Tennessee Senate Bill SB0851

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 5, relative to medicaid expansion.

Summary

SB0851 would amend Tennessee law to expressly authorize the governor to expand Medicaid eligibility under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The bill also gives the governor authority to negotiate with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services over the terms of any Medicaid expansion. In practical terms, it would revise Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 5, by deleting and replacing the existing section on Medicaid expansion authority. The measure is a straightforward authorization bill rather than a detailed implementation plan. It does not itself set eligibility levels, benefit design, financing terms, or a specific expansion date; instead, it creates or clarifies executive authority to pursue expansion and negotiate federal terms. The act would take effect immediately upon becoming law.

Impact

The bill would change Tennessee’s Medicaid statute by replacing Section 71-5-126 and explicitly empowering the governor to expand Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act. It would affect state Medicaid policy, the governor’s negotiating authority, and the relationship between Tennessee and federal CMS regarding expansion terms. The bill does not by itself mandate expansion, but it would remove ambiguity and provide statutory authorization for executive action.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears policy-focused and administrative in nature, but Medicaid expansion is generally a politically significant issue in Tennessee and likely to draw interest from both supporters of broader coverage and opponents concerned about cost and federal-state policy implications.

Contention

The main point of contention would likely be whether Tennessee should expand Medicaid at all and, if so, under what terms. Supporters would likely emphasize increased health coverage and federal funding, while opponents may focus on state budget exposure, long-term program costs, and the scope of gubernatorial authority to negotiate with CMS. Because the bill only authorizes expansion rather than requiring it, another possible issue is whether it gives the executive branch too much discretion without additional legislative conditions.