WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 1828

Health Care - As introduced, requires the board of medical examiners, board of nursing, and board of osteopathic examination to initiate a criminal background check for each applicant for a renewal of licensure. - Amends TCA Title 38 and Title 63.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Gary Hicks

Require Tennessee healthcare licensing boards to run criminal background checks on all medical, nursing, and osteopathic license renewals to identify practitioners with recent criminal convictions.

Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/4/2026
#healthcare
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1828

Legislative bill overview

HB 1828 requires Tennessee's medical, nursing, and osteopathic licensing boards to conduct criminal background checks on all applicants renewing their professional licenses. Currently, these boards may not systematically perform background checks during renewal, only at initial licensure. The bill would mandate this check as part of the renewal process.

Why is this important

Healthcare licensing renewal happens every 2-4 years for thousands of practitioners across the state. Adding mandatory background checks could identify practitioners who committed crimes after initial licensure but before renewal, potentially preventing individuals with recent criminal convictions from continuing to practice. This addresses a gap in ongoing vetting of licensed healthcare professionals who interact directly with vulnerable patients.

Potential points of contention

  • Administrative burden and cost: Licensing boards would bear the expense of conducting background checks on tens of thousands of renewal applications annually, potentially increasing renewal fees for healthcare providers
  • Timeline delays: Mandatory background checks could slow the renewal process, creating processing backlogs that might temporarily remove practitioners from practice during verification periods
  • Scope and definition ambiguity: The bill doesn't specify which criminal convictions would trigger license denial/revocation, potentially leading to inconsistent enforcement (e.g., does a 20-year-old misdemeanor count the same as a recent felony?)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.