Tennessee state employees will soon have enhanced bereavement leave benefits following a unanimous vote by the Public Service Subcommittee on March 5, 2025. The committee approved House Bill 1312, which proposes significant changes to the current bereavement leave policy, increasing paid leave from three days to up to ten days depending on the relationship to the deceased.

Under the new proposal, employees will receive three days of paid leave for the death of a sibling, grandparent, grandchild, foster parent, or parent-in-law. The leave increases to five days for the death of a parent or step-parent, and ten days for the death of a spouse, child, or step-child. This change marks the first update to the bereavement leave policy since its inception, reflecting a growing recognition of the diverse family structures and relationships in today’s society.

In addition to the bereavement leave bill, the committee also discussed House Bill 3313, which addresses the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System. This legislation allows retired members to return to work temporarily without losing their retirement benefits, with specific conditions regarding salary reductions and employment duration.

Another significant topic was House Bill 132, which aims to reform the state's emergency powers. This bill seeks to establish legislative oversight during states of emergency, allowing the legislature to terminate such emergencies through a joint resolution. It also proposes reducing the governor's ability to renew emergency declarations from 45 days to 30 days without legislative approval. The bill is a response to lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to ensure that future emergencies are managed with greater legislative engagement.

The committee's discussions highlighted a commitment to improving employee benefits and ensuring government accountability during emergencies. As these bills move forward to the full committee, they promise to have a lasting impact on both state employees and the governance of emergency powers in Tennessee.