Tennessee Senate Bill SB2227

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8; Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 48; Title 49; Title 52; Title 53; Title 55; Title 56; Title 62; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to health.

Summary

SB2227 is a very short Tennessee bill that makes a targeted change to the state health code. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 68-1-144 by deleting subsection (b), and it takes effect immediately upon becoming law. The bill’s caption indicates it is part of a broader package touching multiple titles of the Tennessee Code related to health, but the operative text in this version only removes that one subsection. Because the bill deletes a specific subsection rather than creating a new program or regulatory scheme, its practical effect is narrow and depends on the content of the removed provision in Section 68-1-144(b). In general, the bill would alter the legal requirements, duties, or exceptions contained in that subsection and leave the remainder of the statute intact. The bill does not itself spell out a replacement rule, so the impact on state law is limited to eliminating the existing language in that subsection. The available voting history shows strong support in committee. The bill was recommended for passage with amendments at each recorded stage, moving through the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, and the Senate Government Operations Committee without any recorded dissenting votes. That pattern suggests the measure was viewed as routine or noncontroversial by committee members. There is little evidence of public contention in the materials provided, and no committee transcript excerpts are available. The main point of potential interest or debate would be the effect of deleting subsection (b) from Section 68-1-144, since the policy consequences depend on what that subsection previously required or prohibited. However, based on the votes alone, the bill appears to have been broadly accepted and not politically divisive.

Impact

SB2227 amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 68-1-144 by deleting subsection (b), thereby removing that specific statutory language from the state health code. The bill does not add new regulatory requirements or create a new program; instead, it narrows or eliminates an existing provision and leaves the rest of the statute unchanged. Because the bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law, the legal change would be effective as soon as enacted.

Sentiment

The recorded committee action indicates generally favorable sentiment toward the bill. Each committee recommended passage with amendments, and the votes shown were unanimous among those voting, with no recorded nays. That suggests the measure was treated as a relatively straightforward technical or policy cleanup bill rather than a controversial health policy change.

Contention

No committee transcripts were provided, so there is no direct record of debate or objections. The only identifiable point of contention is the substance of the deleted subsection itself: stakeholders affected by Section 68-1-144(b) could be concerned about the loss of protections, obligations, or exceptions contained in that language. Even so, the unanimous committee votes suggest that any such concerns were not strong enough to generate recorded opposition at the committee stage.