News

We hope that you had a chance to participate in the 6th annual Disability Advocacy Day on March 11th.  All over Tennessee landmarks lighted up blue. Advocates worked to get local proclamations, and we celebrated our collective action. Visibility is an important step in breaking down barriers in a world not always built for us. We show up. We speak...

The schedule of bills on the calendar next week has grown from one page to four. Committee calendars are getting longer as more bills are placed on notice. The challenge is that it becomes harder to predict when a bill might actually be heard. Committee meetings are time-limited, and bills that are not reached during the allotted time are pushed...

It has been quite a week! I hope you were able to join us for Adventures in Access at Disability Day on the Hill (DDH). It was extraordinary! We showed up. An estimated 475 people attended DDH at the Cordell Hull building. We met face-to-face with legislators and attended committee meetings. We were seen. Our voices were heard. This week...

Tuesday, March 3rd, the Tennessee House TennCare Subcommittee will hear HB 2411 / SB 2167, a bill led by Tennessee Community Organizations (TNCO) to strengthen coordination and accountability within Tennessee’s long-term services and supports system. This legislation integrates the Bureau of TennCare into the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging Statewide Planning and Policy Council by: Adding the TennCare Director...

Last week, we updated folks that the House of Representatives has canceled all committee meetings this week (Education, Transportation, etc.) except for the Finance, Ways & Means Committee. The House Finance, Ways & Means Committee will be hearing department budget presentations this week. PDF file- House Calendar – budget presentations Week of 2.23.26 Text-only file- House Calendar – Budget Presentations...

Disability Day on the Hill (DDH) is next week! Our campaign this year is “Adventures in Access.” Next week will be a new adventure for us all as the House has canceled all committee meetings next week except for Finance, Ways & Means. What does this mean for DDH? It may mean that because they’re not meeting in their typical...

Happy Friday the 13th! The Tennessee General Assembly is in full swing, and decisions made this month will directly affect the lives of people with disabilities across our state. With hundreds of bills moving quickly, it’s more important than ever that advocates like you speak up. We have updated our bill tracking list here: TDC February 13 2026 Bill Tracking...

HB406/SB422 Ensures children and young adults age 21 and under have access to medically appropriate prosthetic and custom orthotic devices through private insurance plans without discrimination or arbitrary coverage limits. TN House Insurance Committee will hear this bill in committee on Tuesday, February 17th at 10:30am CT. Why This Matters: Children grow, and prosthetic needs change frequently. Current insurance practices...

Right now, there is a bad accessible parking bill at the TN General Assembly. HB 1457/ SB 1684 was supposed to be heard two weeks ago by the House Transportation Committee but was rolled until next week. The bill is now scheduled to be heard in the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday, March 3rd at 10:30am CT. It is also...

The House and Senate resumed their sessions this week. It began with a joint session Monday night. Governor Lee delivered his final State of State speech and released his proposed budget. You can read our analysis on our website: https://tndisability.org/news/disability-priorities-in-the-governors-state-of-the-state-budget/ Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson introduced a Senate Joint Resolution expressing support for dismantling the U.S. Department of Education...