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SB0223 • 2026

Medical Occupations

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, relative to healthcare providers.

Healthcare Labor
Active

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

Sponsor
Jackson, Martin B
Last action
2025-03-12
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Health & Welfare Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the number of people affected or consequences for failing to register, which are mentioned in the candidate explanation.

Healthcare Provider Registration for Former Military Officers

This bill requires certain former military medical officers who were not honorably discharged to register with the appropriate board if they practice medicine in Tennessee.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes a rule about who needs to register as a healthcare provider in Tennessee.
  • Requires people who were once part of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, or Public Health Service but did not get an honorable discharge and now want to work as doctors or other medical professionals in Tennessee to register with the right board.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Former military officers who were part of a medical corps and are no longer honorably discharged but wish to practice medicine in Tennessee.

Terms To Know

Healing art
A profession that involves treating or preventing illnesses, such as being a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare worker.
Commissioned medical corps
The part of the military responsible for providing medical care to service members and their families.

Limits and Unknowns

  • It is not clear how many people this change will affect.
  • This bill does not specify what happens if someone fails to register as required.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Health & Welfare Committee

  2. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  3. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee

  4. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Health Committee

  5. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  6. 2025-01-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  7. 2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  8. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 172
By Martin B

SENATE BILL 223
By Jackson

SB0223
001113
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63,
relative to healthcare providers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-1-110(b), is amended by deleting
the subsection and substituting:
(b) When such person resigns or is discharged from one (1) of the services
mentioned in subsection (a) and engages in the practice of a healing art or any branch
thereof in this state, such person shall register with the appropriate board licensing that
profession.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.