KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Tennessee

SB0497 • 2026

Tattoos and Piercings

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 62 and Title 68, relative to tattoo artist licensing.

Active

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

Sponsor
Walley, Shaw
Last action
2025-04-29
Official status
Effective date(s) 01/01/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not mention any reduction in the apprenticeship period from two years to one year.

Tattoo Artist Licensing Changes

This bill changes Tennessee's tattoo artist licensing requirements by allowing certain out-of-state tattoo artists to qualify and requiring signatures on apprenticeship completion forms.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows tattoo artists who have been licensed in another state for at least ten years but not yet three years in Tennessee to receive a license in Tennessee.
  • Requires tattoo artists to sign an application showing they completed their apprenticeship requirements.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Tattoo artists who want to get or renew a license in Tennessee after January 1, 2026.

Terms To Know

Apprenticeship
A period of training where someone learns the skills needed for their job from an experienced person.
Certified shop
A tattoo studio that meets certain safety and health standards set by the state.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill only affects those who want to get a new license or renew an existing one after January 1, 2026.
  • It does not change requirements for tattoo artists already licensed before October 1, 1996.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB0373

Plain English: The amendment changes the requirements for tattoo artists to get a license in Tennessee by adding new training and experience rules.

  • Tattoo artists must now be trained under a licensed tattoo artist for at least one year, with that trainer having been certified and operating legally for three years or more.
  • Out-of-state tattoo artists can qualify for a Tennessee license if they have proof of two years' experience as a professional in another state.
  • The amendment text does not specify how the training certification is obtained, which could be unclear to some readers.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0497

Plain English: The amendment changes the requirements for getting a tattoo artist license in Tennessee by adding new training and experience rules.

  • Tattoo artists must now be trained under a licensed tattoo artist for at least two years to get their own license.
  • Out-of-state tattoo artists can use proof of at least two years' professional experience from another state instead of the usual requirements.
  • The amendment text does not specify all details about how training and certification will be conducted or verified.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 01/01/2026

  2. 2025-04-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 212

  3. 2025-04-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 212

  4. 2025-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2025-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2025-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  8. 2025-04-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  9. 2025-04-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Concurred, Ayes 30, Nays 0 (Amendment 1 - HA0127)

  10. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/3/2025

  11. 2025-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 90, Nays 1, PNV 3

  12. 2025-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0127)

  13. 2025-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  14. 2025-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  15. 2025-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  16. 2025-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/27/2025

  17. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/20/2025

  18. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  19. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  20. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Commerce Committee for 3/19/2025

  21. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Commerce Committee to 3/19/2025

  22. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  23. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 27, Nays 0

  24. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0069)

  25. 2025-03-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/10/2025

  26. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Commerce Committee for 3/12/2025

  27. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Commerce Committee

  28. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 0 PNV 0

  29. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Business & Utilities Subcommittee for 3/5/2025

  30. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/4/2025

  31. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/4/2025

  32. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

  33. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  34. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Business & Utilities Subcommittee

  35. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Commerce Committee

  36. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  37. 2025-01-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  38. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

In order to receive a tatto
o artist license, present law requires the tattooist to be trained in the profession of tattooing, including sterilization methods, in a certified shop for at least one year, under a currently licensed tattoo artist who has been certified and operating in

compliance with applicable laws in this state for no less than three years. Out-of-state tattoo artists must be able to show proof of at least two years' experience as a professional tattoo artist in another state.

This bill revises the provisions above
by (i) adding the option for a tattoo artist to receive a license if they have been licensed in this state for fewer than three years but licensed in another state for 10 years or more, (ii) requiring a tattoo artist to provide their signature on this st
a
te's tattoo apprenticeship completion application signifying that the apprentice tattoo artist has met the requirements of state law, and (iii) clarifying that the requirement of out-of-state tattoo artists to show proof of at least two years' experience
a
s a professional tattoo artist in another state is done in lieu of passing an examination to receive a tattoo artist license in this state.

ON MARCH 10, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 497, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 revises
the provision requiring a tattoo artist, in order to receive a tattoo artist license, to be trained in the profession of tattooing in a certified shop for at least one year under a currently licensed tattoo artist to, instead, require two years of such tr
a
ining.

ON MARCH 27, 2025, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 497 FOR HOUSE BILL 373, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 497, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 reduces from two years to one year, the time period in which
a
person must
be trained in the
profession of tattooing, including sterilization methods, in a certified shop

under a currently licensed tattoo artist who
meets certain requirements in order t
o receive a tattoo artist license
.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 373
By Shaw

SENATE BILL 497
By Walley

SB0497
000263
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 62
and Title 68, relative to tattoo artist licensing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 62-38-204, is amended by deleting
subsection (g) and substituting:
(g) To receive a tattoo artist license, a tattoo artist must be trained in the
profession of tattooing, including sterilization methods, in a certified shop for at least one
(1) year under a currently licensed tattoo artist who has been certified and operating in
compliance with applicable laws in this state for no fewer than three (3) years, or who
has been licensed in this state for fewer than three (3) years, but licensed in another
state for ten (10) years or more. The tattoo artist must provide the tattoo artist's
signature on this state's tattoo apprenticeship completion application signifying that the
apprentice tattoo artist has met the requirement of this section. Out-of-state tattoo artists
must show proof of at least two (2) years' experience as a professional tattoo artist in
another state in lieu of satisfying subsection (f), to receive a tattoo artist license in this
state. Business licenses, tax records, and other similar records may be used to show
proof of prior work. Tattoo artists in business in this state on October 1, 1996, are
exempt from this subsection (g).
SECTION 2. This act takes effect January 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.