Tennessee Legislature Wraps Up 2025 Session With New Laws on Health, Disability Support, and Student Safety

The 114th Tennessee General Assembly has adjourned for 2025 after passing a slate of measures aimed at improving public health, expanding disability services, and enhancing protections for children and families.

One of the year’s key initiatives expands eligibility for the state’s Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program, a tax-advantaged savings tool for individuals with disabilities. The new law raises the allowable age of disability onset from 26 to 46, bringing Tennessee in line with updated federal guidelines. Without the change, the program risked losing its federal tax-advantaged status. Families can contribute up to $100,000 to ABLE accounts for approved expenses such as housing, education, transportation, and health care.

Lawmakers also approved new TennCare coverage for treatments related to Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS), Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome, and Kleefstra syndrome—a rare genetic disorder affecting fewer than 1,000 people in the U.S. The coverage could include early intervention services.

In an effort to improve maternal and infant health, the legislature passed a bill expanding prenatal screenings. Hepatitis C has been added to the list of routine screenings at a pregnant woman’s first medical visit, and additional syphilis testing will now be required later in pregnancy and at delivery. Health officials say the move could prevent up to half of congenital syphilis cases in Tennessee.

Lawmakers also passed the Fertility Treatment and Contraceptive Protection Act, affirming the right to access fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), as well as contraceptives. The measure clarifies that such services are not prohibited in Tennessee and that healthcare providers may offer them.

Student health also received attention with a ban on the sale or distribution of foods containing the synthetic dye Red 40 in Tennessee schools, except for special events like fundraisers. Health experts have linked the additive to behavioral and mental health concerns in children, including hyperactivity and irritability. The law aims to promote better focus and well-being during the school day.

The session’s legislative changes are set to take effect at various times throughout the coming year.