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

SB2431 • 2026

Hospitals and Health Care Facilities

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to health facility regulation.

Healthcare
Active

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

Sponsor
Jackson, Boyd
Last action
2026-04-15
Official status
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on what happens if MRI or PET machines are used for purposes other than diagnosing patients. The bill summary and text do not specify this information.

Health Care Facility Licensing Changes

This bill changes Tennessee's laws to say that certain medical imaging machines do not need a special license if they are not used for diagnosing illnesses.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) machines do not require a license from the health facilities commission if they are not used for diagnostic purposes.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Health care facilities in Tennessee with MRI or PET machines.
  • The health facilities commission responsible for issuing licenses.

Terms To Know

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
A type of medical test that uses a strong magnet and radio waves to make detailed pictures inside the body.
Positron emission tomography (PET)
A special kind of scan that shows how organs and tissues are working by detecting radiation from a small amount of radioactive material injected into the patient's body.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not explain what happens if MRI or PET machines are used for purposes other than diagnosing patients.
  • It is unclear how many health care facilities in Tennessee will be affected by this change.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB2110

Plain English: The amendment changes how health data is released to certificate of need applicants and adds definitions for new medical facilities and services.

  • Changes the rules on releasing HIPAA-compliant limited use data sets to certificate of need applicants within seven days after a request by the commission.
  • Adds definitions for burn units, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), neonatal intensive care units (NICU), and positron emission tomography (PET) services in hospital regulations.
  • Establishes procedures for hospitals seeking designation as critical access hospitals under Medicare's rural hospital flexibility program.
  • The amendment text is extensive, and some sections are truncated or not fully explained, making it difficult to provide a complete summary of all changes.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2431

Plain English: The amendment changes how health data is released to certificate of need applicants and adds definitions for new medical facilities and services.

  • Changes the rules on releasing HIPAA-compliant limited use data sets to certificate of need applicants within seven days after a request by the commission.
  • Adds definitions for burn units, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), neonatal intensive care units (NICU), and positron emission tomography (PET) services in hospital regulations.
  • Allows hospitals to apply for critical access hospital designation under Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program with specific notice requirements.
  • The amendment text is truncated, so some sections may not be fully explained or understood.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  2. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/15/2026

  3. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee to 4/15/2026

  4. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026

  5. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/14/2026

  6. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  7. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/14/2026

  8. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee to 4/14/2026

  9. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/14/2026

  10. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  11. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/8/2026

  12. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

  13. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026

  14. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  15. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  16. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 4/1/2026

  17. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/31/2026

  18. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  19. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on Final calendar of Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  20. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/25/2026

  21. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Health Subcommittee to 3/25/2026

  22. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/18/2026

  23. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Health and Welfare Committee to 3/18/2026

  24. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  25. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  26. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  27. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Health Subcommittee to 3/18/2026

  28. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  29. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Health Subcommittee to 3/11/2026

  30. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/4/2026

  31. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  32. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee

  33. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Health Committee

  34. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  35. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  36. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  37. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 2110
By Boyd

SENATE BILL 2431
By Jackson
SB2431
012384
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33;
Title 63 and Title 68, relative to health facility
regulation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-11-204(a), is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:
(4) Magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography that are not
used for diagnostic purposes do not require a license under this part.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-11-204(a)(1), is amended by
deleting subdivisions (R) and (S) and substituting:
(R) Except as provided in subdivision (a)(4), magnetic resonance imaging; or
(S) Except as provided in subdivision (a)(4), positron emission tomography.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.