PRIA Logo™
TennesseeSB 2070114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8; Title 56 and Title 71, relative to healthcare provider reimbursement.

Sponsored By: Bo Watson (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Insurance, Health, Accident

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Exempt patients left out of vaccine metrics

Beginning July 1, 2026, insurers must leave exempt patients out of vaccine-related quality counts for your practice. An exempt patient has declined a specific vaccine and given a written religious or medical refusal under state law. When your clinic sends that documentation, the insurer must exclude that patient from vaccine-rate and other vaccination-based measures that affect pay, bonuses, ratings, or network tier.

Protections for providers with exempt patients

Beginning July 1, 2026, insurers cannot drop your practice, cut your rates, or withhold incentives solely because you keep exempt patients. An exempt patient has declined a vaccine and given a written religious or medical refusal. If an insurer denies, reduces, or takes back pay in violation of these rules, that claim counts as a clean claim. The insurer then owes timely payment and interest penalties under state law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Bo Watson

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Janice Bowling

    Republican • Senate

  • Rusty Crowe

    Republican • Senate

  • Bobby Harshbarger

    Republican • Senate

  • Joey Hensley

    Republican • Senate

  • Mark Pody

    Republican • Senate

  • John Stevens

    Republican • Senate

  • Page Walley

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 149 • No: 12

Senate vote • 4/2/2026

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 2 4/2/2026

Yes: 32 • No: 0

House vote • 3/30/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/30/2026

Yes: 80 • No: 12

Senate vote • 3/26/2026

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

Yes: 29 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/3/2026

SENATE COMMERCE AND LABOR COMMITTEE

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor.

    4/21/2026Senate

  2. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/10/2026Senate

  3. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/9/2026House

  4. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/6/2026Senate

  5. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/6/2026Senate

  6. Concurred, Ayes 32, Nays 0 (Amendment 2 - HA0832)

    4/2/2026Senate

  7. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/2/2026Senate

  8. Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/2/2026

    3/31/2026Senate

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

    3/30/2026House

  10. Subst. for comp. HB.

    3/30/2026House

  11. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0831)

    3/30/2026House

  12. H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA0832)

    3/30/2026House

  13. Passed H., as am., Ayes 80, Nays 12, PNV 0

    3/30/2026House

  14. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0579)

    3/26/2026Senate

  15. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 29, Nays 0

    3/26/2026Senate

  16. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/26/2026Senate

  17. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/26/2026Senate

  18. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/25/2026Senate

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

    3/24/2026Senate

  20. Senate Reset on calendar for 3/26/2026

    3/12/2026Senate

  21. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/12/2026Senate

  22. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/12/2026

    3/10/2026Senate

  23. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 1

    3/3/2026Senate

  24. Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/3/2026

    2/24/2026Senate

  25. Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

    2/5/2026Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation