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HB1123 • 2026

Tort Liability and Reform

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 20, Chapter 1; Title 24, Chapter 5; Title 55, Chapter 12 and Title 56, Chapter 7, relative to civil actions.

Healthcare
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Farmer, Gardenhire
Last action
2025-02-12
Official status
P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary and text do not provide specific details about how the bill updates Tennessee's laws or affects personal injury cases beyond the medical expense limit change.

Tort Liability and Reform Act

This bill increases the limit for medical bills that can be itemized in a lawsuit without needing additional proof from $4,000 to $25,000.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the amount of medical expenses that can be included as prima facie evidence in a civil action without requiring further proof from $4,000 to $25,000.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who file lawsuits due to personal injuries or illnesses.
  • Healthcare providers whose bills may be itemized up to $25,000 in these lawsuits.

Terms To Know

Civil action
A lawsuit between individuals or organizations to resolve disputes over money or property rights.
Prima facie evidence
Evidence that is sufficient to prove something unless there's strong proof against it.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not change how medical bills above $25,000 are treated in lawsuits.
  • It only applies to Tennessee state laws and doesn't affect other states or federal laws.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  2. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  3. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  4. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  5. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  6. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present law provides that i
n personal injury actions, medical, hospital, and doctor bills paid or incurred due to illness, disease, or injury can be itemized in the complaint or civil warrant with copies attached as exhibits.

These bills serve as prima facie evidence that the expenses were necessary and reasonable, provided the total amount does not exceed $4,000.
This bill increases such amount limit from $4,000 to $25,000.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 800
By Gardenhire

HOUSE BILL 1123
By Farmer

HB1123
002180
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 20,
Chapter 1; Title 24, Chapter 5; Title 55, Chapter
12 and Title 56, Chapter 7, relative to civil actions.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 24-5-113(a)(3), is amended by
deleting the language "four thousand dollars ($4,000)" and substituting "twenty-five thousand
dollars ($25,000)".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.