Tennessee Senate Bill SB1526

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/7/26
• Engrossed: 2/2/26
• Enrolled: 2/19/26
• Passed: 3/6/26
• Chaptered: 3/16/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 63, Chapter 6, Part 4, relative to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.

Summary

SB1526 makes a narrow statutory change related to Tennessee’s participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 4, Chapter 29, which governs the sunset and termination of certain state entities, by removing the compact from one existing termination provision and adding it to a new section that sets a termination date of June 30, 2034. In practical terms, the bill places the compact on a future sunset schedule rather than leaving it under the prior statutory treatment. The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact is an interstate framework that helps qualified physicians obtain expedited licensure across member states. By updating the compact’s placement in Tennessee’s sunset statutes, SB1526 preserves the compact’s current operation while establishing a date on which it would expire unless continued, reestablished, or restructured by later legislation. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee’s general governmental-entity termination statutes and affects the statutory status of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact in Title 63, Chapter 6, Part 4. It does not change the substantive licensure rules of the compact itself, but it does alter how the compact is tracked under Tennessee’s sunset law by setting a June 30, 2034 termination date. The practical effect is to keep the compact in force for now while requiring future legislative action if Tennessee wants to continue participation beyond that date.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests strong bipartisan or at least broad legislative support for the bill. The Senate Government Operations Committee recommended passage unanimously, 9-0, and the floor motion to adopt passed 33-0. No committee transcripts were provided, and there is no indication of organized opposition in the materials supplied. Overall, the bill appears to have been treated as a routine administrative update rather than a controversial policy change.

Contention

There is little evidence of substantive contention in the provided record. The only potentially notable issue is the use of a sunset date for the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which means Tennessee’s participation is preserved only until June 30, 2034 unless renewed. Any concern would likely come from stakeholders who prefer long-term certainty for interstate physician licensure, while supporters may view the sunset as standard oversight for state entities. No specific objections, amendments, or opposing arguments appear in the supplied discussion materials.