SB 2043 Tennessee Senate · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Sheriffs - As introduced, prohibits the county legislative body of a county with a charter form of government from adopting a budget that reduces the budget for the sheriff below the budgeted amount for the previous fiscal year unless the reduction is approved in writing by the sheriff; authorizes a sheriff to approve or disapprove a budget amendment that would reduce personnel, operational, or capital expenditures below the level proposed by the sheriff; authorizes the county legislative body to override the sheriff's disapproval by a two-thirds vote. - Amends TCA Title 5, Chapter 1, Part 2; Title 5, Chapter 9, Part 4 and Title 8, Chapter 20, Part 1.

This bill prevents Tennessee counties with charter governments from reducing a sheriff's budget below the previous year's level for essential services (like personnel salaries, benefits, and operations) without the sheriff's written approval. Sheriffs gain the authority to disapprove any budget changes that would cut personnel, operations, or capital spending below their proposed level. County legislative bodies can override a sheriff's disapproval only with a two-thirds vote. It directly affects sheriffs and county councils in charter counties regarding budget decisions for core sheriff functions.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Last action Mar 23, 2026
Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
3
Committee
5
Mar 23, 2026
Committee
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reset on Final calendar of Senate Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/16/2026
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Brent Taylor
Brent Taylor
RRepublican
TN
31