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HB1226 • 2026

Infectious Diseases

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7 and Title 68, relative to the world health organization.

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Lafferty, Taylor
Last action
2025-04-08
Official status
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 69
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on the governor's authority to issue executive orders or declare a state of emergency.

Changes to Tennessee's Infectious Disease Laws

This bill removes references to the World Health Organization in Tennessee’s laws and requires the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to declare a pandemic, with the governor then declaring a state of emergency.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes mentions of the World Health Organization from Tennessee's laws.
  • Changes who can declare a pandemic from the World Health Organization to the CDC.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The people and government agencies in Tennessee who deal with infectious diseases and emergencies.

Terms To Know

World Health Organization
A global health agency that works to improve health for everyone around the world.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
A U.S. government agency that focuses on public health and safety, especially during disease outbreaks.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the CDC does not declare a pandemic.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect Tennessee's relationship with other countries in managing global health issues.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 69

  2. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 03/25/2025

  3. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 69

  4. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  8. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  9. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  10. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  11. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 70, Nays 19, PNV 0

  12. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  13. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  14. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/13/2025

  15. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Objected to on Consent Calendar.

  16. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  17. 2025-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/10/2025

  18. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/6/2025

  19. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  20. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  21. 2025-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  22. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/4/2025

  23. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Health Committee

  24. 2025-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  25. 2025-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  26. 2025-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  27. 2025-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 26, Nays 6

  28. 2025-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 2/24/2025

  29. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 2/26/2025

  30. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  31. 2025-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  32. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee

  33. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Health Committee

  34. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 2/19/2025

  35. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  36. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  37. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  38. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  39. 2025-01-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 669
By Taylor

HOUSE BILL 1226
By Lafferty

HB1226
002463
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7 and
Title 68, relative to the world health organization.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 7-51-209(a)(4)(C)(i), is amended by
deleting "the World Health Organization or".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-2-611(a)(1), is amended by
deleting "world health organization" and substituting "federal centers for disease control and
prevention".
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.