Week 14 Capitol Round-Up: Budget Passed, Bills & Final Votes

The final week is here—and I’m happy to report that the last of my legislation has officially crossed the finish line.

📝  Status of My Bills This Week

• HB 853 – Parental Rights in Medical Records (Passed the House floor)Closes loopholes in statues to ensure parents  the right to access the medical records of their minor children—including prescription and rehabilitation records—even in cases where treatment was provided without parental consent under existing law. This ensures parents have all of the information they need to care for their minor children. 

🏛️  Budget Highlights

The General Assembly fulfilled its only constitutional duty this week by passing Tennessee’s $58.3 billion budget for FY 2026–27.

This plan:

• Reallocates $282.4 million to fund $276.4 million in legislative priorities

• Maintains  reserves, including $2.2+ billion in the Rainy Day Fund

• Invests in infrastructure, education, public safety, and rural healthcare

  
  

Key Investments

Community Grants (Nonrecurring):

• $20M – Volunteer fire departments

• $5M – EMS services

• $5M – Rescue squads

• $5M – Local museums & capital improvements

• $5M – Senior centers

Infrastructure & Housing:

• $400M – Transportation projects

• $20M – Workforce housing pilot program

• $15M – Rural development

Education:

• $339M – Public education (including teacher pay increases)

• $112.9M – School choice expansion

• $350M – UT Health Science Center College of Medicine

Public Safety & Disaster Recovery:

• $50M – Crime prevention grants

• $37.5M – Additional state troopers

• $44.2M – Disaster response fund

Healthcare:

• $137M – Support for hospitals, especially rural

• $230M – TennCare cost increases

• $24.2M – Dental access programs

  
  

🏛️ House Floor Highlights

• HB 819 – Eliminates Certificate of Need requirements for certain healthcare facilities

• HB 1858 – Voted NO Allows local government bodies to participate in meetings electronically. Concerns with transparency and accountability.

• HB 1913 – Regulatory Freedom Act Requires legislative approval for costly agency rules impacting the private sector.

• HB 1476 – Charlie Kirk Act Protects free speech on college campuses and promotes institutional neutrality.

• SJR 48Increases the 911 surcharge from $1.50 to $1.86 to support emergency services.

• HB 2420 Closes underperforming virtual schools after 3 consecutive years.

• HB 2252 Creates a voluntary “Tennessee-grown” labeling program for meat products.

• HB 2503 Allows short-term health plans on the Marketplace as a bridge between TennCare and private insurance.

• HB 2246 Establishes guardrails for stem cell therapies.

• HB 2532 – Voted NO Expands education scholarships. While intended to increase access, concerns remain about long-term structure, accountability,  sustainability, eventual government regulation. Read my previous commentary on my position here.

• HB 2616 – Voted NO Allows closed-door executive sessions for hiring decisions. Lacks transparency.

• HB 1823 – Voted PNV Requires attendance records to follow students across districts and sends them into the court system. While accountability matters, labeling a child “unruly” after just five absences risks over-criminalization.

• HB 2290 – Voted PNV Begins regulation of fertility clinics.While oversight is needed, the bill acknowledges the destruction of embryos without fully addressing ethical concerns.

• HB 2319 – Voted PNV Prohibits local government employees from serving on their governing body. Voters should decide representation, though concerns about conflicts are valid.

• HB 1034 – Voted PNV Sets standards for non-compete agreements.The $70,000 threshold creates incentives that could distort wages and worker mobility.

• HB 1640 – Voted PNV Protects sensitive state security records.Concerns about overly broad definitions that could include peaceful protest activity.

  Additional Legislation of Interest

  • HB 2082 – Protects parental rights in raising children consistent with biological sex

  • HB 1895 – Requires parent notification after classroom evacuations

  • HB 1624 – Strengthens protections for victims of crime

  • HB 2380 – Clarifies enforcement related to abortion-inducing drugs

  • HB 2257 – Establishes dyslexia intervention endorsement

  • HB 1898 – AI safety and child protection transparency requirements

  • HJR 808 – Constitutional amendment: only U.S. citizens may vote

  • HJR 729 – Moves judicial/local elections from August to November

Looking Ahead

We return to the House Floor:

• Monday at 4 PM

• Tuesday–maybe Friday at 8:30 AM

With 150+ bills remaining, we expect long days as we work to complete the session—possibly extending through Friday. It is an honor to serve you at the Capitol. Please continue to pray for wisdom and discernment as we finish strong.

Rep. Michele Reneau

Tennessee House District 27