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HB0243 • 2026

Sunset Laws

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 4, Chapter 3, relative to the department of mental health and substance abuse services.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Lafferty, Jackson
Last action
2025-04-29
Official status
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 238
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Sunset Laws Extension for Mental Health Services

This bill extends the existence of Tennessee's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services until June 30, 2029.

What This Bill Does

  • Extends the department of mental health and substance abuse services to June 30, 2029.
  • Removes a specific subdivision from Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-246(a).
  • Adds a new subdivision to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-250(a) that includes the department of mental health and substance abuse services.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in Tennessee.
  • People who receive mental health or substance abuse treatment from this department.

Terms To Know

Sunset Laws
Laws that set a specific date for when certain government programs or agencies will end unless they are renewed.
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
A state agency responsible for providing mental health care and substance abuse treatment services.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens after June 30, 2029.
  • It is unclear if there are any other changes to the department's operations beyond extending its existence.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 238

  2. 2025-04-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 04/24/2025

  3. 2025-04-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 238

  4. 2025-04-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  8. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  9. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  10. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 1

  11. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  12. 2025-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 4/14/2025

  13. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/10/2025

  14. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  15. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/17/2025

  16. 2025-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  17. 2025-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  18. 2025-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  19. 2025-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 2/20/2025

  20. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  21. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Government Operations Committee calendar for 2/12/2025

  22. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Government Operations Committee

  23. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  24. 2025-01-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  25. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  26. 2025-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  27. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Government Operations Committee

  28. 2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  29. 2025-01-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 65
By Roberts

HOUSE BILL 243
By Lafferty

HB0243
000323
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
Chapter 29 and Title 4, Chapter 3, relative to the
department of mental health and substance abuse
services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-246(a), is amended by deleting
subdivision (18).
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-250(a), is amended by inserting
the following as a new subdivision:
( ) Department of mental health and substance abuse services, created by §§ 4-
3-101 and 4-3-1601;
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.