A number of immigration bills introduced at the beginning of the session have started to move through the legislative process. According to the Nashville Post, members of the State & Local Government Committee House Departments and Agencies Subcommittee passed three bills earlier this week. Among those was HB1710, which would require local governments to verify the citizenship status of applicants for public benefits, and HB1711, which would require local governments and law enforcement agencies to report on persons not lawfully present in the United States and require state agencies to report annual costs incurred in providing certain services to persons not lawfully present in the United States. The third bill, HB2219, would require local governments to comply with court orders regarding unlawful sanctuary policies. Members of the House Transportation Subcommittee also passed two bills — HB1706 and HB1708 — related to immigrants’ ability to obtain driver's licenses.

The Tennessee House of Representatives has passed legislation that aims to “clarify” that private citizens and organizations may refuse to recognize same-sex marriages without facing punishment. According to WBIR, HB1473, sponsored by Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, passed on a vote of 68-24. A companion bill, SB1746, has been introduced by Sen. Janice Bowling, R-Tullahoma. Bill sponsors say it is designed to clarify the impact of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment and the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges on public versus private entities. Opponents say the bill could lead to businesses refusing to serve gay and lesbian couples and be applied to other situations, including discrimination against bi-racial couples, immigrants and others. WSMV has more on the legislation.

The Tennessee General Assembly has passed SB0016/HB0025, allowing middle and high school athletes a one-time school transfer without losing athletic eligibility, as long as the move occurs before the school year begins. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, and Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, now heads to Gov. Bill Lee for approval. If signed, it would take effect July 1. According to the Daily Memphian, the bill seeks to respond to concerns about fairness in transfer rules and limit the ability of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) to restrict athletes solely for transferring once, while maintaining rules for subsequent moves. In anticipation of the bill passing, TSSAA already has adopted related rule changes, including conditional eligibility timelines and immediate eligibility for students whose schools close. In other education-related news, the state House has approved HB0047/SB0303 allowing, though not requiring, public schools to display the Ten Commandments, along with the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Constitution of Tennessee and the Bill of Rights. Chalkbeat reports that supporters of the bill argue the Ten Commandments are a foundational historical document relevant to K-12 education across the state. Critics say the measure raises constitutional concerns and infringes on the rights of students who do not practice Christianity.

Gov. Bill Lee has announced Hawkins County Circuit Judge William E. Phillips II as his replacement nominee for the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Eastern Section, following the withdrawal of Knoxville attorney Rachael Park Hurt, the Tennessee Journal reports. If approved, Phillips would replace longtime Judge D. Michael Swiney, who is retiring. Phillips, whom Lee appointed to an open circuit judgeship in 2021, previously served 19 years as city attorney for Church Hill and Rogersville. Lee praised Phillips in a statement Friday, calling him a “faithful public servant” who will bring “significant experience” to the appeals court. Phillips was one of three nominees recommended to the governor by the Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments in January.

A new Tennessee law allows facility dogs to assist victims and witnesses testifying in court with a judge’s approval. According to Chattanoogan.com, the trained dogs provide comfort to witnesses, including children, and offer an added sense of security for those discussing sensitive topics in often high-stress situations, such as jury trials. To use a facility dog in a case, a motion must first be filed with the court. The judge then will decide whether the circumstances warrant allowing the dog.

The state Senate Judiciary Committee approved two of Gov. Bill Lee's recent judicial nominations: Kyle Hixson of Knoxville to replace retiring Justice Holly Kirby on the Tennessee Supreme Court and Madison County Chancellor Steven Maroney to replace Judge Kenny Armstrong on the Tennessee Court of Appeals, according to a TBA representative who attended the meeting. The nominations still must be considered by the full Senate and House. The meeting also included a budget review for the Administrative Office of the Courts and the state Attorney General's Office. In related news, Lee’s choice for another open position on the Court of Appeals has withdrawn from consideration. The Tennessee Journal reports that Rachel Park Hurt, who would have replaced retiring Judge D. Michael Swiney, withdrew after Republican legislators raised questions about her past support of Democratic political candidates. Hurt, a partner with the Knoxville law firm of Arnett, Baker, Draper and Hagood and president of the Knoxville Bar Association, was nominated by Lee on Jan. 22. The committee did not consider her nomination.

Less than a year after two lawmakers considered a government effort to dissolve the state’s high school athletics association, Sen. Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, said he is no longer pursuing that option, and that he and the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) are now more aligned, the Commercial Appeal reports. Lowe said the association has responded to concerns from parents and students, citing the creation of a student advisory committee, and that a majority of member schools now support state legislation to loosen high school transfer rules. During the 2025 legislative session, the TSSAA opposed efforts by Lowe and Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, to codify transfer rules in state law, though the association later amended its constitution to allow a one-time transfer with exceptions while maintaining concerns about legislative involvement in its bylaws. Since then, the sides have worked together on a proposal that would allow student-athletes one transfer during their four-year varsity careers without a bona fide change of address if the move occurs between school years, while leaving eligibility standards and enforcement of recruiting rules to the TSSAA; the changes would likely take effect in the 2026-2027 school year if approved.

State Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, and Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Eads, have sponsored the Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Act to require Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy to report on actions tied to felony cases originating from two federal initiatives: Operation Viper and the Memphis Safe Task Force. According to the Daily Memphian, the lawmakers are seeking information about any plea agreements entered, any charges that have been reduced, any cases that have been dismissed or any declinations of prosecution. Reports would be submitted to the Tennessee attorney general, the speakers of the House and Senate, the district attorneys general conference and the relevant U.S. attorney. Taylor said in a press release that if “cases are being dropped, reduced or quietly swept aside, the public has a right to know.” Mulroy responded to the proposal saying it would be “incredibly burdensome” to comply.

A bill introduced last week would allow state prison staff to disable illegal drones that smuggle cell phones, drugs and other prohibited items into state prisons. Republican Sen. Tom Hatcher, a retired 10-year veteran sheriff’s deputy from Blount County, introduced SB1631, which also would make it a crime to fly an unmanned aircraft over a prison facility. Violators could face three to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000, according to The Tennessean. The bill would cover state prisons, county jails and mental health institutions. Correction officials are seeking funding for department-operated drones to patrol prison perimeters, deter unauthorized drone flights and strengthen overall surveillance.

As Shelby County grapples with growing caseloads, state Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, is exploring splitting the 30th Judicial District. Taylor told The Tennessee Journal that splitting the county would involve either waiting for the Judicial Redistricting Committee’s recommendation due by 2027 or changing state law. “We've not done a statewide judicial redistricting since the 1980s, so it's been like 40 years,” he said. In 2024, Taylor recommended that Memphis-area suburbs split from the county court system and hire their own district attorney.