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SB0800 • 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
Gardenhire, Farmer
Last action
2025-02-12
Official status
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on how the bill affects other types of civil actions or makes proving medical bills easier in general.

Increasing Medical Bill Limits in Civil Actions

This bill changes Tennessee law to raise the limit for medical bills that are automatically considered reasonable and necessary from $4,000 to $25,000.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the amount of medical expenses that can be included in a lawsuit without needing extra proof from $4,000 to $25,000.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who file lawsuits in Tennessee involving personal injury claims.
  • Doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers whose bills may be included in these lawsuits.

Terms To Know

Civil action
A legal case where one person or group tries to get money or another kind of help from a court against another person or group.
Prima facie evidence
Evidence that is enough to prove something unless there's strong proof to the contrary.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill only affects cases where medical bills are part of a lawsuit.
  • This law will start on July 1, 2025.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  2. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  3. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  4. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  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 
HOUSE BILL 1123
By Farmer

SENATE BILL 800
By Gardenhire

SB0800
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.