Monitor Legislation that Impacts Your Nonprofit and the Communities you serve
Nonprofits must be legislative watchdogs for three key reasons:
Impact awareness: New laws affect funding, operations, and beneficiary eligibility. Staying informed prevents blindsided disruptions.
Advocacy opportunity: Proactive engagement shapes legislation to better serve communities. Nonprofits bring unique perspectives to lawmakers.
Public trust: Monitoring shows commitment to responsible use of resources and best serving beneficiaries. Transparency builds trust and attracts donors.
In short, informed nonprofits can adapt, advocate, and build trust, all crucial for lasting positive impact.
Below are bills we are monitoring in the State of Tennessee. Please note that Tennessee Nonprofit Network monitors all bills that impact nonprofits and the communities they serve, but we only take positions on issues impacting the entire nonprofit sector and align with our public policy agenda.
Want to take action on a bill below? Find your legislators here.
Did we miss any important bills? Let us know here.
Sector: Disaster Response
Bill: SB0594 / HB1370
Bill Summary: As introduced, requires charitable organizations that solicit and receive contributions for charitable purposes related to a declared disaster in this state to expend or distribute the funds for that purpose within 24 months of the date the disaster is first declared; requires unused funds to be transferred to a fund managed by the director of TEMA to be used for the purpose of disaster relief activities in this state.
Impact: Increases urgency and accountability for nonprofits delivering aid post-disaster. Concerns on limited flexibility, disruption of long-term projects, and potential burden on smaller charities in the disbursement of funds raised.
Position: Opposed
Sector: Disaster Response
Bill: SB2537 / HB2314
Bill Summary: As introduced, requires that grants provided by the department to provide assistance to distressed counties and communities in this state require a 10-percent match of funds raised locally, which may include public and private funds.
Impact: Increases the burden on nonprofits who may face additional challenges in securing local funding, diverting resources and attention away from the core mission of disaster response. Concerns on the possible discouragement of smaller nonprofits or communities in applying for grants based on limited fundraising capacity
Position: Opposed
Sector: Healthcare
Bill: SB1971 / HB1895
Bill Summary: This bill provides that an adult commits the offense of abortion trafficking of a minor if the adult recruits, harbors, or transports a pregnant unemancipated minor within this state for the purpose of (i) concealing an act that would constitute a criminal abortion from the parents or guardian of the pregnant unemancipated minor; (ii) procuring an act that would constitute a criminal abortion for the pregnant unemancipated minor, regardless of where the abortion is to be procured; or (iii) obtaining an abortion-inducing drug for the pregnant unemancipated minor for the purpose of an act that would constitute a criminal abortion, regardless of where the abortion-inducing drug is obtained. However, this bill does not apply to the parents or legal guardian of an unemancipated minor. This bill classifies the offense of abortion trafficking of a minor as a Class C felony. The bill provides that it is not a defense to a prosecution under this bill that the pregnant minor consented to the actions that led to the offense.
Impact: TBD
Position: Monitor
Sector: Healthcare
Bill: SB1590 / HB1626
Bill Summary: Fundamental Right to Reproductive Health Care Act - This bill provides that every person has a fundamental right to make decisions about the person's reproductive health care, including the fundamental right to use or refuse contraceptive procedures or contraceptive supplies. Additionally, this bill provides that a pregnant person has a fundamental right to continue a pregnancy and give birth, or to have an abortion and to make decisions about how to exercise such right. Finally, this bill provides that a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus does not have independent or derivative rights under the laws of this state.
Impact: TBD
Position: Monitor
Sector: Healthcare/ Education
Bill: SB2329 / HB2354
Bill Summary: As introduced, prohibits a local government entity, school, or local education agency from implementing a mask mandate related to COVID-19.
Impact: Reduces the ability for an organization to self-govern and respond to the needs of their community
Position: Oppose
Sector: Housing
Bill: SB2124 / HB2292
Bill Summary: As introduced, requires each municipal and metropolitan government to adopt, on or before July 1, 2025, certain housing development strategies; provides that a municipal or metropolitan government that does not adopt such housing development strategies is ineligible for certain state grants.
Impact: Creates an opportunity for nonprofit entities to participate in housing development strategies and potential subsequent opportunities with related state grants
Position: Monitor
Sector: Human Services
Bill: SB0792 / HB0950
Bill Summary: As introduced, establishes unemployment work search requirements related to responding to a job offer and attendance to a scheduled job interview; establishes additional requirements for the type of work search activities required to maintain benefits; makes other related additions.
