NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill that bans emotional support animals inside restaurants and other indoor food service establishments. It was sent to Governor Bill Lee to be signed on March 7.
Tennessee law already bans most dogs inside buildings that prepare or serve food. HB 1635 extends the ban to specifically include emotional support animals as well as other animals, such as cats.
If passed, only trained service dogs, police dogs and fish/crustaceans inside tanks would be allowed inside restaurants.
"An animal whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support is not a service animal," the bill said.
It would only allow dogs trained to work for a person with a disability inside restaurants, and would explicitly not consider animals providing comfort or emotional support as service animals.