The 114th Tennessee General Assembly wrapped up its second and final session Thursday evening after a marathon 10-hour day, according to various news sources. In the final days of the session, lawmakers approved a range of proposals that now go to the governor for his consideration. Legislation impacting the courts included SB846/HB1268, creating two new criminal court judgeships in Shelby County; HB2251/SB2025, creating a pilot program to place criminal magistrates in the 10 counties with the highest criminal caseload; and HB1707/SB1952, requiring judges in all courts to cooperate with ICE or face removal.

A number of immigration bills passed as well: HB1710/SB1915, requiring service providers to track and report on the status of anyone who seeks public benefits; HB2219/SB2223, requiring all Tennessee sheriffs to participate in some version of the 287(g) immigration enforcement program; and bills impacting drivers license tests (HB1708/SB1889) and commercial driving licenses (HB1817/SB1748).

Finally, new criminal penalties were created for leaving the scene of an accident that results in an injury or one the driver knew or should reasonably have known resulted in death (HB1967/SB1602) and a sweeping ban of all forms of kratom (HB1649/SB1656). Read more about these and other successful measures from the Nashville Banner and the WPLN. Gov. Bill Lee released a statement highlighting accomplishments of the session and thanking legislators for working with him to “deliver real results for people across our state.”

Rep. G.A. Hardaway, D-Memphis, has died at age 71. First elected in 2007, Hardaway represented House District 92 before redistricting and later District 93, which includes parts of South Memphis, Orange Mound and the Shelby Farms area. Prior to his legislative service, he served as executive director of 100 Black Men of Memphis. Colleagues and state leaders remembered Hardaway for his advocacy and commitment to his community, with Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Rachel Campbell saying he “led with heart” and worked to ensure all Tennesseans had a voice. The Tennessee House of Representatives passed a resolution April 23 honoring his service. Read messages of mourning and remembrance from state and local elected officials in the Commercial Appeal.

Memphis-Shelby County School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to sue over a state takeover of the district, the Daily Memphian reports. On Wednesday, the House and Senate passed the measure, sending it to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. The plan would give a nine-member, state-appointed board authority over the district through at least 2030, potentially reshaping how Memphis’ approximately 100,000 students are educated, how schools are governed and how roughly $1.7 billion in annual local, state and federal education funding is allocated. The school board argues the measure is unconstitutional and grants “unprecedented authority” over the system. It also directed general counsel Justin Bailey to retain outside counsel. Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, who sponsored the legislation and spoke prior to its passage, said that the measure is not targeted at any particular district.

An effort to give the state attorney general authority to review local government's contingency-fee legal contracts with outside law firms appears to have stalled in both the House and Senate. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed SB2418 on March 16. The full Senate considered the bill on April 2 but deferred final action on it twice. On April 13, it referred it back to the Calendar Committee. The House State & Local Government Committee approved HB2069 on April 1. The House considered the bill on April 9 but failed to garner the constitutional majority vote needed. It was referred back to the Calendar and Rules Committee and to the Judiciary Committee, but was taken off notice there on April 14. Tennessee Journal reports on the developments.

Tennessee lawmakers have passed legislation (SB591/HB1273) to amend the state’s controversial threats of mass violence law, which has resulted in children being charged with felonies over jokes and misunderstandings, according to WPLN. The change comes after investigative reporting by ProPublica and WPLN, which found that many of the children charged had disabilities and were students of color. One of the youngest children charged with a felony last year was six years old according to the reporting. Gov. Bill Lee is expected to sign the bill, which will require that school officials only report student threats to police if a threat is “credible,” meaning it is reasonably expected to be carried out.

With the Tennessee General Assembly in the final days of the session, TBA's government relations team looks at the TBA bills that advanced during the 2026 session. All three measures passed the House and Senate. They will take effect on July 1.

HB2350/SB2165, drafted by the TBA Adoption Law Section and sponsored by Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, and Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, ensures that foster parents who have cared for a child for nine or more consecutive months receive from the Department of Children Services (DCS) a copy of any petition to terminate parental rights and access to relevant background and health information. The bill addresses situations in which foster parents lacked access to court filings and critical information and ensures they can make informed decisions with legal guidance. The legislation passed both chambers and was sent to Gov. Bill Lee on April 14. See the legislative history.

HB2429/SB2324, drafted by the TBA Family Law Section and sponsored by Rep. Andy Farmer, R- Sevierville, and Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, clarifies that the Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act does not override other legal authority, authorizes juvenile courts to award attorney fees in child related disputes, permits temporary suspension of child support during dependency and neglect proceedings, and requires parent education in appropriate cases, including those involving unmarried parents. The bill has been signed by the governor. See the legislative history.

HB2451/SB2184, drafted by the TBA Probate Study Group and sponsored by Rep. Johnny Garrett, R- Goodlettsville, and Sen. John Stevens, R-Huntingdon, clarifies that the Tennessee Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act does not apply when property must be brought into a decedent’s estate to pay expenses, reinforcing that probate administration remains governed by probate law. The legislation also updates the elective share statute and makes conservatorship petition requirements mandatory. The bill has been signed by the governor. See the legislative history.

The Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill last week to make confidential the addresses of candidates on nominating petitions for the offices of judge, chancellor, district attorney and public defender. The legislation, HB1659/SB1720, was sponsored by Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, and Rep. Jerome Moon, R-Maryville, who said its intent is to protect the candidates from potential harm or threats. The bill passed unanimously in the House on April 14 and received a near-unanimous vote in the Senate on April 6. The bill was transmitted to Gov. Bill Lee for his signature on April 17.

The TBA’s Legislative Updates podcast returns this week with attorneys and TBA lobbyists Berkley Schwarz with Pier Strategies and Ashley Harbin of Adams & Reese. This week they discuss the 2026 legislative session winding down, the passing of the state's budget and what's left before legislators hit the campaign trail. Tune in on the TBA website or through this link. Attorneys interested in supporting the TBA’s lobbying efforts may do so by contributing to LAWPAC.

The Tennessee House and Senate have passed the state’s $58.3 billion budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year. As amended by lawmakers, the budget — HB2631/SB2690 — redirects $282.4 million from the governor’s original proposal to fund $276.4 million of their legislative priorities. Funding includes support for hospitals, addressing critical community needs and a summer meal program the governor had cut, according to the Times Free Press. Specific funding includes $34.5 million for the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) to help reduce caseload ratios, $10.7 million to enhance staff safety at DCS facilities for delinquent youth, $50 million for public safety initiatives in Memphis, $9 million to create the Tennessee Safe Initiative Task Force within the state Bureau of Investigations, $932,000 for digital forensics law enforcement training in East Tennessee, $500,000 for courthouse renovation grants, and a range of funding for programs providing education and re-entry support for incarcerated individuals. Chattanoogan.com has an expanded summary of programs funded in the budget.

Tennessee legislators have passed a bill requiring local law enforcement to "accept and honor" immigration detainers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). If signed by the governor, SB1486/HB2018 would take effect on July 1 and require agencies to keep detainees in custody for up to 48 hours (not counting weekends or holidays) after they otherwise would be released, according to Local Memphis. It also means notifying federal authorities as soon as possible before the person is released.