TennesseeHospitals must offer vaccines before patients 50 and older leave
Tennessee hospitals must offer patients age 50 or older seasonal flu shots and year-round pneumococcal shots before discharge, following federal recommendations when medically appropriate and available.
What it does
Hospitals must offer admitted patients age 50 or older a flu shot before they leave, from October 1 through March 1 each year, when medically appropriate and available.
Hospitals must offer admitted patients age 50 or older a pneumococcal vaccine before they leave, when medically appropriate and available. This requirement applies year-round.
Argument forOffering available, medically appropriate vaccines before discharge could give patients age 50 or older a convenient chance to receive recommended shots.
Argument againstChecking vaccine availability and medical recommendations before offering shots could add work for hospital staff preparing patients to leave.
More detail
Hospitals must offer flu shots before patients leave the hospital. The requirement covers admitted patients age 50 or older. Hospitals must follow the latest recommendations of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The requirement applies when vaccine is available and the patient has no medical reason to avoid it. The law took effect July 1, 2026. The yearly flu shot requirement includes October 1 and March 1.
Hospitals must offer vaccination against pneumococcal disease before patients leave the hospital. The requirement covers admitted patients age 50 or older. Hospitals must follow the latest recommendations of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The requirement applies when vaccine is available and the patient has no medical reason to avoid it. The law took effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 18Pub. Ch. 922Latest
- May 18Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
- May 1Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- Apr 21Transmitted to Governor for his action.To Governor
- Apr 20Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 16Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 15Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.Minor
- Apr 14Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/14/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 14Passed Senate, Ayes 29, Nays 3Passed Senate
- Apr 9Received from House, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Apr 7Passed H., Ayes 62, Nays 22, PNV 10Passed House
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/7/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 7Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 7Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.Minor
- Apr 6Objected to on Consent Calendar.
- Apr 6H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/7/2026
- Apr 2H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 4/6/2026
- Vote recorded HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: H. Placed on Consent Calendar 4/2/2026. Result: fail.Lower
- Apr 1Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/2/2026
- Mar 31Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE HEALTH COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee 3/31/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/31/2026
- Mar 24Action def. in Health Committee to 3/31/2026
- Mar 18Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/24/2026
- Mar 17Sponsor(s) withdrawn.Minor
- Mar 17Action def. in Health Committee to 3/24/2026
- Mar 11Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/17/2026
- Mar 10Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Health CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded POPULATION HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Health Committee 3/10/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Placed on s/c cal Population Health Subcommittee for 3/10/2026
- Mar 3Action Def. in s/c Population Health Subcommittee to 3/10/2026
- Feb 25Placed on s/c cal Population Health Subcommittee for 3/3/2026
- Feb 24Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Feb 10Ref. to Health CommitteeMinor
- Feb 10Assigned to s/c Population Health SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 5P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.
- Feb 4Intro., P1C.Minor
- Feb 3Filed for introductionIntroduced
Healthcare