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HB2628 • 2026

Food and Food Products

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 47, Chapter 18 and Title 53, relative to food products.

Active

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

Sponsor
Towns
Last action
2026-02-09
Official status
Ref. to Delayed Bills Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Ban on Selling Food with Live Vaccines

This bill makes it illegal to sell or offer for sale any food that contains live vaccines in Tennessee.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new rule to the law saying you cannot sell or offer to sell food that has live vaccines in it.
  • Defines 'live vaccine' as a weakened form of virus or bacteria intended for use in humans to stimulate antibody production and provide immunity against diseases.
  • Makes this new rule part of Tennessee's laws about food safety and products.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Food sellers who might have products with live vaccines
  • People buying food that could contain live vaccines

Terms To Know

Live vaccine
A weakened form of a virus or bacteria intended for use in humans to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against diseases.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not explain what happens if someone breaks this new rule.
  • It is unclear how many food products currently contain live vaccines.

Bill History

  1. Date Tennessee General Assembly

  2. 2026-02-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Delayed Bills Committee

  3. 2026-02-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
<BillNo> <Sponsor>

HOUSE BILL 2628
By Towns
HB2628
013145
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 47,
Chapter 18 and Title 53, relative to food products.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 53-1-103(a), is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:
(16) The sale or offering for sale of any food that contains a live vaccine.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 53-1-102, is amended by adding the
following as a new subdivision:
( ) "Live vaccine" means a weakened form of a virus or bacteria intended for
use in humans to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against
disease;
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.