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PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 1041
HOUSE BILL NO. 2539
By Representatives Lamberth, Cochran, Kumar, Crawford, Hakeem, Cepicky
Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 2227
By Senator Johnson
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.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 53-10-309, is amended by deleting
the first two sentences.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-1-125(b)(1), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting:
(1) "Board" means a health-related board created in this title or title 68 and
includes:
(A) The board for professional counselors, marital and family therapists,
and clinical pastoral therapists, created by§ 63-22-101;
(8) The board of alcohol and drug abuse counselors, created by § 68-24-
601;
(C) The board of occupational therapy, created by§ 63-13-216;
(D) The board of examiners in psychology, created by § 63-11-102; and
(E) The board of social work licensure, created by§ 63-23-101; and
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-1-125(e), is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:
(5) A person licensed under chapter 11 of this title.
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-1-164(f), is amended by deleting
the subsection.
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-1-314, is amended by deleting the
section.
SECTION 6. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-1-120, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting:
By December 31, 2026, and by each December 31 thereafter, the department of
health shall publish an annual report stating the total number of attempted suicides and
completed suicides that have occurred in this state using the most recent year of final
data available. The department of health shall submit the report electronically to all
members of the general assembly within seven (7) calendar days of the publication.
SECTION 7. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-1-128(h)(4), is amended by
deleting the subdivision.
SECTION 8. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-1-128, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
HB2539
U) The commissioner shall annually report to the chairs of the health and welfare
committee of the senate and the committee of the house of representatives having
jurisdiction over prescribers of controlled substances a summary of the data concerning
prescribers identified pursuant to this section, disciplinary actions taken against those
prescribers or taken related to prescription drug abuse or pain management clinics,
distribution and abuse of controlled substances, and access to the controlled substance
database.
SECTION 9. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-1-147(a)(4), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting:
(4) "Palliative care" means specialized care focused on providing relief from
physical, psychological, and spiritual suffering, in order to maximize quality of life for
both the patient and family, that is provided for people facing a health condition that
carries a high risk of mortality, and:
(A) Negatively impacts a person's daily function;
(8) Negatively impacts a person's quality of life; or
(C) Excessively strains the person's caretaker.
SECTION 10. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) When legislation is enacted by the general assembly that requires a board
administratively attached to the department to promulgate rules in a prescribed period of
time, the board retains the exclusive authority to promulgate the rules until sixty (60)
days before the effective date of the legislation.
(b) If the board has not promulgated emergency rules and scheduled the
ru_lemaking hearing on permanent rules at least sixty (60) days before the effective date
of the legislation, then the commissioner becomes the exclusive authority to promulgate
the rules as described in subsection (a). Upon the receipt of such authority, the
commissioner shall, in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act,
compiled in title 4, chapter 5:
(1) Promulgate emergency rules, in accordance with§ 4-5-208, within the
time required by the legislation; and
(2) Promulgate permanent rules within one hundred eighty (180) days of
the effective date of the emergency rules.
(c) Upon the completion of the requirements of subsection (b), the exclusive
authority to promulgate rules reverts to the board. The board may, at that time, amend
the permanent rules in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act,
compiled in title 4, chapter 5.
(d) The rules promulgated by the commissioner in accordance with subsection
(b) remain in full force and effect, the same as if promulgated by the board, unless and
until the rules are amended by the board.
SECTION 11. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.
2
HOUSE BILL NO. 2539
PASSED: April 22, 2026
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CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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\ RANDY MCN~ LY
SPEAKER OF THE SEN-E
r APPROVED this ;::).[ -,■ day of rt::\a◄ ,,.. 2026
BILL LEE, GOVERNOREvery fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.