Impact: Adds additional requirements for nonprofits supporting unemployed individuals to be aware of and help their clients.
Position: Monitor
Sector: Human Services
Bill: SB0943 / HB0697
Bill Summary: As introduced, authorizes nonprofit entities that have entered into an agreement with THEC to administer the work-based learning program to provide, in consultation with THEC, a method for employers of work-based learning students to submit applications electronically.
Impact: Increases efficiency and convenience for nonprofits, making it easier to participate in the program
Position: Monitor
Sector: Human Services
Bill: SB0945 / HB0737
Bill Summary: This bill requires the department of human services to allocate any temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) funds remaining unexpended at the end of a fiscal year to an eligible after school program located in an underserved community to provide nutritious meals to students enrolled in the program. Underserved community, under this bill, means a census tract determined to be an area with low supermarket access by the United States department of agriculture (USDA), as identified in the USDA's Food Access Research Atlas.
Impact: Creates a potential funding opportunity for nonprofits providing after school programming in underserved communities.
Position: Monitor
Sector: Human Services
Bill: SB1961 / HB2397
Bill Summary: As introduced, beginning on January 1, 2025, and on January 1 of each subsequent year, requires the base payment for TANF eligible families to be increased to reflect the effect of inflation based upon the percentage of change between the two preceding calendar years.
Impact: Increases financial resources for individuals receiving TANF benefits, and by extension may increase funding for nonprofits providing services that can be reimbursed through TANF
Position: Monitor
Sector: Human Services
Bill: SB2078 / HB1886
Bill Summary: As introduced, implements penalties for certain offenses for beneficiaries of the temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) program and food stamp program; removes an exemption from the TANF work requirement; removes the requirement that the TANF maximum payment standard must not increase when a caregiver relative becomes pregnant while receiving assistance.
Impact: Creates TANF requirements that nonprofits supporting TANF-eligible individuals need to be aware of.
Position: Monitor
Sector: Human Services
Bill: SB2293 / HB1975
Bill Summary: As introduced, requires the commissioner to include in the annual block grant report information detailing the department's use of federal TANF funds in furtherance of the four purposes of the TANF program.
Impact: May create additional or more frequent reporting requirements for nonprofits funded through TANF block grants
Position: Monitor
Sector: Immigration
Bill: SB1866 / HB1907
Bill Summary: As introduced, clarifies that in determining whether a person is an “illegal alien” for employment purposes, the person's status is considered with respect to the employment of the person at a particular time.
Impact: TBD
Position: Monitor
Sector: Mental Health
Bill: SB1866 / HB1907
Bill Summary: As introduced, requires a qualified mental health professional or behavior analyst to warn or protect an identified victim or group of people when the professional or analyst determines that a service recipient has communicated an intent for actual threat of bodily harm; requires the professional or behavior analyst to report such threat; provides immunity from civil, criminal, and regulatory liability for a professional or analyst who takes reasonable action to warn or protect identified victims or groups and to report such threat.
Impact: TBD
Position: Monitor
Sector: Mental Health
Bill: SB7099 / HB7107
Bill Summary: As introduced, allocates sales tax proceeds collected on firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories to a mental health resources account for local governments and nonprofit organizations to provide mental health resources or services within this state.
Impact: Increases funding available for mental health resources and services in the state, potentially benefiting nonprofits providing related services
Position: Monitor
Sector: Mental Health
Bill: SB7099 / HB7107
Bill Summary: As introduced, allocates sales tax proceeds collected on firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories to a mental health resources account for local governments and nonprofit organizations to provide mental health resources or services within this state.
Impact: Increases funding available for mental health resources and services in the state, potentially benefiting nonprofits providing related services
Position: Monitor
Sector: Public Safety
Bill: SB2912 / HB2032
Bill Summary: As introduced, removes the offense of possessing a weapon in a building that prohibits or restricts weapons; allows a person with an enhanced handgun carry permit to carry a handgun into a business that prohibits or restricts weapons; removes penalties for violations of certain firearms provisions.
Impact: Raises safety concerns for nonprofits providing services related to children & youth, domestic violence, violence intervention, and mental health, etc.
Position: Opposed
Sector: Veterans
Bill: SB0376 / HB0446
Bill Summary: Enacts the Veterans' Bill of Rights, includes access to jobs, access to occupational licenses, access to degrees and certifications, access to healthcare, access to mental health services, and access to housing.
Impact: TBD
Position: Monitor