Tennessee House Bill HB0243

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/21/25
• Refer: 2/3/25
• Refer: 3/17/25
• Chaptered: 4/29/25
• Passed: 4/29/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 4, Chapter 3, relative to the department of mental health and substance abuse services.

Summary

HB0243 is a Tennessee bill that updates the statutory framework for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The bill removes the department from one of the state’s general “abolition”/sunset-style provisions in Title 4 and adds it to the list of agencies specifically continued in law, reflecting that the department is intended to remain in operation as a standing state agency. In practical terms, the measure is a housekeeping or technical government-organization bill rather than a policy change affecting program eligibility, benefits, or service delivery. It aligns the Tennessee Code with the department’s existing status under Titles 4-3-101 and 4-3-1601 and helps ensure the department is properly recognized in the state’s organizational statutes.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 4, Chapter 3 by deleting the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services from a provision in § 4-29-246(a) and adding it to § 4-29-250(a) as a continuing department. This changes the department’s placement within the state’s statutory list of agencies and clarifies its ongoing existence under state law, but it does not create new programs or alter substantive mental health or substance use treatment policy.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been broadly noncontroversial. It passed the House Government Operations Committee 10-0 and later passed the House on the consent calendar by a 94-0 vote, indicating strong bipartisan support and little visible opposition. The lack of committee transcript discussion also suggests the measure was treated as a routine administrative update.

Contention

There is no recorded substantive contention in the available materials. Because the bill is a technical agency-organization measure, any possible concerns would likely have centered on statutory cleanup or the proper classification of the department within Tennessee’s code rather than on policy disagreements. The unanimous votes indicate that no member or stakeholder opposition surfaced in the legislative record provided.