Tennessee House Bill HB1456

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 12/15/25
• Refer: 1/14/26
• Refer: 3/4/26
• Refer: 3/23/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9, Chapter 8 and Title 29, relative to damages.

Summary

HB1456 increases the monetary caps on certain damages recoverable against the state under Tennessee law. Specifically, it amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 9-8-307(e) to raise one damages limit from $300,000 to $500,000 and another from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. The bill is framed as a technical amendment to the state’s damages framework, but its practical effect is to expand the amount of compensation that may be awarded in qualifying claims. The bill would change the liability exposure of the state and potentially increase recoveries for claimants who bring covered claims under the Tennessee Claims Commission or related state-liability provisions. Because the amendment is to Title 9, Chapter 8, it affects the statutory limits governing claims against the state rather than private tort litigation generally. The act is set to take effect July 1, 2026.

Impact

HB1456 would amend Tennessee’s statutory caps on damages in claims against the state, increasing the maximum recoverable amounts under Tennessee Code Annotated § 9-8-307(e). This would directly affect the state’s fiscal exposure in covered claims and could increase compensation available to injured claimants, while leaving the underlying structure of sovereign immunity and claims procedures in place. The bill does not create new causes of action; it adjusts the dollar limits applicable to existing state-liability claims.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill has been received favorably in committee, with unanimous or near-unanimous support at each recorded step. The House Civil Justice Subcommittee recommended passage by a 7-0 vote, and the House Judiciary Committee also recommended passage by an 18-0 vote. No committee transcript is available, but the recorded votes indicate broad agreement and little visible opposition at the committee level.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely the policy tradeoff between increasing compensation for claimants and increasing the state’s potential financial liability. Supporters would view the bill as updating outdated damage caps and improving fairness for people with valid claims against the state, while critics may be concerned about higher costs to the state treasury and the precedent of expanding damages exposure. No specific objections were recorded in the provided materials, so any disagreement appears limited or not captured in the available committee record.