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SB2556 • 2026

Health, Dept. of

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to medications approved by the federal food and drug administration.

Healthcare
Active

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

Sponsor
Reeves, Terry
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Women's Health Medication Report

This bill requires the Tennessee Department of Health to report on medications approved by the FDA for women's health.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Tennessee Department of Health to create a report about new medications approved by the FDA that are meant for women’s health.
  • The report must include details and summaries of each medication.
  • This report needs to be sent to the speakers of both houses in the state legislature before January 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Tennessee Department of Health
  • Speakers of Tennessee's Senate and House

Terms To Know

FDA
Federal Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. government agency that approves medications.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the report is not submitted on time.
  • It doesn't explain how the department will gather information for the report.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB2136

Plain English: The amendment changes Tennessee laws to automatically schedule certain FDA-approved medications according to their federal classification and allows healthcare providers to prescribe these drugs immediately after scheduling.

  • Modifies Section 39-17-403(d) of the Tennessee Code Annotated to exclude FDA-approved substances from general prohibitions unless they are specifically scheduled under subdivision (d)(2).
  • Adds a new subdivision (d)(2) that allows certain FDA-approved and DEA-designated compounds, mixtures, or preparations to be automatically scheduled in Tennessee according to their federal classification.
  • Amends Section 39-17-403(g) to ensure the scheduling under subdivision (d)(2) is effective immediately without waiting for annual revisions.
  • Adds a new section to Title 63, Chapter 1, Part 1 allowing healthcare prescribers to prescribe FDA-approved drugs that are scheduled according to federal standards as soon as they become scheduled.
  • The amendment text does not specify the exact criteria for which medications will be automatically scheduled under subdivision (d)(2).
Amendment 2-0 to HB2136

Plain English: The amendment changes how certain medications approved by the FDA are scheduled under Tennessee's controlled substances laws and allows healthcare prescribers to prescribe these drugs immediately after federal scheduling.

  • Adds new subdivision (d)(2) to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-403, which automatically schedules a substance in the same category as its federal designation if no objections are filed within 30 days of FDA approval and publication in the Federal Register.
  • Allows healthcare prescribers licensed under Title 63 to prescribe drugs that have been scheduled according to § 39-17-403(d)(2) immediately upon scheduling, provided they meet certain conditions.
  • The exact impact on current and future drug regulations is not fully explained in the amendment text.
  • Details about how objections are filed or handled under subdivision (d)(1) are not included.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2556

Plain English: The amendment changes Tennessee laws to allow healthcare providers to prescribe certain medications immediately after they are approved by the FDA and scheduled by the DEA, without waiting for annual updates in state regulations.

  • Modifies Section 39-17-403(d) of the Tennessee Code Annotated to create an exception for substances that are federally designated or scheduled under specific federal laws.
  • Adds a new subdivision (d)(2) allowing certain drugs approved by the FDA and scheduled by the DEA to be deemed scheduled in Tennessee without waiting for annual state updates.
  • Amends Section 39-17-403(g) to ensure that scheduling under subdivision (d)(2) takes effect immediately, not contingent on annual revisions.
  • Adds a new section to Title 63, Chapter 1, Part 1 of the Tennessee Code Annotated allowing healthcare prescribers to prescribe certain drugs immediately upon federal scheduling.
  • The amendment text does not specify all potential impacts or limitations on healthcare providers' practices beyond what is explicitly stated.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2026

  2. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026

  3. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026

  4. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 1

  6. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/7/2026

  7. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Judiciary Committee

  8. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  9. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Health Committee to 3/31/2026

  11. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on Final calendar of Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  12. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/24/2026

  13. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Health Committee to 3/24/2026

  16. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  17. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  18. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/17/2026

  19. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  20. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/11/2026

  21. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  22. 2026-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee

  23. 2026-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Health Committee - Judiciary Committee

  24. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Health and Welfare Committee to 3/11/2026

  25. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 2/25/2026

  26. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  27. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  28. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  29. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  30. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  31. 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 2136
By Terry

SENATE BILL 2556
By Reeves
SB2556
012114
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39;
Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to
medications approved by the federal food and
drug administration.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. On or before January 1, 2027, the department of health shall submit a
report of each medication approved by the federal food and drug administration (FDA) for the
purpose of women's health, including a synopsis of each medication, to the speaker of the
senate and the speaker of the house of representatives.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.