Tennessee Senate Bill SB1356

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 5, relative to medical assistance.

Summary

SB1356 would require the governor, through the commissioner of finance and administration, to seek federal approval for a new waiver to provide medical assistance coverage to individuals with gross annual income at or below 138% of the federal poverty level. The bill directs the state to submit the waiver application within 180 days after the act becomes law, and it provides that the waiver would take effect immediately if approved by the federal government and the commissioner. In practical terms, the bill is aimed at expanding access to health coverage for low-income Tennesseans through the state’s medical assistance program, which is governed under Title 71, Chapter 5 of the Tennessee Code Annotated. Because the proposal depends on federal approval, it does not itself guarantee coverage expansion, but it would change state policy by obligating the executive branch to pursue the waiver and by setting the framework for implementation if approved.

Impact

The bill would amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 5 by replacing Section 71-5-126 with a new directive for the governor and commissioner of finance and administration to apply for a federal waiver. If approved, the waiver would expand medical assistance eligibility to people with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level, affecting the administration of state Medicaid-related coverage and potentially increasing the number of eligible beneficiaries. The bill would not itself create coverage absent federal approval, but it would establish a state legal requirement to seek that approval and implement the waiver immediately upon approval.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears to be a straightforward coverage-expansion proposal with no documented opposition or support in the record supplied here. Its policy direction suggests a generally pro-expansion, public-health-oriented intent focused on increasing access to medical assistance for low-income residents.

Contention

The main point of contention inherent in the bill is the requirement that Tennessee seek a new federal waiver to expand medical assistance, which may raise questions about cost, program design, and state-federal control over eligibility rules. Supporters would likely emphasize expanded health coverage for individuals near or below the poverty line, while critics could focus on fiscal exposure, administrative burden, or the state’s reliance on federal approval before any benefits can begin. No specific contested arguments or named opponents/supporters are included in the provided transcripts or vote history.