Tennessee Senate Bill SB1395

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 3; Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 9; Title 10; Title 11; Title 12; Title 13; Title 16; Title 17; Title 18; Title 29; Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41; Title 42; Title 43; Title 44; Title 45; Title 47; Title 48; Title 49; Title 50; Title 53; Title 54; Title 55; Title 56; Title 57; Title 58; Title 59; Title 60; Title 61; Title 62; Title 63; Title 64; Title 65; Title 66; Title 67; Title 68; Title 69; Title 70 and Title 71, relative to statutory revisions required for implementation of the annual appropriations act.

Summary

SB1395 is a technical, appropriations-related bill that makes a targeted change to Tennessee’s public assistance grant payment rules. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated section 71-5-1305 to require that grant payments under that part be made to the individual monthly or quarterly and sent to the person’s residence. It also states that these payments are nonassignable and may be paid only to the individual or the individual’s legally authorized representative, but not to the nursing home. The measure appears to be a statutory cleanup or implementation bill tied to the annual appropriations act rather than a broad policy overhaul. Its practical effect is to clarify who may receive certain grant payments and to prevent nursing homes from serving as the payee for those funds. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated section 71-5-1305, affecting the administration of grant payments under that part of state law. It changes payment delivery requirements, limits assignment of the payments, and expressly bars nursing homes from acting as the recipient of the grant on behalf of the individual. The change primarily affects grant recipients, their legally authorized representatives, and nursing facilities involved in handling resident funds.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, opposition, or support in the available record. Based on the bill text, the measure appears routine and administrative in nature, suggesting a generally neutral or low-contention posture typical of technical implementation legislation.

Contention

The only notable policy issue evident from the text is the restriction that grant payments may not be paid to a nursing home, which could matter to long-term care facilities that previously handled or received such payments. Any contention would likely center on payment administration, resident autonomy, and whether nursing homes should have any role in receiving these funds. However, no specific objections or supporters are documented in the materials provided.