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: Nonprofit
Bill: SB2561 / HB2618
Bill Summary: As introduced, requires a nonprofit organization that has entered into a contract or memorandum of understanding with the district attorney general to disclose the list of persons or entities that have donated to the nonprofit in the previous calendar year, upon written request from a member of the general assembly or passage of a resolution requesting the information by a county legislative body for a county within the judicial district.
Impact: Requires a nonprofit to disclose their funder list as a requirement to contract with the district attorney general, raising concerns around donor privacy.
Position: Oppose
Sector: Nonprofit
Bill: SB1661 / HB1707
Bill Summary: As introduced, revises various provisions regarding the regulation of charitable solicitations in this state.
Impact: Implements various changes for nonprofits engaged in fundraising activities – especially in relation to professional fundraising support
Position: Support
Sector: Nonprofit
Bill: SB0203 / HB0134
Bill Summary: As introduced, exempts churches and other religious organizations from the Campaign Financial Disclosure Act of 1980 with respect to expending funds in favor of or in opposition to single or multiple issue measures related to questions of public or private morality, including, but not limited to, alcohol, drugs, abortion, marriage, or gambling.
Impact: Exempts churches and other religious organizations from disclosing financial contributions towards morality issues, raising concerns around transparency and charitable donations remaining separate from political contributions
Position: Oppose
Sector: Public Safety / Nonprofit
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: Oppose
Sector: Nonprofit
Bill: SB1662 / HB1708
Bill Summary: As introduced, revises certain fees payable to the secretary of state by certain charitable organizations; increases from $500,000 to $1,000,000 the amount of gross revenue received during a fiscal year to trigger certain reporting requirements; assesses a late fee per month on certain financial reports that are not timely filed.
Impact: Increases the revenue threshold for nonprofits before an annual audit is required, decreasing the financial burden for smaller nonprofits in contracting with audit firms while maintaining accountability within the sector
Position: Support
Sector: Nonprofit
Bill: SB1432 / HB1389
Bill Summary: As introduced, deletes the limitation that a report regarding a nonprofit organization’s desire for financial assistance from a county with a metropolitan form of government filed with the clerks is only open for public inspection during regular business hours of the clerk’s office.
Impact: Makes a nonprofit’s request for financial assistance more readily available to the public.
Position: Monitor
Sector: Nonprofit
Bill: SB1886 / HB1959
Bill Summary: As introduced, provides mechanisms by which a charitable organization providing certain community services may use an official state logo or emblem for purposes of providing such services.
Impact: Enables nonprofits to utilize official state logos when providing certain community services
Position: Support
Sector: Nonprofit
Bill: HB1802
Bill Summary: As introduced, increases from $500,000 to $750,000 the threshold amount of gross revenue received by a charitable organization within the organization’s fiscal year above which the organization is required to submit an audited financial statement and copies of any forms required by the United States internal revenue service when the organization submits its annual report to the secretary of state.
Impact: Increases the revenue threshold for nonprofits before an annual audit is required, decreasing the financial burden for smaller nonprofits in contracting with audit firms while maintaining accountability within the sector. Similar to SB1662 / HB1708
Position: Support
Sector: Labor Law
Bill: SB0940 / HB0819
Bill Summary: As introduced, changes, from $7.25 to $12, the minimum hourly wage for employees within the state.
Impact: A win for underpaid nonprofit staff but may increase nonprofit budgetary needs to cover payroll requirements for staff
Position: Monitor
Sector: Labor Law
Bill: SB1015 / HB1518
Bill Summary: Family Caregiver Antidiscrimination Act – This bill enacts the “Family Caregiver Antidiscrimination Act,” which makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer to:
(1) Fail or refuse to hire or to discharge an employee, or otherwise discriminate against an employee, with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of the employee’s family responsibilities, if:
- The employee does not violate the employer’s attendance and absenteeism policies that are not prohibited by other applicable law; and
- The employee’s performance at work meets satisfactory standards; or
(2) Limit, segregate, or classify an employee in a way that deprives, or tends to deprive, an employee of employment opportunities, or otherwise adversely affects the employee’s status as an employee because of the employee’s family responsibilities, except with respect to the employer’s attendance and absenteeism standards that are not protected by other applicable law and to the extent the employee’s performance at work meets satisfactory standards.
Impact: TBD
Position: Monitor
Sector: Labor Law
Bill: SB2134 / HB2405
Bill Summary: As introduced, enacts the Social Work Licensure Compact.
Impact: May increase the availability of licensed social workers in the state.
Position: Monitor
Sector: Labor Law
Bill: SB2446 / HB2829
Bill Summary: As introduced, authorizes a local government to require a private employer to pay an hourly wage in excess of the minimum hourly wage set by state or federal law.
Impact: May increase nonprofit budgetary needs to cover payroll requirements for staff
Position: Monitor
Sector: Labor Law
Bill: SB2646 / HB2602
Bill Summary: As introduced, increases the hourly minimum wage to $20.00, or the federal minimum wage established pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, whichever rate is greater
Impact: May increase nonprofit budgetary needs to cover payroll requirements for staff
Position: Monitor
Sector: Nonprofit
Bill: SB1661 / HB1707
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