Tennessee House Bill HB1593

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/13/26
• Refer: 1/21/26
• Refer: 2/2/26
• Chaptered: 3/16/26
• Passed: 3/16/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 63, Chapter 11, Part 4, relative to the professional art therapist advisory committee of the board of examiners in psychology.

Summary

HB1593 makes a narrow administrative change to Tennessee law governing state boards and advisory committees. It removes the professional art therapist advisory committee of the Board of Examiners in Psychology from one statutory list of entities that are subject to periodic review under Title 4, Chapter 29, and adds that same committee to another list of entities that are continued in law. In practical terms, the bill updates the state’s “sunset” or continuation statutes so the advisory committee remains recognized as an active governmental body. The bill does not create a new licensing program or change the substantive regulation of art therapists. Instead, it aligns the committee’s status with the underlying professional art therapy provisions in Title 63, Chapter 11, Part 4, and ensures the advisory committee created by that section is properly carried forward in Tennessee’s statutory framework.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 4-29-247 and 4-29-252 to remove the professional art therapist advisory committee from the list of entities scheduled for termination/review and place it on the list of entities continued by law. This affects the administrative status of the advisory committee attached to the Board of Examiners in Psychology, preserving its existence and authority to advise on professional art therapy matters. The practical impact is limited to state board governance and the regulated profession of art therapy, rather than to the general public.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests broad, noncontroversial support for the bill. It passed the House Government Operations Committee 10-0 and later passed the House on the consent calendar by a 93-0 vote, indicating strong bipartisan agreement and little visible opposition. The absence of committee transcript debate also suggests the measure was viewed as routine housekeeping legislation.

Contention

No notable substantive contention appears in the available record. Because the bill is a technical continuation measure, any discussion would likely have centered on whether the advisory committee should remain in statute and continue its role within the psychology board structure. The unanimous votes indicate no recorded disagreement over the committee’s continuation or the underlying regulation of professional art therapists.