As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 2, 2024

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE TRUST INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

2024 Incentive Plan

(Full Title of Plan)

David H. Dupuy

Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated

3326 Aspen Grove Drive, Suite 150

Franklin, Tennessee 37067

(Name and address of agent for service)

(615) 771-3052

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

With a copy to:

Tonya Mitchem Grindon

Nathanael P. Kibler

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC

1600 West End Avenue, Suite 2000

Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 726-5600

(615) 744-5607 (fax)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This registration statement registers 1,150,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (the “Registrant”) that may be issued and sold under the 2024 Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The information specified in Items 1 and 2 of Part I of this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) is omitted from this filing in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and the introductory note to Part I of Form S-8. The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered to the participants in the Plan covered by this Registration Statement as required by Rule 428(b)(1). Such documents are not required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as part of this Registration Statement.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents previously filed with the SEC:

(1)       The description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained in a registration statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on May 19, 2015 (File No. 001-37401) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

(2)       The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-37401) for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 13, 2024.

(3)       The information specifically incorporated by reference into the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 from its definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A (File No. 001-37401) for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed with the SEC on March 14, 2024.

(4)       The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-37401) for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2024.

(5)       The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K (File No. 001-37401), filed with the SEC, excluding the items furnished as exhibits to such reports, on January 3, 2024, January 4, 2024, and May 2, 2024.

All documents that the Registrant subsequently files pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement (except for any portions of the Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 thereof and any corresponding exhibits thereto not filed with the SEC), and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement indicating that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision eliminating the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment and is material to the cause of action. Our charter contains a provision which eliminates our directors’ and officers’ liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

Maryland law requires a Maryland corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that: (a) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (b) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. However, under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses. In addition, Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification and (b) a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.

Our charter authorizes us to obligate ourselves and our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify any present or former director or officer or any individual who, while a director or officer of our company and at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, member, manager, employee, or agent of another REIT, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity from and against any claim or liability to which that individual may become subject or which that individual may incur by reason of his or her service in any of the foregoing capacities and to pay or reimburse his or her reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our officers and directors whereby we agree to indemnify such officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law against all expenses and liabilities, subject to limited exceptions. These indemnification agreements also provide that upon an application for indemnity by an officer or director to a court of appropriate jurisdiction, such court may order us to indemnify such officer or director.

Insofar as the foregoing provisions permit indemnification of directors, officers or persons controlling us for liability arising under the Securities Act, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC, this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

* Filed herewith

Item 9. Undertakings.

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

(2)   That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3)   To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b)   The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c)    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Franklin, State of Tennessee, on May 2, 2024.

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints David H. Dupuy his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments and post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement and any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same with the SEC, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Exhibit 5.1

Tonya Mitchem Grindon, Shareholder

Direct Dial: 615.726.5607

Direct Fax: 615.744.5607

E-Mail Address: tgrindon@bakerdonelson.com

May 2, 2024

Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated

3326 Aspen Grove Drive, Suite 150

Franklin, TN 37067

Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have served as Maryland counsel to Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with certain matters of Maryland law arising out of the registration of 1,150,000 shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company, pursuant to the Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated 2024 Incentive Plan, (the “Plan”), covered by the above-referenced Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), on the date hereof.

In connection with our representation of the Company, and as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Documents”):

1.            The Registration Statement;

2.            The charter of the Company (the “Charter”), certified as of a recent date by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”);

3.            The bylaws of the Company, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

4.            A certificate of the SDAT as to the good standing of the Company, dated as of a recent date;

5.            Resolutions adopted by the Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company and resolutions adopted by, and minutes of, the Board, both of which relate to, among other matters, the Plan and the issuance of the Shares (collectively, the “Resolutions”), certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

6.            The Plan, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

7.            A certificate executed by an officer of the Company, dated as of the date hereof; and

Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated

May 2, 2024

Page 2

8.            Such other documents and matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to express the opinion set forth below, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein.

In expressing the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the following:

i.             Each individual executing any of the Documents, whether on behalf of such individual or another person, is legally competent to do so.

ii.            Each individual executing any of the Documents on behalf of a party (other than the Company) is duly authorized to do so.

iii.           Each of the parties (other than the Company) executing any of the Documents has duly and validly executed and delivered each of the Documents to which such party is a signatory, and such party’s obligations set forth therein are legal, valid and binding and are enforceable in accordance with all stated terms.

iv.          All Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic. The form and content of all Documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such Documents as executed and delivered. All Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents. All signatures on all Documents are genuine. All public records reviewed or relied upon by us or on our behalf are true and complete. All representations, warranties, statements and information contained in the Documents are true and complete. There has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the Documents, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Documents, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise.

v.           The Shares will not be issued in violation of any restriction or limitation contained in Article VI of the Charter or in the Plan.

vi.           Upon the issuance of any Shares, the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock that the Company is then authorized to issue under the Charter.

vii.          Each stock award, right or other security granted under the Plan pursuant to which Shares may be issued (each, an “Award”), will be duly authorized and validly granted in accordance with the Plan, and any such Shares will be so issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan and any applicable rights agreement or other award agreement entered into in connection with the grant of such Award (each, an “Award Agreement”).

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein, it is our opinion that:

1.            The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland and is in good standing with the SDAT.

2.            The issuance of the Shares has been duly authorized and, when and if delivered against payment therefore in accordance with the Registration Statement, the Resolutions and any other resolutions of the Board or the Compensation Committee relating thereto, the Plan, and any applicable Award Agreement, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated

May 2, 2024

Page 3

The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Maryland, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law. We express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of federal or state securities laws, including the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or as to federal or state laws regarding fraudulent transfers. To the extent that any matter as to which our opinion is expressed herein would be governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland, we do not express any opinion on such matter. The opinion expressed herein is subject to the effect of any judicial decision which may permit the introduction of parol evidence to modify the terms or the interpretation of agreements.

The opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters specifically set forth herein and no other opinion shall be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion if any applicable law changes after the date hereof or if we become aware of any fact that might change the opinion expressed herein after the date hereof.

This opinion is being furnished to you for submission to the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the 1933 Act.

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of our reports dated February 13, 2024, relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (the “Company”) appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

/s/ BDO USA, P.C.

Nashville, Tennessee

May 2, 2024

Exhibit 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Table

Form S-8

(Form Type)

Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Newly Registered Securities

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall cover any additional securities as may be issuable under the Registrant’s 2024 Incentive Plan, as amended, by reason of any stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or similar transactions.

(2) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act based on the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on April 25, 2024.