    Republican • Senate

  • Mark Pody

    Republican • Senate

  • Reeves

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Paul Rose

    Republican • Senate

  • Ken Yager

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 132 • No: 1

House vote • 4/2/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/2/2026

Yes: 94 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/26/2026

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/26/2026

Yes: 31 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/17/2026

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Yes: 7 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date(s) 04/16/2026

    4/28/2026

  2. Pub. Ch. 713

    4/28/2026

  3. Signed by Governor.

    4/16/2026Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/7/2026Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/6/2026House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/6/2026Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/2/2026Senate

  8. Passed H., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0

    4/2/2026House

  9. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0724)

    4/2/2026House

  10. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/2/2026House

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

    3/30/2026House

  12. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/26/2026Senate

  13. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/26/2026Senate

  14. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 31, Nays 0

    3/26/2026Senate

  15. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0757)

    3/26/2026Senate

  16. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/26/2026

    3/24/2026Senate

  17. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 1 PNV 0

    3/17/2026Senate

  18. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

    3/16/2026Senate

  19. Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/17/2026

    3/16/2026Senate

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

    3/11/2026Senate

  21. Sponsor(s) Added.

    2/17/2026Senate

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

    2/5/2026Senate

  23. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/2/2026Senate

  24. Filed for introduction

    1/22/2026Senate

Bill Text

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