2026 Tennessee Legislative Session Summary Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, and expand access to quality, affordable health care. Lawmakers make many decisio

Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, and expand access to quality, affordable health care. Lawmakers make many decisions that impact the lives of Tennesseans impacted by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease. In 2026, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) worked with the Tennessee General Assembly on legislative and regulatory efforts that provide affordable, adequate access to health insurance, ensure adequate funding for lifesaving cancer screening and prevention programs, and enact prevention policies to protect kids from tobacco products and help support those who are trying to quit. This session, we made progress in the fight against cancer by prioritizing the following policies:  

Ensuring Access to Quality Care 

• Access to Biomarker Testing: ACS CAN advocated for improved coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing. Progress in improving cancer outcomes increasingly involves the use of precision medicine, which uses information about a person’s own genes or proteins to better diagnose and treat diseases like cancer. Biomarker testing is an important step to accessing precision medicine which includes targeted therapies that can lead to improved survivorship and better quality of life for cancer patients, but insurance coverage for biomarker testing is failing to keep pace with innovations and advancements in treatment. To address this, we helped champion legislation to get more patients insured by TennCare and the state employee health plan the right treatment at the right time. The bill passed nearly unanimously, with strong bipartisan support.  

Cancer Prevention and Early Detection 

• Breast and Cervical Cancer: ACS CAN advocated to maintain funding for the Tennessee Breast and Cervical Screening Program, the state breast and cervical cancer screening program for low-income uninsured and underinsured women administered by Tennessee Department of Health. 

• Colorectal Cancer: ACS CAN worked to maintain funding for colorectal cancer screening, treatment, and patient navigation programs. 

Reducing the Toll of Tobacco  

• Tobacco Taxes: Fought against efforts to reduce taxes on tobacco and nicotine products. Adequate and consistent taxes on all tobacco and nicotine products help prevent kids from starting to use these products. 

• Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding: ACS CAN worked to maintain funding for fact-based, statewide tobacco prevention and cessation programing at $4.6 million.  This program helps protect kids from tobacco products and supports those trying to quit.  

 
 
For more information, contact: Maddie Michael, Tennessee Government Relations Director ACS CAN   

[email protected] Phone Number: 319.621.1795 

 
ACS CAN is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state, and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer. For more information, please visit www.fightcancer.org.