Tennessee House Bill HB1399

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/25
• Refer: 2/12/25
• Failed: 2/11/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-23-203; Title 12 and Title 50, Chapter 2, relative to the minimum wage.

Summary

HB1399 would establish a statewide minimum wage in Tennessee of the greater of the federal minimum wage or $20 per hour. It also requires overtime pay at one and one-half times the regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek, mandates workplace posting of wage notices, and authorizes the labor commissioner to adopt implementing rules consistent with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. The bill creates a private right of action for employees to recover unpaid minimum wages, an equal amount in liquidated damages, and court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees. It also sets a limitations period of two years for wage claims, extended to three years for willful violations, and preserves collective bargaining rights and federal exemptions for certain categories of workers. The act would take effect July 1, 2025, with rulemaking authority effective upon enactment.

Impact

If enacted, HB1399 would significantly raise Tennessee’s minimum wage floor and expand wage-and-hour enforcement under state law. It would add a new section to Title 50, Chapter 2, require employers to comply with a $20 hourly minimum wage standard unless the federal minimum wage is higher, and align overtime and exemption rules with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. The bill would also create new employer liability for wage violations and require the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to promulgate rules within existing resources.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the supplied materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be a strong pro-worker wage increase proposal, likely to be viewed favorably by labor advocates and wage-increase supporters, and skeptically by employer and business groups because of the substantial increase in labor costs and enforcement exposure.

Contention

The main point of contention is the size of the wage increase: setting the minimum wage at $20 per hour would be a major departure from current Tennessee law and from the federal baseline. Employers and business interests would likely object to the cost impact, overtime obligations, and potential litigation exposure, while supporters would emphasize higher pay, stronger wage enforcement, and protections for low-wage workers. The bill also preserves federal exemptions and collective bargaining rights, which may limit some objections but does not reduce the central dispute over the wage floor itself.