Tennessee Military Legislation & Policies

Latest Status

Occupational Licensure Interstate Compacts (Respiratory Care Interstate Compact): Tennessee Governor Signed Final Legislation

Demographic Data

State residents include:

17,692 active-duty service members
9,040 active-duty spouses
15,798 active-duty children
- 8,915 children in K-12
27,589 National Guard and reserve members
12,220 National Guard and reserve spouses
18,561 National Guard and reserve children
- 11,864 children in K-12

Data source: DMDC, Dec. 31, 2025

Samantha Sliney

Southeast Regional Liaison

Southeast Region

AL, FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN

EMAIL

Ms. Sliney became Southeastern region liaison in 2024. Prior to joining the DSLO, she served as an attorney advisor for the Joint Special Operations Command and, for 10 years prior to that, as an active-duty judge advocate in the Air Force. Ms. Sliney currently serves as a JAG in the New Jersey Air National Guard. She is an Army military spouse and graduate of the North Carolina Central University School of Law.

State-Specific Progress on State Policy Priorities and Sub-Priorities

See the latest status on legislation and policies being advanced in this state on state policy priorities important to military families. Find quick access to this state’s regional liaison, along with demographic data for the military community in this state.

Occupational Licensure Interstate Compacts13/19 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Compact

Athletic Trainer Compact

Audiology/Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact

03/24/2022HB 2561

03/31/2022HB 2561

04/19/2022

Audiology/Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Final Legislation

Enacts the "Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact" and the "Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact."

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Cosmetology Licensure Compact

01/31/2024HB2781

03/25/2024SB2732

05/28/2024

Cosmetology Licensure Compact Final Legislation

Cosmetology Licensure Compact

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Dental and Dental Hygienist Compact

01/30/2023HB0942

04/17/2023SB0361

05/17/2023

Dental and Dental Hygienist Compact Final Legislation

Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Dietitian Licensure Compact

04/24/2024HB 1863

03/28/2024SB 1862

05/31/2024

Dietitian Licensure Compact Final Legislation

TN becomes member of the Dietitian Licensure Compact

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Emergency Medical Services Licensure Compact

04/19/2016

Emergency Medical Services Licensure Compact Final Legislation

Establishes the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Personnel Licensure Compact (Compact).

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Esthetics Licensure Compact

Interstate Compact for School Psychologists

Interstate Massage Therapy Compact

Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact

Licensed Professional Counseling Compact

02/07/2022HB 959

04/14/2021SB1027

05/27/2022

Licensed Professional Counseling Compact Final Legislation

"Interstate Compact for License Portability Act" for professional counseling services

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Nurse Licensure Compact

01/31/2018HB 1651

02/01/2018SB 1543

02/22/2018

Nurse Licensure Compact Final Legislation

As enacted, replaces the repealed Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact; with the Enhanced Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact

03/24/2022HB 2561

03/31/2022HB 2561

04/19/2022

Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact Final Legislation

Enacts the "Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact" and the "Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact."

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Physical Therapy Licensure Compact

04/14/2016

Physical Therapy Licensure Compact Final Legislation

TN Joins the Physical Therapy Licensing Compact.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Physician Associates Compact

04/24/2024HB 1862

03/28/2024SB 1727

05/28/2024

Physician Associates Compact Final Legislation

TN becomes a member of the Physician Assistant (PA) Licensure Compact.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Respiratory Care Interstate Compact

02/02/2026HB 2145

03/09/2026SB 2544

05/13/2026

Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Final Legislation

SB 2544 enacts the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Act in Tennessee.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact

03/01/2021SB 161

04/27/2021SB 161

05/11/2021

Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Final Legislation

Enacts the "Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7; Title 33; Title 63 and Title 68

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Social Work Licensure Compact

04/23/2024HB 2405

03/14/2024SB 2134

05/28/2024

Social Work Licensure Compact Final Legislation

TN becomes member of Social Work Licensure Compact

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Military Spouse Employment Preference0/3 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Employment Preference - Private Sector

Employment Preference - Public Sector

Employment Preference - Procurement

Military Clause in State Family Leave Laws1/2 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Military Exigency in Paid Family Leave

Military Exigency in Unpaid Family Leave

04/18/2023

Military Exigency in Unpaid Family Leave Final Legislation

Tennessee Senate Bill 454 (SB 454) established the state's voluntary Paid Family Leave insurance program, allowing employers to offer paid leave benefits to their workforce. Under this program, employees can access paid family leave benefits during a family member’s active-duty military deployment or emergency mobilization.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

License Issuance and Reporting Uniformity

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Solutions for Military Homeschoolers1/3 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Streamline Requirements

09/30/2025

Streamline Requirements Final Legislation

A homeschool family in Tennessee must submit an Intent to Home School form to the school district where the family resides. Parents may withdraw their child to independent home school at any point during the school year. To continue operating as an independent home school, a new Intent to Home School form must be submitted before the start of each school year.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Ensure Extracurricular Access

Clarify JROTC Eligibility

State Exemption for Military-Certified Family Child Care Homes

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

03/02/2026HB 1663

01/22/2026SB 2096

04/16/2026

State Exemption for Military-Certified Family Child Care Homes Final Legislation

This bill exempts Department of Defense and United States Coast Guard Family Child Care (FCC) providers that reside off a military installation in Tennessee from the requirement to have a Tennessee childcare license if the provider is only caring for military-connected children.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

State Support of Military Families with Special Education Needs

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Education Policy Implementation Enhancements0/4 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Advance Enrollment Enhancements

Military Student Identifier Enhancements

Education Compact Enhancements

Purple Star Schools Program Enhancements

Open Enrollment Flexibility

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

04/09/2026HB 1725

03/26/2026SB 1817

05/05/2026

Open Enrollment Flexibility Final Legislation

Tennessee SB 1817 strengthens educational stability for transitioning military children by providing military families either 60 days after the end of their first school year or one year from the service member's report date—whichever is later—to provide required residency documentation. It allows 11th or 12th graders to remain in their current high school through graduation despite a relocation after enrollment.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

Concurrent Juvenile Jurisdiction

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

State Response to Military Interpersonal Violence0/2 Sub-priorities passed

SUB-PRIORITIES

HOUSE

SENATE

ENACTED

Enhance Information-Sharing

Allow Military Protective Orders as Evidence

Status and Demographic Content

State Details

Regional Liaison

Other Content

Map Legend

State Policy Priorities 2027

Status and Demographic Content

State Details

Regional Liaison

Other Content

Map Legend

State Policy Priorities 2027

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